Club results for 5/10/24
- 5 October 2024
- Peter Watson
All but one of the club champ finalists have been found on a day that mixed dross with drama.
Players enjoyed good conditions off the blue tees until the forecasted rain swept in for the final few holes.
In the seniors, top seed James Campion was too steady for Andy Isle in winning 4/2 despite playing with a bandaged injured wrist which forced him to change his swing and restricted his power. He took the lead with an excellent par at the long No 3 but gave it back with a double at the next hole. Andy edged ahead by winning No 6 with a par, but James had reclaimed the lead by the turn with two pars. Further pars on No 11 and 12 pushed him out to a comfortable three-up lead and he finished Andy off by winning the downhill No 15. His 79 off the stick ended up being eight shots better than Andy.
Pete Green carried too many guns for an inconsistent Keri Kotua in easing to a 3/1 victory in which neither player was at their best. Keri butchered the first but Pete did likewise on the next before he fired up by superbly birdieing the uphill No 4 and sinking a long putt at par-three No 5 for another to jump ahead. A par at No 8 took him to three-up but Keri won No 9 with a bogey to start the back nine with some renewed hope. Pars at No 11 and 12 got him back to all square but he unraveled on the next two with double bogies to hand the lead back to Pete who closed it out with a par at No 17.
The two intermediate matches were much tighter affairs. Top qualifier Jonathan Tuheke was made to work overtime before finally getting the better of Bryce Vincent on the 21st hole who unfortunately lost his ball in the rough at a crucial time. Playing tidy golf, Jono won the opening two holes with pars before Bryce pulled one back with an impressive birdie on No 4. However, Jono won No 8 with a par and No 9 with a bogey to go the the turn well placed at three-up after an opening 40. A couple of doubles followed by a bogey saw him hand it all back as Bryce rediscovered his touch. However, a chip-in birdie two at No 14 saw him retake the lead. Bryce responded in the best way, sinking a mid-range putt for a birdie at No 16 to get back to even. The both parred No 17 and doubled the last to go to extra holes. Bryce blew winning opportunities at No 19 and 20, three-putting both for bogies and halves. It ended in anti-climax when Bryce's long second at the 21st could not be found. Both men shot 84, highlighting how close it was.
The second semifinal between Peter Watson and Jason Lee was equally as tight and was decided on the last hole when Peter sunk a 17ft putt for par for a 1-up victory. For much of the match Jason looked more likely to win. Driving more accurately and chipping it to gimme range regularly, he had ground out a two-up lead by the turn. He won No 2 with a par but lost No 4 with a double. A bogey and par at No 8 and 9 gave him a solid lead while a wayward Peter scrambled to stay in touch. The veteran leftie got back in the match by winning No 13, 14 and 15 to snatch the lead with bogey, par, bogey as Jason made a few uncharacteristic lapses. He recovered his poise with a pinpoint short iron to No 16 to set up a birdie and square it up. Peter then missed a short par putt at No 17 to go ahead again. Jason grabbed the initiative with a good drive down the last while Peter found the trees to the left before scrambling back into position. It all came down to the third shot across the river. Peter hit the green while Jason was short and chipped long. Peter's curling putt settled it at the death.
Graham Galt underlined his status as the No 1 seed in the Junior A grade with a comprehensive 6-5 victory over Mike Williams. Graham roared out of the blocks by claiming the first four holes as Mike struggled with his game. He parred No 5 for a win but an on-song Graham took a stranglehold by winning the next three with a bogey and two pars to go six-up. A double at No 10 cost him a hole but it was restored by a winning bogey on the par-five No 12.Two halves saw the match finish early. Graham signed for a 90 which was ten shots better than Mike, underlining his dominance on the day. The other semi-final between No 2 seed Brendan Doyle and Gareth Edwards will be played before the finals on October 19.
The Junior B final will be between Lewis Wilson, who had a bye, and Jim McMullan who defeated Barry Rhodes 1-up last Saturday.
In the match of the day - stableford off the blue tees - for those not involved in the club champs, Gareth showed he is in good form by totalling 38 points for the win. This was on the back of a net 70 from the fast-improving 18-handicapper. Craig Barron almost matched him, finishing second with 37 points after a net 71. Next were Mick Leggett (36) and the trio of Paul Tunnicliff, Jim McMullan and Aaron Kotua on 34.
Pete Green and Jonathan Tuheke shared the twos money with one each.
Noel Quinlivan topped a good field of nine-holers who played a net round off the back nine. His fine 33 was three better than Phil Sellers who shaded Sally Quinlivan for second on countback after both posted 36.
Next Saturday (Oct 12) we play the 13th round - the second last - of both the Barkman Trophy and Shootout, which is a net round off the white tees. The nine-holers play a par round off the front nine.