The 2014 Gamble Cup was played for the second time at Brookfield Golf and Country Club in Cambridge, making it only the second course to host the tournament more than once.
Weather for the round was perfect with a light 10km/h breeze from the North-West, blue skies and a daytime high of 22 degrees.
The competitors (Gary, Martin, Scott, Kyle and Jeff) set out in 2 groups of 3, having been paired with a lone golfer named Chris who was simply at the tournament because, “Golf Now offered a price he couldn’t turn down.”
Defending champion Kyle Frasier opted to play in the second group with Gary and Martin Gamble while Scott and Jeff lead off the tournament. A weak tee-shot from Scott Gamble became the story of the front nine for Scott who struggled to get his ball off the tee through the lead 9. Jeff Gamble surprised everyone with long distance drives that lacked some control. Kyle Frasier again opted to play without a driver, choosing safe tee shots with a 3-wood. Martin Gamble, using new clubs for this instalment of the Gamble Cup, became a feared competitor with his putter, making countless clutch puts. The round was a physically difficult one for Gary Gamble who had to play with a 10.5 degree loft Taylor Made R7 driver because his Nike was destroyed when he “lightly tossed it at a golf cart” in a previous round after losing his ball into the trees. He was also well medicated on Lakota due to a possible shoulder strain.
After the front 9 the scoring looked like this:
Kyle Frasier – 17
Scott Gamble – 17
Martin Gamble – 14
Gary Gamble – 12
Jeff Gamble – 10
Scott Gamble had made progress with his driver after 4 consecutive disappointing tee-shots, while both Kyle and Martin managed to successfully earn points on each hole. This became the final group as the golfers reorganized for the back 9.
Very slow play meant that the 5 competitors could meet after completing each hole in the second half of the round. Water came into play for almost everyone; particularly Scott Gamble who hit a ball into the water on the 11th, 12th and 13th holes. Gary Gamble managed to stay dry but struggled with approach shots, to follow-up near perfect shots off the tee.
With only a few holes to go, Scott made a late round serge after Kyle who had gathered a 5 point lead by the 15th hole. Scott, strung together a series of 3-consecutive birdies to pull within 1 point heading into the final hole.
A notable moment occurred on the 17th hole when Scott Gamble hit a wedge shot 40 yards from the rough directly into the cup to secure 4 points with a 1-under par performance.
All 5 golfers played the 18th hole together. Gary, Scott and Jeff each hit shots to the centre of the fairway while Martin lost his ball and played his mulligan. Kyle opted to use a 3-wood which was struck perfectly and landed on the green. That set up a 2-putt birdie and sealed a second consecutive Gamble Cup victory.
At the after-party, Kyle was presented with the trophy by Gary Gamble who warned Kyle not to get too comfortable with the cup and vowed it would return to his house in 2015.