Club champs finals October 23, 2021

The club champs finals followed the form book with three of the four top seeds victorious on Saturday (Oct 23).

However, Warren Carey – the eighth qualifier - proved the exception with an improbable come-from-behind to claim the Junior A title on the season’s longest and toughest day.

The first match to finish was the Junior B final – played over 18 holes – which saw top qualifier Mike Murphy defeat Grant Fergusson 4/2. All square after three, Mike then seized control by winning four holes on the bounce and went to the turn with a handy four up lead. Despite winning the 11th, Grant couldn’t make inroads, losing the 12th and halving the next two as Mike’s short game proved the difference. Lying dormie, Grant got one back on 15th but Mike sealed the deal with a par on the 16th.

It took Wazza 12 holes to relax in his match against Neil McLaren by which time he was six down to his inconsistent but dangerous opponent. Four halves steadied the ship before he launched the comeback. Playing the carefree golf that saw him win his midweek semifinal against Callum Hogg 3-2, he went on a five-hole streak to get right back in contention. Neil eased two ahead at the 23rd but Wazza dug deep to take four of the next five holes to take the lead for the first time on the 27th.  Wazza stretched that to two on the 10th only for Neil to narrow it to one at the 31st. After three cagey halves, Wazza – who played under his handicap - completed his Houdini act with a par on the 35th for a 2/1 victory.

The many hours of practice paid off big time for Richard Pearson who won his first final with a comfortable 6/4 win over Dave Blake in the intermediate grade. Although out-driven for much of the day, the fighting fit 77-year-old was sharp playing into the green and solid with his putter. Dave started the better to be one up after five, however Richard made the decisive break by winning six holes on the trot with some error-free golf. Dave had cut the lead to just two by the 21st but Richard took an iron grip on the match by taking four of the next five holes. Dave refused to lie down, winning the 26th and 27th but Richard birdied the par five 28th to stay six in front. While he made a mess of the 31st, a par three at the 32nd saw Richard – who played to his handicap - coast to a deserved victory.

Andy Isle won his fourth senior title with a hard fought 3/1 over Peter Watson who is yet to win one despite being in five finals. This was the third final between the pair, and although closer than the previous two Andy always looked the more likely the longer the match went against his older and shorter-hitting opponent. Despite Peter birdieing the 2nd, they were all square after nine with both going out in 41 and were still locked together playing the 18th which Andy – who completed the first round in 80 - won after Peter thinned a wedge long. With Andy beginning to drive the ball well and chip brilliantly, he dominated the third nine with a 38 to storm to a five up lead by the 27th. It looked all over when he won the 28th to go six in front, but Peter – who putted well - refused to wilt and won three in a row. They halved the next two after Andy got up and down superbly and Peter missed long birdie putts. With Peter dormie, he delayed the inevitable by claiming the 34th with par. Andy wrapped it up at the 35th with a par of his own to take the title.

In the match of the day, a nett round off the blue tees, Peter Green continued his good recent form with a 71 to finish first. Next was former Waahi Taakaro member Grant Thorn made a welcome return with a 72 and Paul McCrae with 73.

Another former club member James Campion and Peter Watson shared the twos money