Graft Golf 2026 Season Newsletter
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Season 1 of the Graft Golf Amateur League is in the books, and what a finish. After 117 verified rounds, just 7 points separated the top three, and our champion was decided in the final weeks.
Thank you to every one of the 18 golfers who signed up, declared their rounds and backed themselves on courses home and away. Here's how the season played out.
Final standings
Viv Moss is our first Graft Golf champion, finishing 6 points clear of Steve James.
|
Pos |
Player |
Home course |
Rounds |
Best 6 (pts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Viv Moss |
Sudbrook Moor GC |
12 |
233 |
|
2 |
Steve James |
Styal Golf Club |
12 |
227 |
|
3 |
Mohammed Qasim |
iGolf |
12 |
226 |
|
4 |
Zishan Ahmad |
iGolf |
12 |
220 |
|
5 |
Anton Bardsley |
Styal Golf Club |
12 |
220 |
|
6 |
Yasir Thathall |
iGolf |
11 |
216 |
|
7 |
Simon Goodall (OBG Golf) |
Holywell |
7 |
215 |
|
8 |
Scott Hassell |
Styal Golf Club |
9 |
211 |
|
9 |
Richard Armstead |
Styal Golf Club |
12 |
202 |
|
10 |
Florian Ahmad |
Styal Golf Club |
7 |
190 |
Best 6 totals include the +1 away point. Zishan takes 4th from Anton on countback.
Champion: Viv Moss
Viv started the season off a 34 handicap, with her shots capped at 30 under league rules, and finished it off 26. That's an 8-shot drop in one season, and she still won the league.
Her best 6 included two 41-point rounds and a 39, and she played all 12 cards. She saved one of her best for last: a 40-point round, plus an away point, in her final card to seal the title.
Viv is the proof that Graft rewards improvement, not just low handicaps. Congratulations, Viv.
Runner-up: Steve James
Steve was the model of consistency. In 12 rounds he never dropped below 29 points, and he finished the season strongly with two 41-point rounds in his last four cards. Second place, 227 points, and back in 2027 to go one better.
Third place: Mohammed Qasim
Qasim started the season off 16 and finished it off 11.8, a drop of more than four shots. Along the way he posted the round of the season: 44 points away from home, worth 45 with the away bonus.
That's what this league is built for. Twelve rounds, every one declared in advance and counting towards a table: it's competitive golf under real, everyday pressure. If you want to test yourself and improve, Qasim's season shows it works.
The early pace-setter: Richard Armstead
Richard set the early pace, getting rounds in week after week and leading the league in the opening stretch. He used all 12 cards a month before the season ended, finishing with a 41 among his best scores. With nothing left to submit, he could only watch as the chasing pack overtook him. A lesson for all of us in Season 2: pace your cards.
The chasing pack
- Zishan Ahmad (4th, 220): solid all season and played every round away from home. He just couldn't crack the top three, missing out by 6 points.
- Anton Bardsley (5th, 220): level with Zishan on points, separated only by countback. He closed with 41 and 37 in his final two cards.
- Simon Goodall, OBG Golf (7th, 215): some outstanding golf, including a 41. From just 7 rounds, he finished only 11 points off the podium. With a full set of cards he'd have been right in the mix.
The season in numbers
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
Rounds submitted |
117 |
|
Round of the season |
45 pts: Mohammed Qasim (44 + away point) |
|
Best home round |
44 pts: Scott Hassell |
|
Gap between 1st and 3rd |
7 points |
|
Biggest handicap drop |
Viv Moss, 34 to 26 |
What's next: Season 2027
Viv, Steve and Qasim are all coming back to defend their places. The question is who's coming for them.
- Early Bird league pass: £55 (usually £65), until 31 December.
- The prize pot grows with every sign-up, so bring your playing partners.
- A brand-new Player Portal: your live position, cards left, and every round tracked from declared to verified.
- Start date and Opening Major announced soon.
Sign up at golfal.co and follow @graftgolfal for updates.
See you on the first tee.
Jahan, Graft Golf.