A cool start to our 6th Par competition in perfect conditions. A healthy field of 18 players included our Andrew McCarthy now that he’s able to play more regularly after recovering from fishing overdose, and occasional visitor Stafford Mellowship. The round also featured a Match Play Semi Final between Rob Mizen and Nigel Smith.
Hammo, some mighty fine ball striking last week plagued by greenside bunker yips, apparently mostly avoided the sand today turning in another solid round with an 82 off-the-stick, 8 pars and a fine +5 to win today’s prize and a 10th podium appearance. Asked what his secret to success was, he replied “I dunno – I think it’s just natural talent Dalbs”. Aussie Tallon made a welcome return to the winner’s list and to the odd adjacent fairway, doing best over Lake with a series of bogeys and a par to finish +3 after squaring Pines. His sparring partner Stormin’ Norman had a topsy (11 pars) turvy (4 wipes) round but seemed reasonably happy with the day considering his limited game time recently.
Good short stick player Lawrie Gibson was cursing the luck with his putter today, missing 6 putts of 1 metre or less and the chance to further consolidate his Order of Merit lead. Andrew McCarthy is quickly getting back into the swing, some prodigious drives, fine touch chips and confident putts looking good for his first podium appearance soon, just missing out today on countback.
Other News
Match Play Semi Final. It was a Semi of very fluctuating fortunes. Only 4 holes were squared, 2 on each nine. Rob was playing the steadier over the match with some impressive drives and irons. Nigel was having more difficulty with his direction and several shots went bush-bound. But favourable bounces off trees back towards the fairway and some good scrambling (a skill Nigel has honed) made for a seesawing contest. Rob’s cause wasn’t helped by Nigel’s 40m chip-in at Pines 4th and sinking an 11 metre putt at the 5th for two wins. All square at the par 3 17th, Rob teed off with his putter (as you do), both finishing just off the green. Nigel putted up close while Rob fell way short, 2 putts to 3 sending Nigel 1-up, a lead he retained to the finishing line and which took him into the final to meet the winner of the Mike Patton/Jamie Pickles shoot-out. Congratulations Nigel.
Nigel Smith defeats Rob Mizen 2-up.
Winners:
1st: GARY HAMMOND (+5)
2nd: PETE TALLON (+3)
3rd: NORM MEWS (+1)
NAGA: ROB MATHIAS (-9)
Nearest to Pins:
Pines 3rd: ROBIN DALBY
Pines 7th: LAWRIE GIBSON
Lakes 3rd: MIKE NEWMAN
Lakes 5th: NORM MEWS
Lakes 8th: LEIGH HARRIS
Nearest in 2: MIKE NEWMAN
Nearest in 3: NORM MEWS
Longest Drives:
A Grade: CRAIG MARKHAM
B Grade: PETE TALLON