Popper gives Five Lakes some fizz at East Herts

Essex pairing Nigel Popper and Gary Carter admitted they were ‘ecstatic’ after reaching the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge in Spain.

The Five Lakes Hotel Golf & Country Club duo win the East qualifying event held ay East Herts Golf Club.

They produced an excellent round to top the leaderboard with 46 points, four ahead of Alan Fletcher and Stephen Andrews of Cambridge’s Girton Golf Club.

For PGA Professional Carter, it was a return to the club where he played his golf as a junior.

But he was full of praise for the contribution of the Maldon club’s 67-year-old captain Popper who played a big part in Five Lakes’ victory.

Carter and Popper will now play in the £22,000 final, in association with Golfplan, which takes place between November 6-7 at Arabella Golf, Mallorca.

“It was one of those days when everything either went in or very close, and when that happens it’s fantastic,” said Tiptree-based, 12-handicapper Popper, who runs a steel fabrication business.

“I am ecstatic, I was left speechless. Our back nine was phenomenal, we were chipping out of the trees and ending up near the flag.

“Gary was a junior at East Herts years ago, and he knew the course well. That was really good.

“I can’t believe we’re off to Mallorca to the final now. I joined Five Lakes in 1991 and this is the third time I’ve been Captain.”

Carter admitted it was Popper who stole the show,

“I didn’t play that well, it was Nigel who had the incredible round of golf,” he said.

“He had six nett birdies and a gross birdie, I only had three - I birdied the last - but Nigel had a proper round.

“He was very modest, there’s no way we’d have gone through without him, he did a lot more than chip in.”

Carter says the final will see him clock up plenty of air miles as he will be circling the globe in November.

“I get back from New Zealand the day before we go to Mallorca, that’s such a great bit of luck, I’m visiting my son, we’re going with my other son and partner, we’ll land back on the Saturday, and then on the Sunday we go to Spain,” he explained.

“So I shall take my golf clubs with me to prepare. But I’d have made it to Mallorca even if it clashed.”