Tuesday 24th January 2017 - Finals Day!!
It was already 30 degrees with a hot NW wind keeping the temperature rising for the finals of the Junior Pennant (JP) and Encourage Shield (ES). Storms were predicted for early afternoon and the club had the lightning monitors at the ready. Mozzies were, surprisingly, not bad.
The Playoffs
The JP 3rd/4th playoff between Dubbo and LNC started things off and the contest eventuated in a 5-1 win to LNC. It was much closer in the ES 3rd/4th game. Oatlands had led comfortably at the turn but Wagga Wagga fought back to be 3-2 down with the 1s still playing. Edward and Max were square at 18, so they continued down the first hole (10th) for a result. They halved the next 4 holes with both players having a chance to win each hole only to 3 putt or hit errant second shots. The pressure of the situation was telling. On the 5th extra hole Edward 3 putted for 6 leaving Max with a slippery 6 foot putt to halve after hitting into the bushes off the tee. It missed giving Edward the match. It was back to the 1st (10th) for the decider. Max missed the fairway off the tee and had to punch out which proved the difference in the sudden death playoff. Edward made a solid par to win and give Oatlands third place.
Encourage Shield
In the ES Final between Shelly Beach and Northern Rivers, once again it was a very close contest. With Shelly Beach being quietly confident with 5-6 holes to go, the glorious uncertainty of sport, and particularly golf, played a hand in an extraordinary way. One of the Shelly Beach players called a penalty on himself when his ball moved (Great Sportsmanship!) and lost a hole. Another player off a 21 handicap made great birdies on 16th and 17th to stay in the match, only to have his Northern Rivers opponent chip in on the 18th for a win. The last two players were square after 18 holes so continued down the 1st (10th). It was 2-2 at this stage. Northern Rivers won one match on the 19th and then their No.1 made a miraculous up and down from 30m to win on the 20th, giving them the win 4-2. Both Managers agreed that it had been the best contest they had witnessed in golf, ever.
Junior Pennant
Moore Park was up against Federal in the JP final. At the halfway mark things did not look too good for Federal, ahead in only one of the six matches. However they kept trying and fought back strongly. Yet another match was square at the 18th, so back down the 1st (10th) for the No. 4’s. Federal won on this hole and now had the lead at 3-2 with just the No.1’s to go. Monica from Moore Park was 1up playing 18th and when they halved that hole, the contest was tied at 3-3. Monica and Federals No.1 Lachlan headed to the 1st (10th), a 489 metre par 5. Lachlan hit a long straight drive, matched by Monica. The next shot is totally blind over a hill. Lachlan hit a beautiful-looking shot, as did his opponent. When the crowd of spectators reached the top of the hill they could see Lachlan’s ball was on the green about 3 metres from the hole, while Monica’s was about 20 metres short of the green. There were about 30 spectators down near the green, having just witnessed the last hole of the Oatlands v Wagga Wagga epic contest, so there were many eyes on Monica as she played her approach shot. Her chip actually landed in the hole, but spun out finishing about 2m from the hole. Lachlan missed his eagle putt, but would easily tap in for a birdie, leaving Monica with a pressure putt to stay in the match. She just missed it and Federal GC became State Junior Pennant Champions.
Monday 23rd January 2017 - What a State semi-finals day at Newcastle GC!
The two Encourage Shield semis were very evenly matched and both ended “regular time” at 3-3 meaning an exciting sudden death play-off for the No. 1 players.
The results: NRDGA defeated Wagga Wagga GC on the first play off hole, and, Shelly Beach GC defeated Oatlands GC on the first play off hole.
In the State Junior Pennant there were similar results, with one 3-3 play off required:
Federal GC defeated Lower North Coast District on the second play off hole, and, Moore Park GC defeated Dubbo GC 4 - 2
So finals to be played at Newcastle GC on Tuesday 24th January 2017 are:
Encourage Shield
NRDGA vs Shelly Beach GC
Junior Pennant
Federal GC vs Moore Park GC
and, 3rd/4th Playoffs are:
Encourage Shield
Oatlands GC vs Wagga Wagga GC
Junior Pennant
Dubbo GC vs LNCDGA
2016 State Encourage Shield Semi Finals Report
What a day for the State finals here at Newcastle GC. Four teams, very evenly matched and both semis ended “regular time” at 3-3 meaning an exciting sudden death play-off for the No. 1 players.
In the first contest, NRDGA (Northern Rivers) were pitted against the team from Wagga Wagga Golf Club. Teeing off at 7:30am in ideal conditions, the early lead was taken by Wagga Wagga and at the turn they were ahead in 4 matches with another square. NRDGA had one match 5up and looking good. As the back nine unfolded, NRDGA fought back to be 3 – 2 with the last match looking like being even with 3 to go. A burst of pars and some bad luck saw the NRDGA No. 2, Reilly snatch a win to make it 3-3. Jackson and Max had to play off down the first hole and NRDGA’s Jackson made a good up and down par to win the semi and see them into their first Encourage Shield final.
In the other contest, Oatlands GC were dominating the front nine and turned with 5 matches up and one square. The next closest match was the Shelly Beach GC No. 6 who was 2 down. Things were looking grim for them at that stage. Never giving up is the key to most match play games, and this was proved again as Shelly Beach rallied, refusing to lay down, and when the No. 1&2 matches reached the 18th tee it was 3-1 to Oatlands and both matches were square. The two Shelly Beach players hit the middle of the fairway while the 2 Oatlands boys found trouble. Edward from Oatlands played a great recovery which, unfortunately, just found the green side bunker, but Jin could not play his ball and had to go back to the tee to play his 3rd. Not looking good for Jin. The two Shelly Beach players were in good positions for two and both putted well to win their matches and make it 3-3. Edward (Oatlands) and Cooper (Shelly Beach) then had to start again at the first in a sudden death situation. Edward found the green side bunker for 2 while Cooper was just off the front edge with a short chip for 2. Edwards tough bunker shot fell just short and when he chipped on close, Cooper had to get up and down from about 8m to win. He did so and Shelly Beach had come from way behind to move into the final of the 2016 State Encourage Shield.
2016 State Junior Pennant Semi Finals Report
In perfect golf conditions, four teams from across NSW competed in the State Junior Pennant semi-finals. Lower North Coast District (LNCDGA) played Federal GC and Dubbo GC took on Moore Park GC in the other semi. Once again it was very close all day.
The conditions were very good, greens a bit slower than usual, but otherwise the course was perfect. Federal started well and by the turn were ahead in 4 matches with one square and down in one. It looked good for them but still close. LNC played steady and gained gradually on Federal and with one hole to go it was 3-2 to LNC and the Federal No.1 was 1up. It was looking like another 3-3 finish and that is what happened. So, the No.1 players continued down the first in sudden death. Both Reid and Lachlan found poor lies off the tee and had to punch out. They halved in bogies and went to the second tee. Lachlan’s approach was to 1m and he sunk it to win and Federal qualified for the final.
The other match saw Moore Park and Dubbo play a close contest, but Moore Park held on to win 4-2. It was once again 3-2 with one hole to play but Kaine from Moore Park held on to secure the win and then compete against Federal in the final.
