Men’s Pennant Update: Round 6
Published on 21st July 2023 in Club, Guests News, Members News
Division 1
Wayne Murray, Div 1 Manager
In what was probably the most closely fought fixture of the season thus far, Joondalup finally prevailed winning three matches, losing one and squaring three. Of the three matches going down the last, we won one, halved one and lost one so not much in it overall.
It was a magnificent winter’s day at the RPGC in South Perth, a nice brisk breeze out of the north , lovely sunshine and no sign of rain. Connor, delegated the toss to me as he was in fear of losing one but I called correctly on his behalf and we led off the fixture. The golf course was well presented in spite of the difficult recent weather.
Scott Baker started us off and was soon two down after his mate started by birdying the first two. He quickly bounced back and was three up after a solid run over the next five holes. The second half see sawed and the match tightened. Both players missed the short but difficult sixth par three but our man chipped brilliantly to tap in and close out the match 3/2.
Pat Sevilla again playing in the very awkward number six spot against gifted junior George Barclay who was firing from the outset.With five holes remaining, Pat was three down and only one over par. George was two under at this time and Pat recovered to two after a long range birdie on the short par four fourth. George won the difficult fifth with a clever chip using the sloping contours to great effect. Pat couldn’t match him and finally succumbed 4/2.
With Mandeep unavailable this week, Connor dropped down to five but ran into a hot Lachlan Hall. It was hard to watch but Lachy just had it over Connor on Sunday and took his one
up position down the final hole to hang on and win. This was probably the key match in the fixture and in the end told the tale.
Rocco Cucchiara dropped down one spot in the order to allow Adam Hatch to return to number three spot on the team and was soon on the scoreboard. Playing another “lefty” in Nate Johnson the match was very even until just after the turn. Nate grabbed the lead after a brilliant chip to “tap in” distance with Rocco thirty metres away playing second at the eighteenth. As happens in this crazy game a little momentum shift can turn things very quickly and a couple of holes can change the entire dynamic of the match. Rocco took it to the par three sixth where he lost and succumbed in the end 4/2.
Adam Hatch, returning to the team after a week off started out well against young Rory McKinney (brother of Connor McKinney, a 2023 British Open starter and 2022 Australian Amateur Champion) taking an early lead in their match. Hatchy was just too steady early against the long hitting Junior. Adam worked his way to a couple up at the turn but young Rory held tough and forced the match into a contest of wills down the stretch. Unfortunately Hatchy probably saw a little too much of me on Saturday and flubbed his tee shot a little on the par three sixth to let Rory see some light at the end of the tunnel. Rory went down the final hole only one down and fortunately for him, snuck a win, squaring the match after being
behind all day.
Alex maxwell playing at number two against Joondalup’s Tom Botica had a tricky start at their first hole; the par five ninth at Royal Perth. They were neck and neck through the round. Alex, still being a steady soul he is, holed from across the green on six to bring the match to a deficit of one. He won the seventh to go down the last all even. A fitting half on the final hole saw
a level finish.
Zach Capelli was drawn to play Joondalup’s only winner from last week in young Kingsley boy and US Collegiate golfer from the University of Georgia in Gareth Steyn. Gareth was promoted to number one in place of young Tom Addy who flew out to play in the Singapore Open next week. What a match this was going to be. Both players in red hot form and both coming off solid wins in round five.
As forecast, the match was off to a flyer with Zach taking an early lead, winning the first with a two putt birdie. Gareth was quickly back into the match racing into the lead and being five under the card at the turn with a lead of four. As happens at this level of golf Zach, also under par, got onto a charge, winning holes one and two with birdies to only be two down with seven to play. The match see sawed through and was squared by Gareth’s remarkable birdie and he finished six under the card.
A remarkable fixture against last years Pennant winners and our boys should be very proud of their performance on Sunday and look forward to finishing off their season next week against Mt Lawley at Karrinyup in what promises to be an interesting fixture. Both clubs are evenly poised on points and whilst both can’t make the final or be relegated, it should be an interesting tussle with some great match ups on offer.
We at RFGC thank Royal Perth Golf Club for their excellent hospitality and professional presentation of Round Six 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, Division 4 Captain
Division Four headed down the Forrest Highway all the way to Bunbury to take on Hartfield (1) in a must win game for both teams.
Out first was the youngest of the team in Kloden Brown. A tight match most of the day however Kloden found himself dormie 2 down. A solid Par on 17 as his opponent found trouble took the game down the 18th. Kloden then proceeded to pop his second shot within 2 feet of the hole and a tap in birdie to finish all square – clutch!!
Next was Andrew Langdon taking on the Hartfield team captain. Another close game before Andrew rattled off a couple of wins in a row and boom, the game was done with Andrew winning 2/1.
Brett Roberts was next taking on T20 cricket specialist in Jono Wells. And again it was a close affair until some untimely sub-optimal golf from Wristy resulted in a 3/2 loss.
Going out at number 4 was Patrick Kearney who was playing well and was dormie 3 up. A bogey on the 16th followed by a birdie from way off the green in the next by his opponent meant he was 1 up going down the 18th. A solid par meant a great 1 up victory.
Darren Goss was off next – birdies in 3 of his first 4 holes meant a lonely day as his opponent was not impressed. Slowly his opponent worked his way back into the game and after a fortunate up n down on the 16th to his opponent, Darren was 1up. A wayward drive on the 17th resulted in the match going down the 18th all square. Darren had a tough lie and managed to then his 2nd up towards the clubhouse- challenge accepted! An amazing up n down left the match all square.
Next out was Alan Becker. After some average golf early on and being 3 down, Boris worked himself back into the match before rolling in some birdies on the back nine. 2up with 3 to go Boris knocked a 5 iron to 2 feet in the tough 16th to take the 3/2 win.
And last out and making his 2023 pennant debut was Brendan Allanby. Up early however a stumble in the middle holes left Brendan 2 down with 4 to go. Win on 15, great putt to halve 16 and then an awesome up n down for birdie on the 17th left the game all square down the 18th. Both players hit bombs and flicked wedges to on the green. Brendan’s birdie putt just didn’t break and after a nervy 2 putt by his opponent, the match finished all square.
So a close run affair however Royal Fremantle took the win 4.5 / 2.5.
So we are still alive in the race to make the final. A big win against Kwinana and a Rockingham win (the host club) over Royal Perth and you just never know!!
Division 5
Marcus Cronan, Div 5 Captain
This week we ventured down the road to play at Meadow Springs against the table topping side from Bunbury. In a tight race at the top of the table, could sniff an upset!
Off first was the ever-reliable Rob. A former member of Secret Harbour, he knows the links style courses well and was keen to get the job wrapped up early. As always, straight off the tee and steady approaches into the green saw Rob mount some pressure on to his mate before sealing the deal for a 3&1 win.
At 6 was Dan, who fresh off a large win last week was keen to replicate his form. Dan had all the tricks, making long putts, holing out from the sand and banter that eventually wore his mate out early for another very solid 5&4 win.
Chris Davenport followed, fresh off a holiday, and with a new driver in the bag he was pumped up to get his elusive first win in pennants. Unfortunately, the new driver was up to the old tricks with a snap hook off this first striking trouble early. Keeping his cool and straightening out the big stick, Davo compiled a string of great holes to race out to big lead early in the back 9. Continuing the good form, Davo got the job done 5&4!
3 in the sheds from 3 matches and we were looking good. Ruggers went off at 4 against the opposing captain, Wazz. Some very steady golf from both players saw the match remain within 2 shots either way. A sneaky 10-footer directly downhill on the 16th saw Wazz win the hole and level the match. Stepping up to our 17th (the 8th), a 160m down breeze par 3 over 150m of water, Wazz dumped one in the drink to give ruggers a 1 up lead going down the last. Unfortunately, a tough break green side saw ruggers slip to make double and lose the hole to halve the match. 3.5 in the shed!
Dave Pollock went out at 3, and as Dave always does, kept the ball in play off the tee. Some wayward iron shots and a cool putter made it hard for Dave to fight his way into the match. Dave fought tirelessly to keep in touch before eventually getting closed out 3&2 in a good match.
I went out at 2 and played steady golf. Giving 2 shots to a player that should have been in div 1 was going to be a hard ask. 12/12 fairways, 11/12 greens, 6 birdies, 1 bogey and 5 under the card through 12 holes is what my mates score card looked like! Unfortunately for me, my 3 over par through 12 wasn’t enough to keep up and I got dealt a 7&6 spanking despite playing well.
Mark Merlino anchored the side again, and his run of good form continued so much so that he was playing off 2. Giving up a huge 4 shots Mark was unphased. With Fiancé, Sophia, along for the walk and offering strong words of encouragement Mark fought all the way through to 18 with the match square. Giving up a shot on the par 4 9th hole in front of both teams the pressure was on. Marks mate played the hole perfectly hitting the fairway and green which was enough to sign Mark’s fate for a tough 1 down loss.
A gallant effort that saw us get a half for the second consecutive week. In a weird twist of events, all 4 matches for div 5 were halved and no change made to the ladder. A big final round with a lot of pride to play for we take on Hartfield at Kwinana in hope we can leapfrog a few on the ladder and finish the season how we started.
Division 6
Stewart Jarvis, Div 6 Captain
Once again we lucked in with the weather, and had a bright, sunny day for our match against Kennedy Bay at Rockingham. However, we did have to contend with a howling nor easterly, which made many holes straight into or with on the course and very difficult to judge. Kennedy Bay mixed up their lineup and had some lower markers than previous weeks. This meant we had much fewer shots to give, and even the opportunity to get a shot in one match.
Mike (Mingers) lead us off and was in the club house with a solid 3/1 win. He and his opponent hardly halved a hole the first nine, but another solid putting round saw him put his foot down and close the match out. He was discussing new clubs over dinner, so he is taking this pennants thing seriously.
Stuart Wade was starving by the time I saw him, because he had been finished for 1.5 hrs with a 7/6 win. Six straight pars on the front nine saw him massively up at the turn and he closed the deal soon after that. Even bombing it 50m over the back of the ninth was no problem, an easy up and down and another hole won.
Ryan Hudson had his dad on the bag again, and with that calming influence he brought home a great 3/1 win. Dormy two up and with both of them in the scrub off the tee, he played a really smart hole to finish. He hit a beautiful pitch onto the tricky 17th green that left a tap in and it was all over.
I had another good day off the tee and on the greens. I was three up after nine but my opponent then decided to let his putter run hot. He holed everything including a 25m putt from off the green. I dug deep, hit some great shots and closed him out 3/1.
Kennedy Bay informed us over drinks that the worst player in their team after next week has to get a tattoo! We had some good fun deciding what that would look like. That won’t be a problem for Pete Pusmucans as he secured a very solid 4/2 victory as our number one player this week. Great to see him get a W for the team and his score sheet.
Elijah Turiff-Smith drew the non stop talking ex Div 5 Captain. He got the psych ops deal from the old navy warrant officer. Timers when looking for balls, not declaring Provisionals correctly, stories of past RFGC wrongs. Then a hole out from the bunker for birdie, followed by another long putt bomb had him four down. He fought back to a respectable 2/1 loss. Given his opponent plays Rockingham regularly, and this was his first outing there, there was much learnt from his match.
Kane played another solid round but wasn’t able to get ahead on the back nine. He went down 2/1 in a tight finish.
We had a great finish in the club house with pizzas put on by Rockingham. Pete wanted a speech, but we haven’t done those for eight years….must have been at the bar…..
Next week it is a dead rubber, Royal Perth are unbeatable. However, we get to drive to Bunbury and take on Bunbury at home. We have beaten teams that have beaten Bunbury, so it will be a great match!!!