Men’s Pennant Update – Round 7
Published on 26th July 2023 in Club, Guests News, Members News
Division 1
Wayne Murray, Div 1 Manager
I seem to be saying this every week but Sunday’s fixture definitely was the tightest one for the season and once again we just came up a just little short; also a theme of sorts which encapsulates our 2023 Div One pennant season.
If one looks at the scores in the final results, it is easy to identify the tightness of the matches. Only Rocco Cucchiara didn’t get full value from his green fee playing sixteen holes before surrendering, but that result in itself wasn’t a true reflection of the tussle that took place. Every other match went up the final hole before a result was confirmed. Really an amazing statistic.
Mount Lawley finally prevailed, winning three matches and squaring two. We won two and squared two so the overall was a 4/3 loss.
It was a magnificent winter’s day at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club with brilliant sunshine and a slight northerly breeze. Connor again called correctly with the toss making five of five calling heads and we batted with Scottie Baker leading us off. The course as usual for LKCC was magnificently presented and the field was sent off by starter Chris Shrappe, a former RFGC stalwart and now LKCC board member.
Scottie, playing against lefty Rick McKenna was in control early but clearly knew he had a match on his hands as the metronomic Rick just kept knocking it down the fairway and forcing Scottie to make the pace. Fortunately he was steady enough to this on a consistent basis and the match progressed along those lines all day. There was never more than a hole in the contest throughout and as the match headed up the last, Scottie found himself one down and all to play for.
Scottie drove it just short of the bunkers on the right hand side of nine (their eighteenth) whilst his mate bombed it forty metres past but left an always tricky up hill pitch. Scottie walked the 150 metres or so up the hill to the green to look first hand at the pin and the configuration around it and all the way back down to his ball. (Grand old Duke of York) It proved a winning strategy as his approach was almost perfect and he left himself about a metre or so for birdie and a win on the hole and to square the match. His mate’s pitch came up well short, a subsequent poor chip lead to a concession and the match was halved. A very fitting result from two really competitive veterans.
Scottie has had a solid season, initially starting out playing number six but nicely settling into seven and being very successful there. His cool demeanour rubs off on the team and our thanks go out to Scottie for stepping up and we look forward to having him on board in Div One next year.
Pat Sevilla again playing in the very awkward number six spot against Mount Lawley’s wily veteran John Ryan certainly knew he had a match on his hands with JR coming back strongly
after Pat had bounced into an early lead. What a match this was with both players holding narrow advantages throughout the day. The match started fast for Pat and he looked in control early but JR had other thoughts. The match see sawed throughout the afternoon with Pat taking a one hole lead up the last. Both players were only a couple over the card when Pat held on to halve the last and win the match one up. Thanks to Pat for stepping up and filling in this season and being the competitive beast he is.
We welcomed back Brendon Allenby for the first time this season in Div One and looked forward to the stability Brendon brings to the group. He started strongly against his mate Jordan Flatman and was ahead most of the afternoon with strong steady play. A couple of little slips and some inspired play by Jordan allowed him back into the match which saw Jordan going up the final hole one up. A good drive up the left and with Brendon seemingly dead in the right rough, it looked like a two down loss for our man. However as often happens in this format, Brendon conjured a brilliant recovery and maintained the status quo, finishing one down. Hopefully next season will see more of Brendon in Div One.
Connor was back into his customary role at number four and playing against Mt Lawley’s Brendan Nazar. This was an unusual match with both players gaining an ascendance on a pretty regular basis. Connor, playing his usual “hit it hard” game was always in the match, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind but never in any doubt of where this match was headed. Both players had opportunities to close it out but unfortunately the attrition finally told on Connor and he was finally overwhelmed on the last to go down by one hole. This was yet another match that headed up the last for a result.
It must be said, there is a very fine line between success and not succeeding and in this game of matchplay golf, sometimes deserving doesn’t quite cut it and fortune sometimes doesn’t favour you. Connor has led our Club this season with great strength and commitment and we thank him for his considerable efforts both on and off the golf course. We look forward to seeing you back at the helm in 2024.
Rocco promoted back into the number three slot for this fixture showed early the promise he is going to bring to this club in coming years by again waging a skill war with his contemporary from MLGC in young Ken Gao. As mentioned in last weeks notes, Rocco and Ken have a bit of a history with Ken holding the chocolates for the moment. The match started at a frenetic pace with both young bulls whacking it miles and wracking up hole wins in turn.
Rocco made the most remarkable birdie on the shortish par four (10th), leaving his tee shot pretty much hard up against a tree forty metres right of the green. He blasted an abbreviated
chip to eight metres and drained the putt, his mate just slid his by and yet another change in fortunes in this remarkable match. Each had a turn in the lead and a really hot stretch saw Kenny sneak in front with a few to play. Rocco with Dad Tony on the bag finally succumbed after sixteen to go down 4/2.
In what was Rocco’s first full season in Div One, he has cemented himself into the tough number three spot. He certainly has had some difficult opposition there but has acquitted himself well to the role. We see Rocco being in about that spot for the next few seasons and as his game develops and circumstances allow, he will continue to be one of the drivers that see RFGC back into pennant success.
Alex Maxwell playing at number two against Mt Lawley’s Christian Nicholls started well and was quickly a couple of holes up. He played really well throughout and was in control at the turn. Alex’s mate Christian has a tempo issue and must be difficult to play against, however to Alex’s credit he persisted and was reasonably comfortable with a few to play. As matchplay often
does, Christian went on a hot streak and Alex’s lead was reduced to one. A bit of good fortune bought Christian back into the match and it headed up the last with Alex just one up. Yet another slice of matchplay luck (skill) had Christian winning the last to halve the match. It was one of those matches you would like to have again.
Alex heads back to college in the US in a week or so and it has been wonderful having him back and completing a full season with us. He has had a solid year playing number two and takes a very good experience base back with him to Nevada in August. We hope we can get another slice of him next season on his mid semester break and further enhance our tilt at another pennant title.
Zach Capelli, playing all season in the difficult number one spot further enhanced his burgeoning reputation by completing a clinical win over the extremely talented Mt Lawley and former Columbus State University star Jordan Doull 2/1. In an extremely exciting and even match, both players slugged it out all day before Zach finally worked his way to the front at the long par five seventh, holding a clutch two metre birdie putt to go one up. The par three eighth was halved evenly in threes and yet another match headed up the last for resolution.
Zach ripped his drive well up the left hand side with only about a hundred metres go looked pretty safe and home; Jordan pulled his drive into what seemingly was a hopeless situation left and (I thought dead) in the bush. Zach hit an amazing wedge right over the flag stick by three metres, spinning back to half a metre, a magnificent clutch shot. Jordan, not to be dismissed smashed his recovery through the jungle to beyond the green side crowd to be left with a difficult twenty metre downhill chip and remote chance of halving should Zach miss. A brave effort, but a missed putt saw a concession of Zach’s tap in birdie and the match closed out 2 Up.
A enthralling match between the two number ones, with both players deep in red numbers at the completion. This is the type of match that attracts the attention of the pennant world and makes this wonderful format such an important part of golf in WA. Zach, playing in the number one spot throughout the season has demonstrated his growing class, consistency and grit and will continue to lead our efforts in securing our next flag before too long.
Whilst RFGC didn’t have the results we might have hoped for this season, we should be very proud that given a modicum of better fortune we might have been in next week’s final. We were in every fixture throughout and it shows just how tough it is to win at this level. Next week’s thirty six hole final between Royal Perth GC and Lake Karrinyup CC to be played at our home course should be a fixture for the ages. Recently promoted Royal Perth, will be trying very hard to equal Royal Fremantle’s twenty two pennants and hopefully our members will get out and enjoy the wonderful skills of these teams.
We at RFGC thank Lake Karrinyup Country Club for their excellent hospitality and professional presentation of Round Seven of the 2023 Div One Pennant competition. There are not too many better ways to spend a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon than watching these exciting golfers display their talents in a way most of us mere mortals only dream about.
Division 4
Brett Roberts, Div 4 Captain
Division 5
Marcus Cronan, Div 5 Captain
For our final fixture of the 2023 season, we headed to Kwinana GC to take on Hartfield GC in a battle for pride and with the hope of jumping a few spots on the ladder. With a late change at 9:30 the morning of the fixture with Michael “Ruggers” Ruggiero out due to illness, we scrambled to find a 7th player with 90 minutes warning. Enter Jason Cecchi for his first match of pennants for RFGC.
Jason Cecchi led us off in his debut game of pennants packed full of enthusiasm and excitement. In a first, we were receiving 2 shots in this match up! Jase started slowly with some errant tee shots but warmed into the match just in time for his 15th club to arrive, his caddy for the day, brother Alex who is never short of a word of encouragement to the opposition. Jase fought gallantly to take his match all the way to the 18th before falling shy for a 2 down loss. A great effort in his first ever game of pennants and off 90 minutes notice!
Elijah Turriff-Smith followed at 6 with his tactful approach of less is more. Rolling a carry bag with only 7 clubs there wasn’t even room for his jumper or a water bottle. Good thing Rob Murrell was behind, as he gave Turry a bottle of water and lugged his jumper around all day. Some good golf from both players saw Turry heading down the 18th 1 down. A cleverly played hole saw Turry have a 2 putt par to win the hole and take a half for the match. A great effort with only 7 clubs!
Rob Murrell shuffled down to number 5 this week, but this didn’t phase him. A warm up routine of 0 range balls, 0 chips, 3 putts and he was ready to go. Rob was clinical again today and proved why he is a seriously good match player giving nothing away and constantly staying in holes. Robs only stumble was his literal stack in the bar afterwards that saw him going flying across the bar floor! Another 3&2 win for Rob to cap off a great year.
Dan Waters went off mid pack and continuing his trend having to give shots again. A huge drive down the 10th saw Dan very close to the putting surface to put some pressure on early. Some solid golf on the holes where required to give shots saw Dan eliminate that advantage. Unfortunately, Dan’s putter has been as cold as some of the winter mornings this season and saw him stumble on the 18th for another agonizing 1 down loss. A solid year none the less from the big hitter.
Chris Davenport was promoted to number 3 fresh off his big win last week. Giving a shot on the 10th hole (our first) gave Davo a free swing at driver, however, as the trend of the season has gone, a big snap hook started his round. I’ve been assured that this was the one and only for the day as there was a string of birdies that followed. Davo pushed out to a small lead mid way through the back 9 before hanging on with some strong pars to get his 2nd straight win 2&1.
Dave Pollock slotted in to number 2 this week and in very uncharacteristic fashion started his round with a lost ball that only just found the tree line. Some wayward golf from both players off the tee saw them struggling early before Dave wrestled his way to a lead. A battle on the putting surface was the story of the back 9, with Dave winning the battle and the match 2&1 to secure us 3.5 points in the shed.
I reluctantly moved myself to number 1 after getting flogged last week. Up against a sneaky left hander I started poorly blowing out the first 3 holes to slip to a 3 down margin. This quickly turned on 13 hitting a wedge to 3 inches, followed by a 6 iron on the par 3 14th to 5 feet. Turning square, the match began on the back. I continued my inconsistent golf with double on 2 followed by 3 birdies and 2 pars to eventually pull away and wrap my match up 3&2, a pleasing bounce back from last week..
A very unfortunate season for Div 5 with book end wins, 2 halves and 3 losses by the narrowest of margins (4/3) saw us finish in 5th position. A very strong Bunbury outfit managed to win in round 7 to cement their spot on the top of the table and lock in a date with Wanneroo to duke it out for the division 5 pennant. We wish the team from Bunbury all the very best in their pursuit of the pennant and we hope they can manage to keep it in the south! A great effort by all teams this season against the odds with player availability. Thankyou to all the other team captains, Connor Faulds, Brett Roberts and Stew Jarvis for their efforts this season along with Nick Overkov in the coordinator position. Onwards and upwards in pursuit of more flags in 2024!
Division 6
Stewart Jarvis, Div 6 Captain
We didn’t finish on top of the table this year, that result was for Royal Perth with seven wins. We did however have a great season as a team representing our Club, Royal Fremantle. I want to thank all the boys who stepped up and travelled many kilometers, showed great team spirit and sportsmanship over the seven rounds. We were fortunate that we had mostly good weather, the courses we played were presented well.
Our last match was at Bunbury against Bunbury. As Pete Pusmucans said, “They must really want to come second”, because they fielded a team that left us giving a lot of shots on their home ground. We were not able to hold the Bunbury team off and went down 4.5/2.5.
It was good to have Alex Hall back after his week overseas and he had a solid 2/1 win. This was his first season of Pennants and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Kane Litterick finished his season in style with a bomb birdie on the last to win 2up. Kane was a rock solid member of the team and it was great to see him playing in the men’s division now. Ryan “Huddo” Hudson also dropped a bomb on the 17th for birdie, but so did his opponent on 18, and they finished square. Stuart Wade was up most of the match, but a couple of bad bounces and putts saw him go down 2/1. This was Stu’s first season in pennants for RFGC and it was great to have him with us. Michael Ingram had his most enjoyable match of the season, in a back and forth affair. Unfortunately a poor tee shot on the 18th put him in the trees and he went down by 1.Pete and I had shockers, and got solidly beaten due to our poor putting performances. Shout out to Judd Ingleton who joined us at Royal Perth in his debut pennants match in the men’s division. Also thanks to Turry for stepping in between teams and helping when needed.
Royal Fremantle is well respected as a Club in men’s pennants and we are seen as tough but fair opponents. I hope that this will continue going forward next year with continued support from the Club, members and supporters.
Thanks for the honour of leading the division Six team this year.