Golfers tee-off in finals
THE practice range has copped a hammering all week and the time is finally here for the region’s best golfers to earn the spoils in the FNQ Golf Association Inter Club Pennants this weekend.
Clubs will converge on Palmer Sea Reef golf course, Port Douglas, this morning for the semi-final of the team matchplay showcase in A, B and C grades, to be completed with today’s winners playing in the final tomorrow.
Paradise Palms player Matt Velicki said his side was looking to go one better than a semifinal exit last year when they take on Southern Districts.
“If we get to the final we’re pretty confident we can compete with anyone we’re matched up against,” he said.
Velicki will need to do his part and beat Jake Perkins, undefeated this season so far, and while normally a friendly affair, he said things might be a bit more serious in the battle.
“I would think it would be amped up a little bit more. We’ve practised a little more this week than other weeks and I’m ready to go and keen as mustard,” he said.
Southern Districts captain Perkins said the team had defied expectations all season so there was no reason they couldn’t turn around the 4-1 defeat against the same opponent in the regular season.
“I hope we do but we’ll see how the day pans out,” he said.
“It will be a challenge but good conditions and we’ll hope for the best.”
Perkins talked up his team, including the addition of Rhys Camilleri, who has beaten him five times to the club championship at El Arish, and in form Niall Trickey and Chris Bowman to pull through victorious.
But all the talk is about Cairns Golf Club and Max Ford will be hoping to win the No.1 battle of the young guns against Gordonvale’s Trent Metcalf.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the match-up and I haven’t been No.1 before so it should be a good learning curve,” he said.
Ford, a Queensland rep, said while his team never bought into the expectations around them, he wanted to live up to them at one of his favourite courses, in his last pennant match before he moves to Brisbane.
Gordonvale’s Rob Riggall will be leading the charge in Bgrade and hoped it was time for his side to ditch the bridesmaid tag. He said the spirit between the grades could prove the difference.
“A lot of people are getting behind the players, which is great from the club and a lot of the A-graders have said if they don’t make the final they’ll hang around and support Bgrade and we’ll do the same, whether it be caddying or whatever, we’re all willing to put our hand up and help each other out,” Riggall said.