  |
|
 |
Extinct giant bird reappears in Scotland |
July 2, 2003; Source: AnyoneForTee.comFirst Moa sighting in 500 years as UK pro fires 12-over par 17 at Gleneagles! |
PERTHSHIRE. London-based golfer Chris Gane has fired the world’s first ever Moa – 12-over par in AnyoneForTee’s revolutionary new golf scoring system – after taking an astonishing 17 shots on one hole during the second round of the recent Diageo Championship at Gleneagles. The left-handed Londoner came to grief on the 533-yard 18th, in the process recording the second highest score in European tour history - beaten only by Philippe Porquier of France, who had a 20 at the 1978 French Open.  Although the prodigious feat meant the ill-gotten Gane missed the cut, it landed him the consolation of entering the annals of golfing history with the first Moa on record.The term Moa (a giant, flightless, New Zealand bird extinct for over 500 years*) is part of the biggest shake-up in golf's scoring system since the formation of the first R&A Rules of Golf Committee in 1897. The new scoring system, which has not been approved by the R&A and is not likely to be before at least 2897, was launched by AnyoneForTee earlier this year. Click here for more details. All above par scores – other than bogey – now carry a bird’s name, just like their sub-par peers, albatross, eagle and birdie. "Ever seen the film Zorro?" Gane told reporters after his round. "It was like that with all my slashing at the ball."  Gane was on the fairway after two shots at the par five and was eyeing a more conventional birdie when he sliced his ball into the rough. He was still confident of saving his par, but misjudged the awkwardness of the lie. "I went straight under the ball with my first attempt, then had two more the same and simply left the ball buried," he groaned."I lost count as I kept trying to move it. One of them finally shifted it about six yards and when I eventually got it on the green I got a round of applause [though he then proceeded to 3-putt - Ed]". "I was absolutely embarrassed by the experience," Gane added. Amazingly, Gane fired an Albatross (three-under par) at the recent British Masters, making him the holder of the highest and lowest bird scores since the new system was introduced. How the world’s first golfing Moa took flight: 
* The extinct nature of the Moa is captured in a poem taught to New Zealand school children, called “No Moa”, by W. Chamberlain: No moa No moa In old Ao-tea-roa Can’t get ‘em They’ve eat ‘em They’re gone and there ain’t no moa. Note: Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand. It means 'land of the long white cloud'. |
| Back to top |
|
This page © Copyright 2003 by DuffersGolf |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|