2015 Single Cup Match Play Report
The 2015 Single Cup was hosted at Coonamble High School in late July. The event included a match play competition. Each school nominated three golfers to compete in Division 1, Division 2 or Division 3. From Coonamble Mark Jones (Year 8) who is a regular at the local golf club competitions and who’s father is a talented A-Grade golfer was our Division 1 golfer. Adrian Davis was our Division 2 golfer and Robert Welsh was our Division 3 golfer.
Dominant performances by the D2/3 golfers from Coonabarabran saw them comfortably win the two lower divisions however things in Division 1 were neck and neck for the whole day. Mark (Coonamble), with a handicap of 24, was using his local knowledge of the course and the green speeds to really apply the pressure to the D1 player from Coonabarabran who played off a handicap of 12. Over 9 holes played they each won 3 holes, and tied a further two meaning a playoff hole to determine the winner. The tension grew waiting to tee off as the D3 players were still playing the final hole and as a result the Coonabarabran player pulled his tee shot to the left into an adjoining fairway. His recovery shot was on a perfect line but club selection let him down and the ball travelled over the green and through some dirt leaving 30m still to the pin and a difficult slope to negotiate. Meanwhile Mark Jones who is significantly smaller and so lacked the physical strength of the year 10 opponent kept things accurate and was just off the edge of the green for 2 shots. Coonabarabran’s chip shot fell short of the green and needing to hole the next shot to make par the ball rolled by the hole and he sunk it for a bogey. Mark having played the ball from the fringe many times knocked it to 3 ft from the hole and with the composure of a future champion sunk the right-to-left putt for par and his second consecutive Single Cup Title.
Highlighted shots from the day included a fantastic recovery shot from the D1 Coonabarabran player, a shot that looked too long was deceiving as it bounced once on the sand green and landed straight in the hole for a birdie. Adrian Davis made an incredible shot from 150+m away to land within 2ft of the hole on the par 5 and proceeded to knock in the putt and win the hole.
Congratulations to Mark Jones on his D1 title and to the other competitors from Gilgandra and Coonabarabran on a great day and some outstanding golf.
Special thanks goes to Garry, the REDEX team and Jack Newton Junior Golf for their generous golf equipment donations, these donations have been invaluable in providing opportunities for students to participate in golf and be regularly involved in meaningful activities outside of school hours. They are improving every day so watch this space!
