Simpson Cup boys go down to The Grange

Report by Geoff Attenborough

Glenelg’s Simpson Cup team had a tough assignment on Sunday travelling to Highercombe Golf Club to play The Grange. Unfortunately it turned out to be a disappointing day losing 6-1.

Grange toughed out a grinding win in difficult conditions, with a very cold wind and at times heavy rain. The 6-1 loss was not a cut and dried win for Grange with two matches going to the 17th hole and three matches going to the 18th hole.

Henry Duregon was our first match out at no 7 and played steady golf for the first seven holes but then had few problems around the greens to slip down to 2 down after nine holes. Henry could not gain any ground and eventually lost his match 5/3.

Anthony Olsen got off to a fast start being 3 up at six however his opponent found his form and gained ground to be only 1 down after nine. This match ebbed and flowed with Anthony getting back to 2up after 14 holes but then lost a hole to be 1up standing on the 17th tee, Unfortunately Anthony lost this hole after his opposite number made a great up and down for par and Anthony made a bogey to lose the hole and have a half.

Dave Hiern had a day to forget losing his match 6/5. David was never in the game being six holes down after eight and, with his very experienced opponent playing good solid par golf in poor conditions, was never allowed into his match.

Josh Hayes at no 4 played good steady golf as was his opponent. This match was a tough battle with Josh being up then his Grange opponent would gain the upper hand. This continued for the whole match until Josh made a mistake on the 16th hole overshooting the green and not being able to get up and down, losing the hole to be 2 down with two to play. Unfortunately, Josh could only halve the 17th to lose 2/1.

Will Starkey had a match similar to Josh being up a couple of holes then being back to square or 1 down then back to 1 up. This continued for his whole match but Will’s more experienced opponent kept applying pressure and finally closed out the match 1 up. This was good quality match and Will will be better the experience.

Lachlan Barker had an enthralling battle with his Grange opponent. There was only one or two holes maximum being either up or down between these two all match. Lachlan, at 16 years of age, showed great maturity against a very experienced state player to grind out a half. Lachlan had a one hole advantage standing on the par 3 18th hole – unfortunately Lachlan missed the green and could not get up and down to make par and lost the hole to have a half.

Ben Hallam at no1 played even par golf in very trying conditions but could not get over the line losing 2/1 to two-time state amateur champion, Jack Williams. This was a high quality match going to the 17th hole. This match highlighted what is needed at this top level with both players touch around the greens being of the highest level.

The Glenelg boys were close but being close is not good enough and need to eliminate some mistakes at crucial times. This was evident today with Grange just holding the upper hand when it got to the real business end.

We can and must regroup with a solid second half of the pennant season.

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