Following our initial success there were Great Expectations as the Metro Team prepared for its second appearance of the ’09 year. The selection policy had been closely scrutinized but heart was taken from the fact we would again be playing at home. Traditionally Waimairi Beach has been a solid performer and our defeat at their hands last year effectively ended our title aspirations – clearly we were looking for payback.
Unlike most Metro matches the individual games tended to finish on a one-sided basis apart from two that went down to the wire!! “On-course” updates were provided by two members of the wider Metro Squad, Rex Price (outside paddock) & Steve Ellis aka ATA &/or No.8 (at the Pagoda). Notwithstanding I was at the head of the field I was in receipt of updated information on a previously unimagined scale. Many thanks to Rex & Steve for their support and assistance as it was greatly appreciated, even if Savill did tell Steve to “p*** off” after he lost two holes while Steve was watching. Reports from the car park indicated Steve was in a highly excitable state when he returned to the club house given the closeness of the match and its as yet undecided outcome.
In past years we have struggled at the top of the order but the addition of Rod O’Brien at a favourable handicap has provided a solidity that has previously been lacking and the benefits have flowed through the order as we have shuffled down. On Sunday our number 1 Tony Park was drawn to play Brian Frisken. Brian has gained notoriety as the first person to register 2000 rounds on nzgolf.co and effectively plays a round of golf every day getting full value for his sub. Last year Andrew Hopkins suffered his only loss 2/1 at Brian’s hands but previously Tony had beaten him around Shirley. On Sunday Tony made no race of the matter and scorched to an early lead and while Brian sought to make a comeback Tony shut him down 5/4. Meanwhile his playing partner Rod O’Brien took advantage of an early lead and gave his opponent no chance to re-enter the match and closed it out by a similar 5/4 margin. Rod has maintained a perfect start to the year and although his continued selection may be determined by handicap considerations his contribution to date has been gratefully accepted.
One of our playing strengths has generally been the middle order where we look to secure at least three victories. At 5 & 6 we had Mr. JD and Joe Mullins – Joe always a keen competitor was quick to put the acid on the man from Waimairi and the reports seemed to have him comfortably ahead throughout the course of the round and with no rules being called this week Joe was also a 5/4 winner. Unfortunately the same can not be said for JD. On returning to the clubhouse JD remarked to me “JD didn’t have a good day today this guy could really hit the ball and was long!!” A final result of 5/3 saved JD the extra $5 but did little to improve his humour. Savill at 4 played a previous opponent and was looking to reverse the last result. Savill is currently using swing variation 246b/09 which seems to be providing for a greater stability particularly when combined with a setting alteration to the prosthetic foot alignment , at least that was Savills explanation for a 3/2 win.
At number 8 Paul Needs, a regular Presidents player, had stepped in to provide some much needed slope index points at the bottom of the order. Paul has been recovering from a knee injury (don’t ask) and saw Dennis Doherty in town, he hobbled across to say “Not to worry he would be fit and able to play Presidents on Sunday” to which Dennis replied “I’ve just released the team and your not in it!!” He was subsequently quickly picked up by Metro to get us across the 80 mark. Unfortunately Paul was always on the back foot although a propensity to end up in bunkers on nearly all of the first 6 holes didn’t help but then neither did his opponents walking from the 6th green square with the card and 3 up. Although Paul applied pressure he could never really get back on even terms and succumbed 5/3 for a loss. Now the mathematicians amongst you will have realised the game score is now 4-2 with two matches yet to be reported………..
Due to my golfing malaise I was in the unaccustomed position of 7. After a bogey at 2 to go one down early I knuckled down to play sensible risk adverse match play golf. Imagine my joy of going through nine in 38 and being 3 up – I was back. The reports flowing in from up and down the line had us well in front and I think I made a critical error of strategic direction – I hadn’t phoned Julie O’Neill for a caffeine fix before the 11th! Having parred 10 for a half I am sure my body suffered the shock of withdrawal as I then proceeded to lose the next five holes to move from 3 up to 2 down (just an ever so slight reversal of form). The fall from grace was spectacular and involved visits to bunkers , fluffed chips , skinned chips , duffed irons and out of bounds – I would provide further details but as yet the full extent of rehab & counselling hasn’t kicked in!!! By 16 tee I was aware either myself or Ben needed a half to get us home but I was 2 down and Ben at last report 1 down. Narrowly avoiding hitting into the drain with a 3 wood I stopped the bleeding with a 6 after following a circuitous route to the green and watching my par putt for a win lip out. Standing on 17 I hit 3 wood past the waste ground and then a 9 iron to the green left of the pin a good first putt saw the hole conceded. One down one to play.
Now as frequent followers will know, and Savill will tell you, the 18th and I have numerous unresolved issues. Clearing my mind I stood up with three wood in hand to play a slight draw down into the middle of the fairway – the execution was a straight low pull left into the middle of the alley way of trees - not very far and no second shot. I played a good chip out for a recovery and then chopped the ball repeatedly up what was left of the fairway while my opponent after a good drive hit his second to the middle of the green – I conceded before any further embarrassment could occur. As recognition of such a miserable weak kneed performance on my home track I fined myself the maximum amount notwithstanding I lost only 2 down. The match was now poised at 4/3 with one game still live.
Ben’s match had been close all the way but remarkably he had won 15 to go one up and then halved 16 to maintain his lead. On 17 the Waimairi player drove into the creek but luckily (for him) onto the far bank , he was left having to chip out of the thick clumpy rough on a 90 degree angle but then played a pitch shot to within 2 feet for a remarkable 4 and to go back to square. After solid drives Ben left his second perched on the edge of the front bunker with the pin centre/back right , while his opponent was pin high right but off the green at the top of the slope. Ben chipped over the bunkers leaving his ball below the hole at about 12 feet for par. Ben’s opposite number trickled the ball down the incline and watched despairingly as it circled the hole invitingly but exited only by inches for a gimme 4. The equation was now simple sink the putt for a par and half his match and an overall win - miss for a loss and a halved match. Ben took his time lining up the putt and the watching supporters of both sides held their breath while he struck it …………. dead centre!! A victory from the jaws of defeat with a stunning last putt. A beaming Ben commented “I knew the situation but it was as well you hadn’t seen me miss a shorter putt on 17!!” A final score and win 4 ½ to 3 ½.
So after two rounds the Metro team remains unbeaten. Our next match is on 1 March away at Templeton following the handicap changes on Wednesday the calculator will work overtime to put out our most competitive team (could the Team Advisor be dropped???). As previously indicted the Christchurch Metro team does not travel away from Shirley well having not won away from home in the past four years. Could we now be standing on the verge of something great????
As always thanks to Andrew and Amanda for a great buffet lunch both the Christchurch and Waimairi Teams were very impressed!
Till next time and in the interim good golfing.
Since publication Ben has made the following comments - all I can say is that is not how I saw or remember it but that could be attributable to the number of Sav Blancs during the aftetrnoon...
Simon, I do appreciate your comments but there are one or two inaccuracies in the match report which can go no further if you wish. I won the 16th to get one up at that stage. Neither I nor my opponent hit solid drives on 18 - I hooked into the trees left and had to punch a wee scrubber under a branch to get somewhere near the green, while my opponent started with a big high slice and pitched in from the rough or somewhere down the 1st fairway. I thought my final putt was closer to 6 feet but may have benefitted from overnight growth.
None of this detracts from the appreciation for your wonderful match reports (there must be something extra in those coffees) - and we all appreciate the dictum of all sports journalists - never let the facts spoil a good story
Whatever else happens the TA has to play at Templeton
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