Club results for 8/6/24

The semifinalists of the Individual Matchplay have been found.

Three of the quarterfinals were tight affairs on another glorious winter day for golf.

At the top of the draw, an in-form Maurice Woodhouse defeated defending champion Jonathan Tuheke 2/1. Maurice started with a six-shot cushion, won the first with a par and was never behind, although a determined Jono drew level three times before succumbing on the 17th after both parred the hole. One up after the front nine, Mo lost the 10th but birdied the par three 11th to edge ahead before Jono won the 12th with a par to get back to even. However, Mo - who shot a solid net 72 off the blue tees to Jono's 74 - made the decisive break by winning the next three holes to go dormie. Jono won the 16th with a par to briefly prolong the match before it ended at the next hole.

Geoff Halkett withstood a strong comeback from Aaron Kotua to pip him at the death for a 1-up victory. Starting two-shot to the good, Geoff was one ahead after three holes but Aaron won three of the next four to surge in front before Geoff cut the deficit to one as they completed the front nine. Geoff then seized control by birdieing the par five 10th and winning the 11th and 13th. Two down with three to go, Aaron won the 16th with a par and the 17th with a bogey to tie it up playing the last, but a wayward drive on the difficult 18th proved his undoing as Geoff kept his composure to bogey the hole for the win.

Paul Tunnicliff had to give Dave Huntley five shots and for the first nine holes there was nothing in it as they went to the turn all square. However, from thereafter Paul - who shot a net 71 - was by far the steadier of the two, winning the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th with pars or bogeys to take it out 4/3 as Dave struggled with grip issues.  

Fresh from playing well at the Old Hickory on Thursday, Phil Sellers started strongly against Graham Galt, using his five-shot advantage to be four up at the halfway mark. But Graham found some form on the back nine as Phil faltered to get it back to all square with three to play on the back of a run of pars and bogies. But it was Graham who wilted under pressure, doubling both the 16th and 17th to go down 2/1.

In the plate, Gareth Edwards showed he is a quick learner when it comes to matchplay, drubbing Roma Elkington 5/4 while shooting a net 73.

James Campion withstood an early challenge from Neil McLaren who raced out to a two up lead after six holes before the wheels fell off over the back nine as James eased to a 4/2 win.

Barry Rhodes and Garth Jameson had a ding dong battle before Barry prevailed on their last hole for a 1-up victory. Two down after nine holes, Garth got back to even but couldn't convert with a double bogey on the final hole proving fatal.

The final plate match between Richard Pearson and Peter Green will be played during the week.

In the match of the day for those not involved in matchplay, Andy Isle topped the international stableford round with +5, with Ian Hanford (+3), and Brendan Doyle (+2) filling the minor places.

John Dixon rolled back the years by leading the 9-holers with a +2 score over the back nine. Lloyd Moyle finished second on 0.

Maurice Woodhouse took home the twos kitty with the only one of the day, at No 11.

Next week (June 15) we play the semifinals of the Individual Matchplay and plate, while the match of the day will be a stableford.