Club results for 24/6/23

It will be mate against mate in the final of the Individual Matchplay next Saturday (July 1) when Jonathan Tuheke and Keri Kotua do battle.

Jonathan got there by outclassing Graham Galt 7/5, while Keri outlasted Peter Watson 2/1 in difficult muddy conditions off the blue tees on a drizzly day.

Despite giving Graham a nine-shot start and losing the first hole with a nine, Jono quickly shook it off to win the next three by going par-bogey-par. He had extended his lead to three-up by the turn as Graham struggled to make any headway. Driving powerfully and putting brilliantly, Jono kept his foot on the throat of an inexperienced rival to win the next three with two pars and a bogey to go dormie. He closed it out in style by sinking a long putt for birdie at the uphill No 13 for an emphatic victory.  

The other semi-final was a much tighter affair, although neither Keri nor Peter were at their best. Keri drew first blood by winning the first but Peter evened it up at No 3 with a bogey, where he got his only shot. Keri retook the lead when Peter made a hash of the par-three No 5. The leftie then won three holes on the bounce, parring No 8, bogeying No 9 and then getting up and down for par at No 10, to go two-up. But Keri claimed No 11 with a par and No 13 with a bogey to draw level. Peter then self-destructed by missing a short putt for a win at No 14 before driving out of bounds at the next as Keri kept his cool and the ball down the middle. Another sliced drive and a thinned wedge at No 16 gifted Keri a two-up lead. It was all over on No 17 when Keri got up and down and Peter missed a six-foot putt to take it to the last hole.

In the match of the day - a net round off the white tees-  Andy Isle headed a small field with a hard-earned 75, just shading Peter Green (76). Mike Williams was third on 80. Dave Blake marked a welcome return by scoring the only two of the day.