2018 COD – Day 3, Ballarat

A fabulous meal at The Forge pizzeria and a night at the gloriously retro Bell Tower Inn put CODsters in a great frame of mind for the deciding day’s action at Royal Ballarat Golf Club.

It seems almost mandatory at the COD that an early tee off means breakfast can only be held at the evil Golden Arches.

The weather was once again superb, although a stiff breeze on the opening tee tested all but Inda and Nifty, who parred.  This meant Nifty had stretched his overnight lead to 6 strokes – but danger was afoot.

Winningest Green Jacket winner Nifty suddenly collapsed with double and triple bogeys – after 4 holes, the Green Jacket was all square between Nifty and Iggy Pop.

But the champ got off the canvas with three straight pars, slugging it out with Iggy in an epic contest.  Iggy, however, had other ideas, peeling off par-birdie-par to finish the front nine with a sizzling 38 – three strokes in the lead.

Meanwhile in Reserve Grade, it was Inda setting the “pace” (if you can call it that).  Then at the par 5 10th hole, COD history was made with all four players – Indahouse, Hujakate, Mike Sheahan and Dr Tushy – recording a pick-up double-par 10 in a cornucopia of incompetence.

Tushy may be at the wrong end of the leader board, but who could deny that he looks anything other than a low ranking touring pro?

And who could deny that Inda looks anything other than…. a Queenslander?

The battle royale continued over the back nine but Nifty could not make any headway on Iggy, each recording a 41.  This left Iggy Pop as the 2018 Mouth of COD Invitational Green Jacket winner!

The quiet achiever on the final day was El Gamble, posting a pair of 49s to run out Auld Mug winner by a whopping 7 strokes in a truly triumphant return to COD action.  In his unassuming way, he packed his trophy before anyone could take a photo – such a modest man.

The wash up: