Bonnar Cup team scramble half against RA

Report by Wayne Humphries
Team Manager

A half is better than a loss but not as good as a win!!

On a day that was bitterly cold, very windy, some nice sunshine patches and the occasional downpour all players were challenged to maintain concentration on playing steady golf.

In a see-sawing battle it was a day of fluctuating fortunes – It was a again a very tight match all day –  early on Glenelg was up in three games, square in two and down in two but after nine holes the situation had deteriorated with Glenelg only one up in two games, square in two games and behind in three. Late in the day it was looking very grim – after 16 holes we were only ahead in two games, square in one and behind in four games. But five of our players won the 17th hole (the par 3, 8th) to get 3 threematches back to square, take the lead in another match and finish one match victorious.

So with one hole to play we were suddenly in the box seat – we now had won one game (James McDonald at No.1), were ahead in two, square in three and had lost one (Braeden Kelly at No. 5).

But the 18th hole (the par 4, 9th) was full of drama.

Marty Ardill at No. 7, after taking an early lead was 3 down with four to play – he called on all his wily experience to win three holes in a row from his younger opponent and was all square playing that last hole. Both players played nice tee shots and approach shots on to the green. Marty had a steady two foot putt for his par but the young fellow from Royal Adelaide ran his first putt some three feet past the hole on the slick green and when he missed the return putt, left Marty with a remarkable come from behind win 1 up.

John Noble at No.6 got off to a flying start, being 3 up after four. However his opponent kept hanging in and with just three holes to go John was 2 down. He won the next two holes to get back to square playing that last hole. Unfortunately John’s drive found the trees and rough to the right and had to chip out side ways – then his opponent played a great second shot to within two feet of the hole to win the match 1 up.

Braeden Kelly at No. 5 recovered from a disastrous start (5 down after five against an opponent playing some flawless golf) to get to the 17th and lose 2/1.

James Bridgen at No.4 was matched against the legendary David Cherry. James was leading one up for most of the day but lost the 16th hole to be square. He then holed a nice eight foot putt for par to win the 17th hole and be 1 up playing that last hole. However a pushed drive caught the trees for James to lose the hole and finish with a squared game.

Ben Magi at No.3 had a tight tussle over the first nine holes to be one up and then won three holes in a row to go 4 up after 12 holes – however with a mix of good play from his opponent and a couple of loose shots and missed putts from Ben, saw Ben 1 up playing that last hole. However after a nice tee shot from Ben, he played a loose approach shot which opened the door for his opponent to win the hole and square their match.

Meanwhile James McDonald at No 1. had overcome his opponent to win his game 2/1. James was 1 down for most of his game but played solidly to be square after 15 holes and then won both the 16th and 17th for a badly needed win. James was aware of the team situation and that it was likely his result would determine the team result, so a great effort under that added pressure.

So that left Will Starkey at No.2 playing that last hole. The match was now all tied up with two wins, two losses and two halves for both sides.

Will was 3 down early on but recovered to go one up after 10 but by the 16th hole had dropped back to one down. Will’s opponent had an eight foot putt on the 17th hole to win the hole and their game but charged it past some three feet, only to miss the return putt and their game was now all square. What a let off!

On that last hole both players missed the green (albeit Will’s approach shot had too much back spin to roll back off the green!) The RA player chipped over the bunker to five feet and then Will hit his chip too strongly to roll 20 feet away. A steady two putt from Will left his opponent with another chance to salvage a win and a win in the match. Fortunately for the Glenelg boys, his putt slid past the hole and the match was halved.

Both teams had their chances to win the contest, so in the end a squared match was probably a fair result.

As a result of other matches though, a win would have secured our place in the final in two weeks’ time.

As it is we are still well placed to make the final – we have one match to play next Sunday against Tea Tree Gully at Kooyonga from 12.15pm. Tea Tree Gully need to beat us 6/1 to get ahead of us (and that will NOT happen!) and Blackwood need to beat Grange and rely on Tea Tree Gully beating us for them to make the final – so our fate is in our own hands – just win next week and we make the final against Grange at Flagstaff Hill on July 13th.

Round 6 Results

Bonnar Cup Table after round 6

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