Sloan team climbs to fifth with third win

Our Sloan team ground out a third win of the season at Greenacres on Sunday (July 6) to climb to fifth in the standings with two rounds to go.

The 7.5-1.5 victory over a gritty Murchison side was closer than it seemed with three of the matches decided on the final green.

The win owed much to our juniors who both won in contrasting fashion. No 6 Ian Hanford got up and down from the wrong fairway to snatch a half at his last hole for a hard fought 1-up win, while Neil McLaren won comfortably 3/2.

Ian was two down early but a couple of pars got him back to all square at the turn. He edged ahead a couple of time on the back nine only to get pegged back and thought he had finally won it when he sunk a 20 footer on No 17 for a par but his opponent followed suit to take it to the final hole with Ian getting a shot. It was looking dicey when Ian hit a poor fourth wide but a superb chip and 7 foot putt rescued a half and secured the win.

Neil - who hadn't played for some weeks - was one up after nine before getting reined in. However, the leftie won two holes on the bounce early on his back nine and thereafter kept his rival at arms length with some steady play before ending it on the par five No 7.

Our No 4 Garth Jameson struggled for consistency against an opponent  who drove it straighter and chipped well. Behind most of the day, Garth got it back to one down with three to play before succumbing 2/1.

His fellow intermediate Bryce Vincent started strongly and never let up. He parred five of his opening nine holes for wins and halved the rest to go out in 42 to hold a commanding lead. He finally lost a hole on his back nine but a succession of halves saw him coast to an 82 off the stick and an emphatic 5/4 win.

Early on their back nine both our seniors were 1-down but they dug deep to get the team home.

Keri Kotua played some scruffy stuff but came through when it really mattered. He surrendered a 1-up lead with three to play and looked certain to lose his 17th hole until his opponent three putted. He then hit a fine driver from the rough on the long par four ninth to just short of the green while his opponent chipped long and couldn't get up and down for a bogey, leaving Keri to claim an unlikely 1-up win.

Our No 1 Pete Green came from three down after five to eke out a gutsy half. He lost his opening two holes before hitting back but then his playing partner went eagle-birdie to stretch his lead. But Pete - who carded a 79 - didn't panic and won No 16 with a par and No 17 with a birdie two to get back in the contest. He was still two down with five to play but won two on the bounce to finally square it up. However, he gave away No 7 with a bogey six but responded with a good wedge for a par on No 8 to be even playing the last which they shared with bogies.

In other matches, Golden Downs took a giant step towards defending their crown with a dominant 8-1 win over Nelson. Their closest rival Motueka where even more impressive in thumping Tasman 8.5-0.5, while Takaka were far too good for Totaradale 8-1.

So after seven rounds, Motueka leads with 44 points but have the bye next round. Golden Downs lurks on 42 points, with Takaka holding third on 37.5. They are followed by Totaradale (31), Waahi Taakaro (27.5), Tasman (23.5), Greenacres (17), Nelson (15.5) and Murchison (14).

We take on Takaka in the next round at Motueka on July 20 before hosting the final round on August 3.