Louth outlasts rivals for Shootout win

Chris Louth survived four-chips offs to win a highly competitive and dramatic Shootout played on a sunny Saturday (Oct 25) afternoon after the last of the club champs and match of the day had been decided.

The highest handicapper in the 10-man field, Chris - who qualified second - held his nerve when others faltered to win his first Shootout final.

Despite earlier winning the match of the day, Gareth Edwards was the first to be eliminated after driving it in the river on No 1 and never recovering.

Matt Tomcyzk was next to depart after making a mess of No 2 and picking up.

Roma Elkington and Chris finished with net 6s on the par four 3rd, with Roma losing the chip off with a short one.

Despite a good drive, Keri Kotua was the next to go when he put his second to No 4 long and couldn't get up and down after everyone else had recorded net 4s.

The remaining six all played No 5 in regulation net 3s but it was Andy Isle who lost the mass chip-off after thinning one long.

No 6 spelt the end of Maurice Woodhouse when he got into trees and then stubbed a chip for a net 5.

Top qualifier Peter Watson was the next to succumb in another four-man chip-off following net 4s all round on No 7 when he fluffed a simple chip.

No 8 provided plenty of drama, with Chris failing to hit out of a water hazard before taking a drop and hitting his sixth to the back of the green. Meanwhile, Ian Hanford had chipped on for four and Pete Green was putting for birdie. Chris then sunk an improbable 35ft putt from off the green for a seven and a net 5. Ian narrowly missed a 14ft putt to advance so had to settle for net 5 and then lost a chip-off to Chris who went close to holing it.

So it came down to the last with Pete getting one shot at No 9 and Chris two. Both hit good drives and  okay second shots before hitting their thirds into the par five into the right rough. Chris chipped to the back of the green but Pete thinned his long and then left his chip 16 ft short, while Chris coolly putted to tap in range for a net four and a gritty win.