Club results for 23/5/26

Momentum, a short memory and perseverance are crucial when playing matchplay and all were on display during the second round of the Individual Matchplay which saw eight players progress to the quarterfinals on a balmy autumnal Saturday.

At the top of the draw, Pete Green had to give birthday boy Maurice Woodhouse 15 shots but after losing the open two holes it didn't seem a problem when he went to the turn two up after an opening 40 off the blue tees. Despite getting a bit loose, Pete maintained that lead with four to go. However, a bogey at No 15 and a double at No 17 gave Mo a lifeline and they went down the last all square which neither played particularly well, with Pete missing a 4ft bogey putt to win. Mo needed no second invitation on their 19th, draining a 14ft for par and victory which was all about hanging in there.

Starting on No 7, James Campion was faced with a bigger hurdle, with his opponent Barry Rhodes getting a 22-shot start but James was quick out of the blocks winning their opening three holes with pars. He stretched that to 4-up with a birdie two at No 14 before giving it back at the next with a double bogey, one of his very few blemishes.  Five consecutive pars from No 16 secured James - who recorded an impressive 71 off the stick - an easy 6/4 win as Barry had no answer to the onslaught. 

Neither Gabriel Tijsen nor Ian Hanford brought their best stuff to their battle. Starting on No 4, Gabriel - who gave Ian 10 shots - had a 1-up lead after a messy nine holes. After trading several holes, Gabriel  won No 18 with an excellent par to go two up with three to play. A double bogey at No 1 was good enough to get the job done 3/2 against an out-of-sorts rival.

The match between Jarrod Huss and Keri Kotua went down almost to the wire before Jarrod - who started with a one-shot advantage - prevailed 2/1 after a second-nine surge. Two-down at the turn after Keri shot a tidy 40, Jarrod then won five of the next six holes with a succession of pars and bogies as Keri went off the boil. With Jarrod two up, he advanced after halving  both No 16 and 17 with bogies. 

Richard Pearson got just a shot off Aaron Kotua, couldn't make it count but still proved too straight and steady in winning 2/1. After taking No 1 with a bogey, he dropped just one hole while winning three more to be three -up after a  front nine 44. They halved the next four before Aaron got one back with a par at No 14. A bogey at No 16 got him within one with two to play, but Richard slammed the door with a bogey to win No 17 and the match. 

Chris Louth also started with one shot over Andrew Craig in a match that went to the last hole before Andrew secured a two-up victory. After winning their opening hole, No 4, Andrew soon found himself one-down as Chris won No 6 and 7. But Andrew came storming back winning four of the next five to go two ahead. After three halves, Andrew looked to have wrapped it up by taking No 16 and 17 with bogies to go four in front. However, Chris won the next three with bogies to be just one back playing their final hole, No 3, where he got his only shot. Unfortunately, he couldn't cash in with Andrew winning it with a timely bogey.

Matt Tomczyk wasted no time stamping his mark on his match with Gareth Edwards. Starting on No 7, he won five of their six opening holes to sprint out to a four-up lead. Gareth - who go a three-shot head start - got one back with a bogey at No 13 and repeated the dose at No 15 to cut the deficit to two. Matt restored his healthy lead by claiming No 16 and 17 with bogies, only for Gareth to respond  by winning No 18 with a bogey and No 1 with a par. Matt parred the tough No 3 to go dormie with three to play. Gareth then made it interesting by taking No 4 and 5 but Matt ended it on their last hole with a bogey for a 2-up victory.

At the bottom of the draw, veteran lefties Peter Watson and Lewis Wilson locked horns, with Peter - who gave Lewis 13 shots - easing out to a 3-up lead on the back of a neat 39 for the front side. Then the wheels fell off as Lewis won the next three holes with bogies to tie it up. Peter then composed himself to take the uphill No 13 and short No 14 with par and bogey. More ugly golf followed as Lewis claimed No 15 and 16 to again draw level and he looked odds on to win the match after Peter flared his tee shot into the penalty area. However, Lewis couldn't seize the advantage and it was Peter who missed a 12 ft bogey putt for victory. So they went to the 19th and  Peter this time made no mistake with a conceded par for the narrowest of wins.

In the match of the day - a net round off the blue tees - for those not involved in matchplay, Phil Sellers claimed the honours with a 74 which included a two at No 5 from Lindsay Brooks (75) and Andy Isle (76).

There was spirited competition among a good field of the 9-holers which was decided on countback with Andrew Bosselmann winning over Mike Kirkwood and Andrew Dean after all posted a par score of 0. Next were Warren Carey (-1) and Rebecca Gibson and John Dixon on -2.

Next Saturday (May 30) the 18-holers play the third round of the Barkman Trophy and Shootout which is a net round off the white tees, while the 9-holers play a net round off the front nine.

The following Saturday (June 6) are the quarterfinals of the Individual Matchplay which will see Maurice Woodhouse verse James Campion, Gabriel Tijsen take on Jarrod Huss, Richard Pearson up against Andrew Craig and Matt Tomczyk and Peter Watson go head to head.