Golf club has depth to spare

THIRTEENTH Beach golf star Stephen Symons says his club’s amazing depth is the driving force behind its dominant start to the pennant season.

The powerhouse club is undefeated in its four matches and has lost just four individual games so far.

It puts it in a dominant position heading into pennant finals, with Clifton Springs, East Geelong and Queens Park in contention for second place.

Stephens, Stewart Drayton, Lachie Bath, Troy Tainton, Frank Fowler, Owen Spackman, Wes King, Jarrod Baird and Adrian Wheat have all represented Thirteenth Beach this year, with competition for spots at an all-time high.

“The last few spots are really tight. There’s a lot of pressure on you — if you do get your chance you need to take it,” Symons said.

“To have that depth is really good. It’s just like an AFL team.

“If you have 28 guys instead of 22, then it keeps everyone on edge.”

Thirteenth Beach made it four from four on Sunday with a comprehensive 5.5-1.5 win over Clifton Springs.

Teenage golfer Lachie Bath was the only one to lose his match, going down to Ricky Parker 4&2.

But Bath has been a revelation this season, winning his three other matches.

Stephens said Bath had been a breath of fresh air in the team and backed him to continue to have a big impact in the team.

“Lachie has come in and been really good,” Symons said.

“He has been sensational, his attitude, you can just tell he is super happy to be there and keen as mustard.

“He was gutted (he lost to Parker), and I like that because you see it means so much to him.

“We are not getting any younger, us old boys, so to keep a few young ones coming through is definitely good.”

Symons said Thirteenth Beach was taking “nothing for granted” despite its dominant start to the season.

“In 18-hole match play, if you get off to a bad start then you can be under a lot of pressure very quickly,” he said.

“We are taking nothing for granted at this stage, we just want to keep it (our form) rolling.”

Stephens is in good form himself, winning his first Thirteenth Beach club championship.

He edged out Stewart Drayton for the title, getting one back on his pennant captain after tasting defeat in 2016.

Pennant breaks for Easter this weekend, but will return on April 28 with Queens Park set to host.