Sloan team outplayed by Motueka

  • 8 February 2021
  • Peter Watson

Our Sloan team couldn't match Motueka in the opening round of the season at Murchison on Sunday (Feb 8).

In baking conditions, we found Motueka - a perennial trophy favourite - just too hot to handle in going down by 7.5 to 1.5.

Warwick King - playing at No 6 - provided our only victory, recovering from one down early on to power to a 5/4 win on the back of an impressive 38 coming home for a 85.

His fellow junior, Lewis Wilson, put in a solid effort with an 85 before succumbing over the last few holes in going down 2/1 after being all square at the turn.

In the intermediate clashes, an out-of-sorts Jonathan Tuheke came up against a rival playing well and was never in the hunt in getting caned 7/5, while Steve Russell was also up against an opponent who played below his handicap. Steve (84) stayed in touch for awhile before getting blown away over the second nine in losing 5/3.

No 2 Peter Green (86) - playing Murchison for the first time and promoted up a grade - was just too wayward off the tee and inconsistent with his chipping to put any pressure on his opponent. He was always behind with the match finishing early with a 5/3 defeat.

Filling in at No 1 after several other seniors were late withdrawals, Peter Watson (77) showed plenty of ticker in coming from two down after 10 holes to grab a half in unlikely fashion at the final hole. Three wins in four holes, including birdies at No 15 and 17, took him into the lead which he promptly gave back with an ugly double bogey at No 1. The next two holes were shared with pars but on No 4 - their last - Peter sliced his drive out-of-bounds but then hit a wedge to 8 feet, while his rival missed his 9ft par putt for the win. Peter promptly drained the putt for a bogey five and a half.

In other results, Totaradale beat Golden Downs 7-2 and Greenacres won by the same margin over Tasman. Takaka - despite a player short - defeated Nelson 6.5-2.5.

The next round is at Golden Downs on February 28.

Share this post

Leave a comment

Name

Email address

This is never shown to the public.

Comment