SUPER SENIORS PENNANTS

THE LAKES v BANKSTOWN AT CRONULLA GOLF CLUB

The team got away to good starts off the 1st tee, with little deviation from the fairway from any player.

They were playing against some old stalwarts from the Lakes, including Greg Bush, a former Club Champion at The Lakes, who won a NSW Amateur when he was very young.  He emigrated to Bankstown and now plays number 3 for them.  He told us that he had played only 10 games since February because Bankstown has been under water.

The Lakes team for the match, in order of play, was:-

  1. Roy VANDERSLUIS;
  2. John DALLEY;
  3. Vince CLARK;
  4. Steve LANG;
  5. Albert SALERNO;
  6. David WILLIAMS;
  7. Stuart BECK; and
  8. Gary SNOW.

Reserves for the match were John BOYS and Paul L’ESTRANGE.

For a while there I thought Paul or John would have to play because Vince was suffering some car trouble and only arrived at the death.  Luckily he had hit balls with Roy at the Lakes prior to driving out.  He got away to a very good drive off the 1st tee.

Roy’s opponent topped his first 3 shots, but he’s not playing number 1 for nothing so we are waiting to see what happens to his game. Roy out drove everybody and hit a nice second 15’ to the left of the green.  Chipping up nicely to 3’ with a putt for par.  His opponent, playing for a bogey, missed and conceded the hole to Roy, 1 up.

Meanwhile, John’s second to the green is only 2’ away from the edge of the green.  He gives his putt a rap but still finishes 20’ away.  His opponent sinks a 20 footer for par, putting the pressure on John to deliver.  Alas, his putt slid by the hole.  John was 1 down after 1.

By the time we got to the 4th hole Gary was 1 up, as was Stuart, who had birdied the 2nd hole.  In his own terms – I’ve hit a few squiggly ones but that’s not unusual for me.  Steady as she goes. Gary’s signature one handed chip on the 4th hole puts him to 30’ from the flag for 3, with his opponent 15’ short of the green for the same number.

In the meantime, Stuart is left of the green with an unimpeded pitch up to a back pin with his opponent 50’ from the pin on the right.  A less than memorable chip gives Stuart a 40’ putt up the green.  Gary’s opponent takes 6 and Gary holes his 30 footer for a par.  What a snake.  Gary 2 up.

Stuart runs his 30’ putt 10 feet past.  The greens are really fast.  He leaves his return putt 18” away and the putt is given. Ean Guthrie sinks his 4 footer for 6 to square the hole with Stuart.

After a less than impressive drive off the 4th tee, Albert hits a boomer 3 wood to be 15’ short of the putting surface into a moderate breeze.  That’s the Albert we know.  In the meantime a good drive saw David in the middle of the fairway.  David’s opponent, Phil Akers hit 2 unimpressive shots but his 3rd was rifled to the green to be about 30’ away up the hill.  David’s 2nd shot to the green was pulled a little left, but pin high.  What appeared to be a deft chip finished up 15’ by, on these quick surfaces.

Albert took a putter to put his 3rd within 3’.  Albert makes his putt for 4 and a win.  David makes his for 5 and sees his opponent pick up.

Meanwhile, Vince, our number 3 hit his 2nd not far away from the green on 4, with a 60’ pitch.  His opponent, our old Lakes member Greg Bush, pushed his 2nd to the right almost out of bounds, but just in.  Steve Lang’s 2nd is to within 15’ short of the green.  Bushy hacks his out to 50’.  Steve chips his up nicely to within 6’.  Vince chips his to 10’ within the ball sliding away.  Everyone is on for 3.  Steve’s opponent misses his putt, so Steve has a shortish putt to win the hole, but it just slides by.  Hole squared. Vince has a short putt which misses and he makes 5.  Bushy misses his 3 footer and Vince wins the hole.

Coming up the 3rd hole are our numbers 1 and 2, nicely placed in the middle of the fairway.  This green is difficult to make.  I haven’t seen anyone get on for two as yet.  Even Roy left it 3’ short of the green.  Their opponents at numbers 1 and 2 had some trouble, with John’s opponent pushing his second right into the mulga and Roy’s opponent hitting a poor shot to be 100m from the green for 2 shots. Roy’s opponent seems to have gathered himself since the 1st hole. John’s opponent failed to find his ball in the mulga and dropped a ball.  His 4th was on the green 50’ away.

As usual for Roy, just off the green he uses his Texas wedge to put it to 4’.  Safe play and one of his favourite tactics.  John’s opponent is 3’ short with his long putt, but sitting 5.  Roy’s opponent, Ray Hore makes a good putt, but still leaves it 3’ away.  John’s putt slides by but only 2’.  John’s opponent misses his putt and takes a 6.  John needs his short putt to win the hole. Roy drills his 4 footer in for a par and a win.  John makes his for a win.

On the 5th hole we had 3 out of 4 on the green, with Steve Lang in the left hand bunker, pin high.  To the 6th hole, Vince hits a beautiful 2nd which just slides by the pin, but still runs 15’ past.  Hard smoking Bushy is on the back of the green for 2.  Steve Lang’s wayward drive has cost him, so he’s short of the green for 4.  He’s got to get his swing back.  He’s been playing so well lately, an off day.  Steve’s opponent, Ian Cowper, is 30’ away for 3, so Steve has to hole his chip to put any pressure on him at all.  Not to be.

Meanwhile, with Vince 15’ away, Bushy has a 60’ sliding putt down the hill.  He leaves it 30’ short. Steve Lang is 4 down after 6 holes.  Ian Cowper is playing very well.  Steve is not playing that badly, but that’s what happens in match play.Vince cosies his putt to the hole and Bushy concedes it.  Vince 2 up after 6. Three balls on the green on the 7th hole, par 3 of 125m with Vince’s ball catching the front bunker.

Meanwhile, coming up to the 6th green, both John and Roy are safely on the right hand side with Roy’s opponent pulling his drive into the trees and in the creek.  He has to take a drop.  He puts his next one on the green for 3. Meanwhile, John’s 2nd almost bounced into the hole on the full, but with backspin stopped 3’ behind the pin.  Excellent position for a birdie.  Roy’s in the bunker on the left.  He comes out softly to 10’.  He makes a great putt which just shaves the hole.  In for 5.  Roy’s opponent misses his putt for 5 and so Roy wins another one.

John has a birdie putt with his opponent 4’ away, putting for 4.  It stops a little short, but he makes an easy par.  His opponent, Graham Eves, makes his putt to square the hole.  John is 2 up going to the 7th par 3, and Roy is 1 up. On the 7th hole, 4 balls on the green with Roy the closest.

Steve won the 8th and hit a good drive down 9.  His 2nd was even better, kicking off the mound near the left side bunker to finish 15’ feet away.  Unfortunately his opponent, who is hitting the ball very well, puts his 2nd to 8’. Bushy’s 2nd shot drifts on the wind to the right of the hole down a small incline.  The 9th hole is a shortened par 4 to make it a par 3 because of balls flying onto the adjacent road. To the 9th, John hits his shot to 6’.  His opponent is short.  His opponent chips up, misses the putt and concedes to John.  John is now 5 up.  “I’ve got him where I want him”, he says to me. Meanwhile, Roy’s opponent comes out of the bunker to 10’.  Roy misses his 3.

After 9, John is 5 up and Roy is only 1 up. In Roy’s words, “I’m doing well and chipping them to 8’ but just missing them”.  The greens are doing his head in.  A beautifully placed drive to the left of the fairway on 10 and a rocket rescue club to the green sees Roy’s ball nestle into the grassy mounds at the back of the pin.  Meanwhile, John’s 2nd finishes at the bottom of a 5m incline to the elevated green.  Both in great shape.

John’s chip to the two tiered green almost makes it to the top tier, but with little backspin, rolled back down the hill.Meanwhile, Roy has decided to chip down the hill to the pin, but it stops 15’ short.

John’s opponent putts his ball to within 4’ of the pin, and John easily makes 5 with 2 putts.  John’s now 6 up. Roy makes a deft putt but it just drifts right and his next putt is conceded.  It’s up to Ray Hore to make this putt to square the hole with Ray.  He doesn’t.

After 12 holes, Stuart has ground down his opponent to be 1 up.  Gary is 3 up.  He pulls his drive left, in fact so far left it finished up on the 14th fairway.  He hits a miracle rescue over the tall trees to be on the left hand side of the fairway, 80’ away.  He gets out that one handed chip again and runs it onto the green for 3.

At the same time, Stuart pulls his drive almost into the creek on the left of the 13th, but then negotiated it to 80m away.  His next is nicely on the green for 3.  Stuart cosies his ball down to the hole and easily makes 5.  His opponent playing for a 5 up the hill misses.  Stuart 2 up. Gary does the same with his put, with his opponent conceding it for 5.  His opponent misses his putt for par, so Gary is still 4 up.

Albert’s chip to the 13th green couldn’t be stopped and finished 25’ past.  David putted conservatively from off the green, but still finished 10’ by the hole.  Luckily his opponent is 40’ away on the top tier, putting to the bottom tier. Albert’s opponent, Col Williams, a renowned match player who is also a member at NSW Golf Club, is on for 4, putting up the hill.  The ball had a bumpy run, finishing 6 feet short. Meanwhile, David’s opponent, from the top tier finished 3’ above the hole with a downhill putt, not an easy ask.

Albert had a good look at that putt which was almost on his line and makes a lovely stoke.  The next putt is conceded.  Col now needs to make this putt to square the hole.  He jags the hole but narrowly misses his putt.  David’s opponent is making every possible putt.

On 13, Steve wins his hole with a lovely 8’ putt.  Vince needs a 6 footer to square the hole with Bushy.  He makes it.  Steve is now only 2 down and is coming back against a very steady opponent.  We all know how good Bushy is.  So Vince is square.

On 13, John’s birdie putt just misses and his opponent has conceded.  John wins his match  7/6. Roy is on the green for 2 and again his birdie putt slides by the hole.  Enough to win the hole!!  He’s 4 up.

Coming up the 16th hole, a par 5 of 459m, hard dog leg right, Stuart has shaken off all the rattles and is 3 up.  Gary, his playing partner, steady as ever, 2 up.

What a turn around!  Stuart was looking pretty sombre in the early part of his round.  His approach to the 16th green was a bit strong, but his opponent, Ean, failed to hit his 2nd strongly enough to get a clear shot at the green.  He had to hit over some trees, which he didn’t negotiate very well.  Stuart is in a better position.

Gary’s opponent fluffed his 3rd to where Gary hit his unfortunate 3rd, and so no advantage to Bankstown.  Gary now needs to negotiate a one armed chip to an elevated green with an even more elevated bunker at the front of it.  He is practising using 2 hands here.  I think he should have stuck with his one armed chip. His opponent now has the advantage and chips up, but he’s still 30’ away.  Gary now has to use his one armed chip, which unfortunately finishes up in the bunker.  Advantage Bankstown.

Stuart’s chip ran quickly across the green, but he still has a putt for a par.  He leaves it 10’ short.  According to my numbers, Gary’s opponent and Gary are the same number on the green.

Stuart putted up enough for his opponent to concede the hole.  Stuart wins 3 / 2.

Gary’s opponent misses his putt.  Gary needs to make it to win the hole.  It slides by.  Gary and Greg Helm go down the 17th hole with Gary 1 up.

Back at the 16th, David is still in it and hits his 2nd shot to a very nice position just off the edge of the fairway, with a clear shot to a mid green pin.

Albert is dormie (3 up) with 3 to play.

David is 3 down with 3 to play, but in a very good position for the next, and the next and the next.

Albert’s 3rd flew over the trees but just caught the top of the tallest one, and dropped 20m from the green.  His opponent hits his 3rd with a clear shot to the green, so it’s advantage Col.

David’s shot to the green got held up in the southerly and is just short of the bunker.  Have to get up and down.  I hope his opponent bogeys.

Albert is in a muddy lie.  His pitch is a good one onto the green, but Col pitches his into the bunker.  I think this one has been put away.

David’s opponent shanks his next.  Albert negotiates 2 putts and the hole is conceded by Col Williams.  Albert wins 3 / 2.

David is still alive.  He won that hole.  He’s only 2 down with 2 to go.

Roy put his 3rd into the bunker but makes a good shot out.  Bushy pushed his 3rd left, beyond the green.  Not an easy up and down.

Ian Cowper hits a good 3rd in after being lucky with his 2nd, hitting a tree and finishing in a first class position.

Steve’s 2nd was perfect, only 50m from the pin.  It checked up nicely.

Vince’s putt from the back of the green finished 2’ past.

Steve has a 12 footer down the hill.  It just slides by 2’.  The putt is conceded.  Steve’s opponent, Ian, wins the match 3 / 2.

Bushy misses his putt for 5, leaving Vince with his 3 footer to square the hole.  He makes it.

Roy is in good shape on 16 after 2 shots, with his opponent in the trees to the right and no shot to the pin.  Roy is 2 up.  If he wins this hole, that’s it.  His 3rd to the green was held up by the southerly but made it over the cavernous mouth of the bunker in front of the green.  It might be all over red rover.  Unless his opponent makes this putt for 5, then it is truly it.  His opponent concedes.  Roy wins 3 / 2.

David wins 17 and goes up the last, 1 down with 1 to play.  Unfortunately he pulled his iron to the left of the green, but his opponent only hit his ball 30m off the tee.  A terrific chip from David leaves his ball 6’ from the hole, with an uphill putt.  David’s opponent hit his 2nd over the green, 10’ from the putting surface.  He putts up to 6’ below the hole.

David has a putt to win the hole and square the match.  Will he?  Yes he does!  5 down during the match, 3 down with 3 to play, he wins 3 holes in a row to square and earn the Lakes ½ point.  Pretty good, but expected from a man from The Lakes.

Now we are waiting for Vince, 1 up with 1 to play after being square after 16.  He lines up his tee shot to 18 with an iron.  Typical Vince Clark swing, beautiful, on the green.  It just rolls to the back about 2’ from the putting surface.

Bushy lines up his iron.  He makes a good strike.  It takes 1 bounce and rolls past Vince’s shot.  I think he has a chip, not a putt.  2 putts for Vince, 3 putts for Bushy, Vince wins 2 up.

In the meantime, Gary put away his match 2 up.

The final results were:-

  1. Roy Vandersluis d Ray Hore – 3 / 2;
  2. John Dalley d Graham Eves – 7 / 6;
  3. Vince Clark d Greg Bush – 2 up;
  4. Steve Lang down to Ian Cowper – 4 / 2;
  5. Albert Salerno d Col Williams – 3 / 2;
  6. David Williams sq with Phil Akers;
  7. Stuart Beck d Ean Guthrie – 4 / 2; and
  8. Gary Snow d Greg Helm – 2 up.

 

The Lakes 6 ½ , Bankstown 1 ½

 

Joe Gilles

AUTHOR

Filed under: Uncategorized