Final Day at the Encourage Shield State Finals!
The playoff match saw Shelley Beach leading 3 ½ to 2 ½ at the turn in good weather but being plagued by mosquitos. No amount of Aerogard stopped them swarming around arms, legs and heads, making concentrating on a golf swing or a putt very difficult. MNC staged a comeback to make the match very close and eventually Shelley Beach won 3 ½ to 2 ½.
At the turn In the final, Port Kembla were leading comfortably in the #1, #2 and #6 games, but trailed narrowly in the other 3 games. Even, but in favour of Port Kembla. There were no real changes on the back nine and although the tight games were not decided until 16 and 17, the result was a tied match at 3/3. A sudden death playoff would decide the match. The #1 players from each team started again on the 1st hole, a par 4 with an elevated green. Port Kembla was lying just short with an uphill chip for 2 while Kareela was over the back left with a difficult chip just to stay on the green for 3. He played a great chip to about 6m, while his opponent chipped up to about 1 ½ metres but with a slight breaking putt. Both players 2 putted for bogies and went to the second hole, a longer par 4. Being off 8, Kareela had a shot on this hole. Both players hit great drives and after good approach shots, were putting for birdies. The game looked to swing in favour of Kareela. Kareela putted first to about 1metre, and Port Kembla just shaved the hole and went past by just over a metre. He made the par putt giving Kareela a chance to seal the win with his 1 metre putt. He holed the putt giving Kareela the State Championship for 2011. A very close and exciting finish.
All teams represented their Clubs with distinction, the standard of play on the challenging Newcastle course was very good and the conduct of the players was excellent.
State Champions – Kareela Golf Club
Runner Up – Port Kembla Golf Club
Third Place – Shelly Beach Golf Club
Fourth Place – Mid North Coast
Day 1
The Encourage Shield State Final got underway yesterday in clearing conditions after a very wet morning.Kareela and Shelly Beach started evenly and at the end of nine holes were very close, with Shellybeach leading narrowly three games to two with one game tied. The weather had cleared and the wind strength had increased to around 20 kilometers an hour from the north east.The second nine at Newcastle has several tight drives and proved to be a different prospect to the front 9 with Kareela fighting back to take the match 4-2.
The semi final between Port Kembla and Mid North Coast was a breathtaking contest. At the turn, Mid North Coast had 3 games in front, 1 Sq and Port Kembla leading the 1 and 2 games comfortably. Once again the second 9 proved to be a different prospect. Port Kembla fought back but with 1 hole remaining for the 3 and 4 players, it was still anyone's match. With 30 spectators crowding the final hole, there were still 3 possible results. Under pressure to win the match, the number 4 player from Mid North Coast sunk a 20 foot putt to put pressure on the Port Kembla player, and needing to make the putt to win the match and make it 3-2, he did. And the crowd went wild !!! This left the number 3 player from Port Kembla needing to sink an 8 foot putt to win the match, and he did, and Port Kembla went through to the final.
Kareela and Port Kembla are through to Tuesday's final, and Shelley Beach play Mid North Coast in the playoff for 3rd.
