By Dave Ransom
Fourball Championship
SOME excellent combinations are developing in the club fourball matchplay championships.
In round 1 the B Pennant pairing of Tom Persson and Paul Hazeltine were just too strong for the gallant Ray Orr, Jim Henry combination winning on the 19th after making a strong comeback from a desperate position.
The experienced team of Mike Harris and Athol Casey proved to be too wily for their opponents, Ian Bradburn and Phil Adams winning comfortably 5 and 4.
Chris Goodwin and Dave Ransom had just enough to defeat the perennial winners Jeff O’Brien and Warwick Drew 3 and 2 exacting a ‘quantum of solace’ for past defeats.
Defending champions, Tony McRae and Peter Francis, were pushed all the way by Paul Rogers and Ron Hewson and took the lead for the first time on the last green to win 1 up.
In round 2 Paul and Tom will play Athol and Mike for a place in the final against Peter and Tony who destroyed the Goodwin – Ransom combination 4 and 2 in a see-sawing match that featured several birdies, mainly from the blade of Tony McRae.
Singles Championship
AFTER several close matches in round 1 the big guns displayed their wares and achieved large victories in round 2.
Paul Hazeltine playing flawless golf accounted for the gallant Simon Tedeschi 6 and 5. Paul Rogers, displaying superb form, accounted for the experienced match player, Michael Carr, 4 and 3 in what some said was an upset. Tony Panecasio was too strong for B Pennant player Pete Munro 4 and 3. Tom Persson defeated Ian Bradburn 4 and 3 in an excellent performance. Laurie Craft defeated Richard Bremner 3 and 1 in a close match that could have gone either way. Brian O’Hare also played strongly to defeat Warwick Drew 4 and 3. Arthur Bosanquet and Chris Goodwin progressed with the withdrawal of their opponents with injuries.
In Round 3 the excellent standard of golf was again evident. Playing to your handicap was not up to the mark and led to defeat.
Paul Hazeltine, playing with great confidence crushed Paul Rogers 6 and 5. Tony Panecasio also played strongly to thrash the highly favoured Tom Persson 6 and 5 in what must be said was a great performance. Arthur Bosanquet defeated Laurie Craft 3 and 1 in a very keenly contested match. Chris Goodwin surprised the in-form Brian O’Hare 7 and 5 in what Brian described was the ‘perfect storm’, taking him by surprise with its ferocity.
Our semi -finalists have been decided, and they are very exciting games indeed.
Who could pick a winner between Paul and Tony? They face-off both with surging confidence after strong performances throughout the tournament. It would not be a surprise to see this match need extra holes.
In the other semi-final Chris and Arthur play in another game that seems impossible for the writer to predict a winner. Chris’ rifling 1 and 2 irons against Arthur’s tight short game. It should be well worth watching.