Albatross and he still didn't win!

Posted on 11/06/09. By Tony Garnett

Mark Bishop, the 39-year-old head professional at Toot Hill Golf Club, had the first albatross of his career in the Wanstead pro-am.

It helped him share first prize with Liam Clarke of West Middlesex after they both had rounds of three under par 66. It was a matter of horses for courses for Bishop who finished on top of the leader board in this annual pro-am for the third time in the past four years.

Bishop's albatross came at the 276 yard par four 17th hole. "I hit a driver and smoked it. The pin was back left. The ball pitched and ran on. I knew it was very close but I did not see it go in.
"I was level par on the tee and not playing very well. I knew I needed a couple of birdies to finish off the round, and then this happened.

"It was the fourth hole in of my career but my first albatross. It was quite a shock as I have not been playing very much competitive golf. There had been some showers but it was not raining and there was very little wind when I played the shot."

Bishop was a young assistant at Toot Hill at the same time as Simon Khan. "Simon went on to play on the PGA European Tour while I was appointed head professional at the club in 1996," said Bishop.

Clarke had six birdies, a double and a bogey. He also brought home the winning team at 14 under par. Roger Gray of Thorndon Park and his amateurs were runners-up at 12 under par with the team with Ian Ellis (Weston Park) also on the same score.