Rawson defends Club Championship title

Campbell Rawson has defended his 2013 Club Championship title with a tightly fought victory over the 2011 Club Champion, Leigh Attenborough, in the 36 hole final played on Sunday at Glenelg.

Rawson, coming off a 5th place finish in the national selection event, The Dunes Medal, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula earlier in the week, started his title defence a bit rusty but as the day progressed, the form he had shown at The Dunes began to reappear.  Attenborough, who was looking to take out his second Club Championship, played steady golf for much of the day and never let Rawson get too far ahead on the scoreboard, however was never able gain the advantage over his opponent.

With Rawson one up at lunch, he shot out to a three hole lead following an eagle three at the par five, 5th hole, but Attenborough fought back over the following holes to bring the match back to square with a solid birdie at the uphill par three, 11th hole. 

With the match all square through 34 holes, Attenborough pulled his drive into the left trees on the 35th (17th) hole, leaving himself with a treacherous shot to a pin cut far-left.  Rawson, who had launched one of his trademark drives across the corner, had little more than 120 metres into the green when Attenborough’s approach caught the front bunker leaving him with an awkward lie and another difficult recovery shot.  Rawson’s approach was solid and two putts were all that was required to head down the 36th with a one hole advantage.

Both players pulled their drives left up the final hole, with Attenborough’s ball finding the trees and sandy waste.  Faced with a tough escape, Attenborough’s ball struck a pine tree, ricocheting further left into the treeline.  A smart recovery across the car park and onto the practice range gave Attenborough the best chance of keeping the match going, however two cool shots from Rawson saw him 20 feet from the hole, and with two putts for the victory and the 2014 Club Championship.

In the Max Dale Trophy (Senior Championship), Andrew Nash took the 2014 title in convincing fashion over Colin Wright, 5/4, Mark Carn was able to outplay the 2005 winner, Glenn Sterrey in the B Grade Championship final, winning his match 6/5, whilst in C Grade, Anton Clovicko defeated Ian Mather 3/2.  In the A Grade Plate, Sid Kookana defeated Martin Ardill on the 16th hole, Troy Perriam took his match to the 18th hole to claim the B Grade Plate over Phil Miller, and 14 year old Mitchell Ward showed poise beyond his young years to defeat Morrie Croucher 7/5 in the C Grade Plate.

Photo gallery coming soon…

2014 Club Championship Events