Club results for June 12, 2021

Three competitions on the one day provided plenty of interest and kept the scorers busy at Waahi Taakaro on Saturday (June 12).

In the final of the Brebde senior/junior, Dave Blake and Jim McMullan proved just a bit too steady for Steve Russell and Andrew Craig.

After losing the first hole, Dave and Jim won four of the next five - helped by Dave's birdie two on No 5 - to roar out to a healthy three-up lead. But on the back on a birdie by Steve at No 7 he and Andrew won three holes on the bounce to go to the turn all square. A par on No 12 by Dave edged them ahead and two further pars by Dave on No 14 and 15 put them in command before Jim sealed the deal with a bogey on No 16 for a 3/2 win.  While Dave (nett 70) did most of the damage, he received good support from Jim (75), while Andrew (75) and Steve (79) just couldn't make it count on the back nine.

The quarter-finals of the individual matchplay proved once again that short game prowess can make all the difference.

At the top of the draw, Paul McCrae started by holing a wedge from 60m for a win but struggled to subdue Alan Church - who had a three shot advantage - for much of the front nine. However, he took a firm grip by winning four consecutive holes from No 8 through to No 11 with some deft chipping and accurate putting. A par on No 14 took Paul four clear and although Alan won No 15 the match ended in a 3/2 victory to Paul after No 16 was halved in bogies.

Peter Watson had to give Lindsay Brooks eight shots but he made a strong start by parring five of the first six holes to leap out to a four-hole lead. In typical fashion Lindsay fought back to cut the deficit to two by the turn and then drained a long putt on No 10 for a par forcing Peter to sink a 8 footer for a half. After losing No 11 to a par, Lindsay then suffered problems on No 12 to be four down. After two halved holes, he got one back at No 15 to stay alive but missed a short putt at No 16 to succumb 4/2. When the match ended Peter was six over par in another steady performance.

In a match where both players played some excellent golf, Warren Carey and Andy Isle fought out a thriller before Wazza hung on grimly for a one-up win. A spectacular birdie at the first gave him the lead, which he promptly gave back at the next. But using one of the 14 shots he got, he won No 3 with a five. The next six holes were halved as Andy went out in 38 and Wazza in 43. A par at No 10 drew Andy even but Wazza - who putted well all day - answered with back to back wins at No 12 and 13 to heap the pressure on. Andy reduced the deficit to one with a win at No 14 and thought he had done enough to claim No 15 with a super birdie only for Wazza to hole a par putt for a half. After further halves at No 16 and No 17, Andy did all he could by parring No 18 for a nett 72, however it wasn't enough as an inspired Wazza got down in five to close it out with a nett 69 off the blue tees.

The final match was another tight encounter, with Barry Rhodes using a 14 shot buffer to jump out to a early three-hole lead over Jack Denton. They then traded holes to end the first nine with Barry still three ahead. Jack cut the margin to just one by winning three of the next five holes, but Barry crucially won No 15 with a bogey. They then halved No 16 with double bogies before Barry clinched the match 2/1 with another double bogey for a half on No 17. In the end Barry shot a nett 73 to Jack's 76 which reflected the narrow edge he held for most of the match.

In the match of the day - a bisque par off the blue tees - for those not involved in the other two competitions, Steve Turnell ended up top dog with a +6 score. He was followed by Mike Murphy (+4), Warwick King and Bryan Ramsey (both +3) and Maurice Woodhouse (+2).

Three players - Dave Blake, Dean Goodman and Steve Turnell - shared the twos money.

Next week are the semi-finals of the individual matchplay which will see Paul McCrae play Peter Watson and Warren Carey take on Barry Rhodes. The match of the day will be an international stableford.