Let’s set the scene: The Belfry, one of golf’s most hallowed grounds, and an English duo that defied the odds and the elements to clinch the inaugural G4D Tour Nations Cup.
If you’re a fan of gritty golf tales, this one’s a beauty. Kipp Popert and Heather Gilks, playing for Team England, pulled off a victory that could be described as nothing short of epic.
Starting the second round with a two-shot deficit, Popert and Gilks found themselves staring down the barrel of a tough day on the course.
The kind of day that separates the wheat from the chaff. They weren’t just battling the course, they were up against Mother Nature herself, who seemed determined to make every shot a test of character. But here’s where it gets good: instead of folding, they thrived.
Posting a seven-over round of 79, the duo clawed their way to six-over par overall. It’s not exactly the stuff of golf dreams, but when the other teams are faltering, that’s all you need.
Team Ireland, the early favourites, found themselves sinking faster than a stone in a bog with double bogeys at the sixth, ninth, tenth, and 14th.
By the time they staggered off the 18th green, they were four shots adrift, leaving Popert and Gilks standing tall.
The English pair didn’t have it all their own way. The front nine was a bit of a horror show—six-over par and probably more white knuckles than they’d care to admit.
But, like true pros, they turned it around on the back nine. Birdies on the 15th and 17th were the strokes of brilliance that sealed the deal.
It wasn’t just about skill; it was about grit, determination, and having the kind of fun that makes you forget about the pressure.
After the win, Heather Gilks was on cloud nine: “It feels amazing. It has been so special playing with Kipp.
I think it was a really good showcase and a range of golf talent, and it [golf for the disabled] is definitely taking steps in the right direction.”
And let’s not forget Popert, who’s becoming a bit of a legend on the G4D Tour with his 11th title.
But this one, he said, meant more than just another notch on his belt: “I have had a few victories, and I think today is bigger than just myself playing, and I am so chuffed for Heather to experience winning; it is good fun.
We were bigging ourselves up the whole time and enjoying it, and honestly, that is probably the most fun I have had playing.”
This victory at the inaugural G4D Tour Nations Cup is Popert’s third win of 2024, adding to his successes at the ISPS HANDA Australian All Abilities Championship and the G4D Open.
With that kind of form, who’d bet against him when the G4D Tour rolls into Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship on September 16-17, 2024?
