MEN’S SHOOTOUT
Nineteen eager, and in some cases nervous, golfers lined up for the 2018 men’s shootout final this year.
The first hurdle of the day is avoiding the ignominy of ‘the walk of shame’ or in other words being eliminated on the first hole.
Unfortunately this rather dubious honour went to Mark Tomsett who did very little wrong except miss a short putt, which put him in one of the many chip-offs on the day, and he was out.
Roger Bagshaw was next to go after a costly visit to the trees and then John Drent was eliminated on three after struggling off the tee into the strong head wind.
Mike Rose looked a shoo-in to be ousted on four after finding the plantation short of thewomen’s tee, however Nigel Sanderson gave him a reprieve by slicing his second shot 50m into the neighbouring farmer’s paddock. After playing an excellent fourth shot close to the green, Nigel’s poor chip left him with too much to do and he was gone.
The 5th hole saw another chip off with John Taylor trying the Pro golfer’s technique of using a three wood from just off the back of the green which failed dismally and he was eliminated.
On the 6th Mike Rose’s luck ran out and he was eliminated in a chip off and on 7 Brian Baynes day came to an end.
On the 125 metre, par three 8th, Maurice Joyce’s tee shot (with a driver) which ended within three feet of the pin looked certain to give him a net 1. Lou Sayer dug so much sand out of the bunker, but unfortunately not his ball, and was eliminated without making the green. Maurice’s putt was conceded and he walked to the 9th tee a very happy man.
Phill Trevenen was the next to go after a very uncharacteristic wayward tee shot and subsequent tree visitations and Paul Williams went out on 10 following a chip off.
On 11 Bill Newland, who was the top qualifier, narrowly lost a chip off with Al Cochrane and on 12, losing a 4-man chip off meant the end of Murray Fraser’s hopes.
13 proved too tough for Richard Taitoko whose tee shot into the trees and subsequent poor recovery shot left him with too much to do and the number 2 seed was gone.
The 14th hole required a chip off involving all remaining 6 players after each returned a net 3. A dastardly tricky location was determined by referee, John Newton, which proved too tough for Russell Berridge and he was out.
The left hand bunker on 15 proved costly for Wayne Brierley. Number16 finally proved a hole too far for Maurice Joyce, who had shown some remarkable shot-making.
After hitting a great drive to just in front of the 17th green, Andy Roche fluffed his chip and was eliminated after making a poor bogey. This left two golfers to fight it out on the last hole after nearly five and a half hours of pressure. Alistair Cochrane and Graeme Parkinson both parred the last hole and it all came down to a chip off.
John Newton again showed his wicked side and placed the teeing position behind the right hand bunker with the pin just on the other side.
Graeme knocked it to within a metre and Al couldn’t match the shot hitting it to about 2m past the pin. A great first time win for Graeme Parkinson.