Saturday 21st November saw a cool but fine day greet the finalist in the Echunga Golf Club Championships Finals. After two rounds of stroke play the top 8 qualifiers in each grade were determined before quarter finals and semi-finals of match play were completed to determine finalists.
The A Grade final of 36 holes saw Mike Haslett, having qualified 7th beating Hugh Griffin (1up) and Jamie Burt (20th) on his way to the final, up against Randy Jones, who qualified 8th beating #1 qualifier Bill Guy (1up) and Richard Hill (3&2) on his way to the final.
The match started with both finalists playing scratchy but solid golf around the first nine before hitting their straps around the back nine. Play was all square through 15 holes but with Jones making a couple of bogies to close out the first 18 holes Haslett’s solid pars were enough to give him a lead of 2 up at the half way point.
Unfortunately for Jones this trend continued around the first nine of the second 18 and with Haslett making very few mistakes he slowly extended his lead over the 3rd nine holes. With further wins on the 26th, 27th and 28th holes and a half on the 11th the lead blew out to 7 up with only 7 holes to play.
Not one to give up Jones hit his straps playing the next 5 holes -1 to win all of them and move from dormie 7 to dormie 2. The chance of the unthinkable happening was real. With Jones standing on the par 3 17th, one of his favourite holes, he hit a poor tee shot and could only make bogey. Haslett seized his chance, knocking it to the edge of the green before chipping to 6 inches and securing a par and a 3/1 win.
The B Grade final over 36 holes saw number 1 qualifier and the defending B Grade Champion Derek Parrott taking on regular contender Col Golding. The front nine scoring swung wildly with Golding streaking away to a 4 up lead early in the first 18 only for Parrott to slowly reel him in before taking a lead of 1 up into the second 18.
From here Parrott played some brilliant golf, showing why he really is an A Grade player reeling off multiple pars. Golding did well to stay in touch for as long as possible but in the end Parrott’s torrid play was far too good, winning the match 5&4.
The C Grade final over 27 holes also saw the #7 and #8 qualifiers with Janis Janson taking on Richard Easling in an entertaining contest. Both players were very evenly matched all day, Janson took a lead early before Richard moved ahead, getting to dormie 2. However some inspired play from Janson saw him win the 26th and 27th to tie the match.
Players moved to extra holes with Easling finding trouble in the trees which he couldn’t recover from and with Janson making a calm bogey the match was over.
The D Grade final over 27 holes was also a tight contest between Bob Penny and Peter Anderson. Penny drew the early blood getting to 2 up over the first nine holes but from here it was all Anderson. He quickly got back into the lead and held that for the rest of the game and although Penny tried valiantly he could not make up the deficit, eventually going down 2&1.
The A Grade final of 36 holes saw Mike Haslett, having qualified 7th beating Hugh Griffin (1up) and Jamie Burt (20th) on his way to the final, up against Randy Jones, who qualified 8th beating #1 qualifier Bill Guy (1up) and Richard Hill (3&2) on his way to the final.
The match started with both finalists playing scratchy but solid golf around the first nine before hitting their straps around the back nine. Play was all square through 15 holes but with Jones making a couple of bogies to close out the first 18 holes Haslett’s solid pars were enough to give him a lead of 2 up at the half way point.
Unfortunately for Jones this trend continued around the first nine of the second 18 and with Haslett making very few mistakes he slowly extended his lead over the 3rd nine holes. With further wins on the 26th, 27th and 28th holes and a half on the 11th the lead blew out to 7 up with only 7 holes to play.
Not one to give up Jones hit his straps playing the next 5 holes -1 to win all of them and move from dormie 7 to dormie 2. The chance of the unthinkable happening was real. With Jones standing on the par 3 17th, one of his favourite holes, he hit a poor tee shot and could only make bogey. Haslett seized his chance, knocking it to the edge of the green before chipping to 6 inches and securing a par and a 3/1 win.
The B Grade final over 36 holes saw number 1 qualifier and the defending B Grade Champion Derek Parrott taking on regular contender Col Golding. The front nine scoring swung wildly with Golding streaking away to a 4 up lead early in the first 18 only for Parrott to slowly reel him in before taking a lead of 1 up into the second 18.
From here Parrott played some brilliant golf, showing why he really is an A Grade player reeling off multiple pars. Golding did well to stay in touch for as long as possible but in the end Parrott’s torrid play was far too good, winning the match 5&4.
The C Grade final over 27 holes also saw the #7 and #8 qualifiers with Janis Janson taking on Richard Easling in an entertaining contest. Both players were very evenly matched all day, Janson took a lead early before Richard moved ahead, getting to dormie 2. However some inspired play from Janson saw him win the 26th and 27th to tie the match.
Players moved to extra holes with Easling finding trouble in the trees which he couldn’t recover from and with Janson making a calm bogey the match was over.
The D Grade final over 27 holes was also a tight contest between Bob Penny and Peter Anderson. Penny drew the early blood getting to 2 up over the first nine holes but from here it was all Anderson. He quickly got back into the lead and held that for the rest of the game and although Penny tried valiantly he could not make up the deficit, eventually going down 2&1.
Club Champion Mike Haslett (left) with runner up Randy Jones.
B Grade Club Champion Derek Parrott (left) with runner up Col Golding.
C Grade Club Champion Janis Janson (right) with runner up Richard Easling.
D Grade Club Champion Peter Anderson (left) with runner up Bob Penny.