The final of the 2017 Handicap Matchplay Championships was played on Saturday 20th May between Hugh Griffin and Andy Amberg. After a solid start with players recording birdies and pars over the opening holes it was Andy that took advantage of the 12 shots he was given, making some solid pars, and grabbing a small lead of 1 up through 4 holes.
However Hugh bounced back taking advantage of a couple of holes where he didn't have to give up a shot by making par on the 5th and birdie on the 9th for wins. With Andy having a few troubles on the 7th and 8th the match had suddenly swung and Hugh took a 3 hole lead into the back nine.
Andy rallied to win the 11th but found trouble on the 13th to again drop to 3 down. A poor tee shot by Andy on 14 appeared to open the door but with a nice chip out and 3rd onto the green Andy recovered whilst Hugh hit his approach over the back. However he made a superb up and down from under the back tree to claim a half and keep the lead at 3.
With no shot given on the 15th Andy was again behind the 8 ball but made a brilliant par, recovering from a nearly dead position in the far left rough before chipping to gimmie range for his 5. Hugh's birdie putt to win the match was left well short but the 5 was enough to make the match dormie 3.
Both players hit nice tee shots on 16 but unfortunately Andy's second was far too long, bouncing well back under the trees behind the green. With a couple of awkward chips shots off the soft leaf litter needed to get the ball on the green Hugh only required a 3 putt from just off the back edge of the green to bogie the hole and win the match. He needed all 3 putts but made the required bogie making Hugh Griffin our 2017 Handicap Matchplay Champion, defeating Andy Amberg 3&2.
2017 Handicap Matchplay Championships - Full Results
However Hugh bounced back taking advantage of a couple of holes where he didn't have to give up a shot by making par on the 5th and birdie on the 9th for wins. With Andy having a few troubles on the 7th and 8th the match had suddenly swung and Hugh took a 3 hole lead into the back nine.
Andy rallied to win the 11th but found trouble on the 13th to again drop to 3 down. A poor tee shot by Andy on 14 appeared to open the door but with a nice chip out and 3rd onto the green Andy recovered whilst Hugh hit his approach over the back. However he made a superb up and down from under the back tree to claim a half and keep the lead at 3.
With no shot given on the 15th Andy was again behind the 8 ball but made a brilliant par, recovering from a nearly dead position in the far left rough before chipping to gimmie range for his 5. Hugh's birdie putt to win the match was left well short but the 5 was enough to make the match dormie 3.
Both players hit nice tee shots on 16 but unfortunately Andy's second was far too long, bouncing well back under the trees behind the green. With a couple of awkward chips shots off the soft leaf litter needed to get the ball on the green Hugh only required a 3 putt from just off the back edge of the green to bogie the hole and win the match. He needed all 3 putts but made the required bogie making Hugh Griffin our 2017 Handicap Matchplay Champion, defeating Andy Amberg 3&2.
2017 Handicap Matchplay Championships - Full Results
2017 Handicap Matchplay Finalists: Andy Amberg & Hugh Griffin