Sloan team battles to a draw

Our Sloan team shared the points with Totaradale at Golden Downs on Sunday (Feb 28) thanks to an excellent performance from our higher handicapped players.

At No 6, Lewis Wilson turned the screws early and went to the turn holding a comfortable 4-up lead before closing it out 5/4.

His fellow junior, Warwick King, was almost as dominant, despite limited sleep. He too had built a good lead at the halfway mark and cruised to a 4/3 win.

Our No 4, Steve Russell, had more of a battle but always had his nose in front, and helped by a birdie two at No 13, managed to keep his rival at bay over the last few holes to eke out a 1-up victory.

Andy Isle led for much of his match but his intermediate opponent finished with a flourish over the final three holes to pip him 2-down.

Keri Kotua couldn't buy a putt to put any sustained pressure on his opposition who led narrowly after the front nine and just proved too steady to grind out a 2-up result.

Peter Watson, playing at No1, stayed in touch for long periods of his match, going to the turn just one down. However, short game lapses at crucial times, particularly over the final holes so him slip to a 3/2 defeat.

The 4-all result against last year's champions saw us move up the ladder two places to sixth after two rounds.

In other results, Motueka beat Greenacres 6 1/2 to 2 1/2, Murchison dumped Takaka 7 to 2 and Tasman accounted for Nelson 6 1/2 to 2 1/2.

Points after two rounds are Motueka 14, Totaradale 11, Greenacres 9.5, Tasman 8.5, Takaka 8.5, Murchison 7, Waahi Taakaro 5.5, Nelson 5, Golden Downs 2.

The next round is at Waahi Taakaro on March 21.