Club champs semifinals October 16, 2021

All but one finalist in the NBS club champs has been found in a day of contrasting fortunes on Saturday (Oct 16).

In conditions tailormade for golf, the senior semifinals followed the script with the top two seeds, Andy Isle and Peter Watson, cruising to victory.

Andy - who won 4/3 by shooting 39 on the front nine blue tees and 80 off the stick - was too straight off the tee and into the greens for Jasper Broad-Kolff who couldn't convert with the putter. One up after four, Andy seized control by winning three in a row to go to the turn four ahead. Jasper won No 10 and 11 with pars to rekindle his hopes but a double bogey at No 12 set him back. An excellent par up the hill got him back within striking distance but Andy displayed all his matchplay experience to stay calm and close it out with pars at No 14 and 15.

Although out-driven all day by an inconsistent Peter Green, Peter W more than made up for it through his trusty wedges and a hot flat stick to coast to a 5/4 victory. A birdie at No 2 started a three-hole winning stretch before Peter G cut the deficit with a brilliant birdie at No 5. However, an up and down from distance for a par on No 6 and another on No 7 after his rival missed a short putt saw Peter W go four in front which he protected with a long putt for a half on No 9. Another long putt on No 10 pushed the lead out to six before Peter G won No 12 with a par and was denied another win on No 13 when Peter W sunk a good downhiller for a half. It ended with another up and down par at No 14.

The top two seeds also prevailed in the intermediate division. Richard Pearson overcame last year's champ Paul Tunnicliff 4/3 who knocked him out at the quarter-final stage last year after Richard had qualified in first place. Making good swings and fewer errors at key times, Richard made sure there would be no repeat. He started well by winning the first two holes but they were all square by the turn after Paul won No 6 and 7. However, Richard won No 10 and 11 with pars and took a stranglehold by taking No 13 with a bogey to go three up. Another bogey at No 15 to Paul's double saw them shaking hands.

At two up with three to play, Dave Blake looked odds-on to win his semifinals against Lindsay Brooks. But you write off Lindsay at your peril and he fought back to win No 16 and 17 with pars and halve No 18 with bogey as Dave's putter went cold. Down the 19th they went and it was Dave that got over the line with a par from just off the green. Earlier, they couldn't be separated after the front nine before Lindsay edged ahead at No 10 only for Dave to win four of the next five to set up a grandstand finish.

In the one Junior A match played, number two seed Neil McLaren carried too much firepower for Lewis Wilson, booking his spot with a 4/2 victory. Starting at No 4, Neil was three up at the halfway mark. Lewis reduced the margin to two with four to play before Neil put the match to bed by winning No 18 and then No 1. Warren Carey and Callum Hogg will play their semifinal midweek.

The Junior B semis also followed the form book with Mike Murphy thumping Steve Turnell 6/4 and Grant Fergusson getting the better of a game Jim McMullan 3/1. Mike was four up after five and despite making a mess of No 9 had extended his lead to five by the midway mark. Steve refused to go quietly, winning two of the next three holes, before Mike won three on the trot to close it out. Four up after nine, Grant looked set for an early finish, but Jim rallied to cut the margin to two with six to play. They halved the next four before Grant parred No 2 to clinch the match.

In the match of the day, an international stableford, for those no longer involved in the club champs, Warren Carey showed he is in good form for his semifinal by taking the honours with a +8 score. Paul McCrae, despite a nett 65, was only good enough for second on +6, while Jack Denton finished third with 0. 

Aaron Kotua, Peter Green and Peter Watson shared the twos money.

Next Saturday (Oct 23) are the finals. The senior, intermediate and Junior A matches are played over 36 holes starting at 8am, while the Junior B final is played over 18 holes starting at 10am.