Big thrill for Phil

Phil Sellers won his first NBS club champs in convincing fashion by defeating Mike Murphy 6/5 in the Junior A final played on Thursday.

With a threatening forecast for the weekend, the pair agreed to play their match early. It proved a wise decision as the other three finals have been delayed a week until November 26 after heavy rain on Friday forced club officials to err on the side of caution with the only access to the course being across the concrete ford.

After a nervous start to their 36-hole final, Phil drew first blood by winning No 4 up the hill. His lead was short-lived with Mike taking the next with a par. Phil went in front again on No 6 only for Mike to bounce back by parring No 7. Another par on No 10 gave him the lead for the first time.

Phil then hit a purple patch by winning three of the next four holes, all with pars, to go two-up. They then traded holes for Phil to maintain his margin starting their second 18 holes.

Mike - the second seed in his division - then mounted a comeback by claiming three of the next four holes to edge ahead. However, Phil re-discovered the touch that saw him finish as top qualifier to win No 23 with a par, No 25 with a birdie and No 26 and No 27 with pars to shoot out to three-up starting the final nine holes. He took a stranglehold by securing No 28 with a bogey and No 31 and 32 with double bogies against a flagging opponent before closing it out on the next with a half for a deserved victory.

The senior final between Pete Green and Peter Watson, the intermediate matchup between Geoff Halkett and Paul Tunnicliff or Richard Pearson and the junior B showdown between Warwick King and Grant Fergusson will be played next Saturday, with the first two ties over 36 holes teeing off at 8.30am and junior B match over 18 holes teeing off at 11am.