Club results for 15/6/24
- 16 June 2024
- Peter Watson
We are down to the final two in the Individual Matchplay and plate after two tight semifinals and two which finished early on Saturday (June 15).
In the main match next Saturday (June 22), Maurice Woodhouse will take on Phil Sellers, while Peter Green and James Campion will contest the plate.
Maurice got there by twice coming from behind against Geoff Halkett to grab it at the last for a 1-up win.
Starting with a four-shot advantage, Mo found himself one down after five holes but won three of the next five to be two up after 10. However, Geoff roared back into contention by taking three of the next four with pars and bogeys to square the match. But Geoff - who struck the ball well but struggled with his short game for much of their battle - then three-putted No 16 and 17 for bogeys to allow Mo off the hook. And Mo took full toll at the difficult 18th where he got a shot after Geoff mucked up his drive with his careful bogey good enough for the victory. His net 76 in sodden conditions off the blue tees was a decent effort.
Phil Sellers also began four shots to the good against Paul Tunnicliff and he too was down early after a couple of double bogies, with Paul two up after three. But Phil didn't panic and tidied up his game to quickly get back to even and then surge ahead by winning holes 7 to 9 to go three up at the turn. Paul won the 10th to trim the deficit but lost No 13 to a bogey where Phil got a shot. They halved the 14th and 15th with bogeys for Phil to go dormie and it ended at the 16th with another half as Phil secured his place in the final with a 3/2 win. Phil's net 75 to Paul 78 was a fair reflection of the result.
Pete Green booked his place in the plate final the hard way, being taken to the 19th before getting the better of a gallant Gareth Edwards. Pete - who had earlier in the week defeated Richard Pearson 5/4 in a quarterfinal catch-up match - found it much tougher going against Gareth whom he had to give 13 shots. There was never much in it, with Gareth 1 up after the front nine. Pete led by one playing the last but Gareth won it with a bogey to take it to extra holes. But a booming drive from Pete set up a par on the 19th and when Gareth missed his bogey putt it was all over.
James Campion started with even a bigger handicap of 26 shots against Barry Rhodes. One up at the midway point, he proved just too steady on the back nine. A birdie two on No 11 doubled his lead, while a par on the uphill 13th stretched it further. Another par at the 16th sealed a comfortable 4/2 victory on the back of a pretty handy net 73.
In the match of the day - a stableford off the white tees - for those not involved in matchplay, Andy Isle shrugged off a stiff back to post 36 points, edging Mike Williams who took second on countback from Keri Kotua after both posted 35 points. Next were Jasper Broad-Kolff (34) and Dean Goodman (32), with Jonathan Tuheke (31) completing the top six. Keri with 77 and Andy with 78 recorded the best gross scores of the day.
Andrew Dean led the 9-holers with 19 points playing the front nine. Lloyd Moyle finished second on 18 points.
James, Jasper, Jonathan and Neil McLaren shared the twos money.
As well as the matchplay finals next Saturday (June 22), the rest of the field will play a net round off the white tees.