Sunday morning saw our top team playing The Grange at Remuera in the final of the Presidents Pennants with the winner promoted to the Bissett Shield for 2014. Dell Bain and James Ashwin led the team away at 7.30am and both players quickly got out to +2 in the first 4 holes. They both further consolidated their leads by the halfway mark - Dell was +4 & James +3. James maintained his advantage and won his match by the 16th green. Dell however had to deal with an opponent on the charge and they teed off 18th all square. Unfortunately the turnaround was completed on the final green with Dell losing -1.
Rosco Valentine & Cam MacKenzie played very solid golf throughout matching each other all the way - all square after 4; +2 after 9; +3 after 15, and both won their matches 3/2. The news of their successes was feeding back to the players behind and an increasing number of supporters were gathering around the 2 final groups.
The final 4 matches were incredibly close throughout as these progress scores show:
4 Holes:
Chris Thomas all square - Scott Robertson +1 - James Eng & Mathew Cormack both -1.
9 Holes:
Chris & Scott +1 - James all square - Mathew -1.
13 Holes:
Chris all square - Scott, James & Mathew +1.
16 Holes:
Chris, Scott & Mathew all square - James -1.
17 Holes:
All players all square.
So with the last 4 players all square playing the final hole & the current score 3-1 anything was possible.
Both Scott and Chris lost the 18th on the green to make matters even more tense - overall score now 3-3.
James played a superb 2nd from the bottom of the hill and the ball trickled just off the green into the swale at back right of the green - the pin was tucked into that back right corner, so if he could get down in 2 he would have a birdie with his opponent in the lower part of the green for 3. James secured his birdie with a gimme and now we have a little breathing space - an overall lead of 4-3.
Matthew Cormack was back by the trees at 180m mark for 2 and he played a great shot into the green - producing a high cut to the back pin. Unluckily his shot trickled off into the same swale as James Eng but at least a par looked more likely. His opponent however was on the front edge of the green for 2 and needed a 2 putt for a birdie. However, he left his first putt well short.
Matthew putted up to within 2 feet, his opponent knocked his second putt past the hole. Matthew stepped up and holed his par putt and the let the celebrations begin. The final result 4.5-3.5 and we are back up into the Bissett Shield for 2014.
Congratulations to all the players who played for the club this year and thanks to all the supporters who came out to cheer them on.