In my view the Club Champs are the most important competition organised by the Club and as such the players deserve recognition for having made it through to Finals day. For that reason I was up so early on Sunday, to be the starter, I met myself going to bed as I was getting up and arriving home from town just as I was leaving.
Since the first round of qualifying Don Forbes has been a short priced favorite for the Juniors at the TAB paying $1.05 at fixed odds shortening to $0.90 by Sunday. His opponent David Isaac had exceeded even his own expectations in reaching the final but unfortunately on the day Don as an experienced match player proved too strong. After several beers and late in the afternoon David Isaac authorised me to say that "Although I was well beaten I lost with dignity". I think it sufficient to say that Don Forbes was on his game and played exceptionally well in the morning round to put the matter beyond all doubt. It was interesting to note that a former Club Captain David Hicks pulled Don's bag as caddy over the final even if he did have to sprint down the first to catch up.
At times the Intermediate Grade can provide the greatest competition and probably the two most consistent competitors in Dodge Healy and Warren Glass made it into the final having beaten Mike Ambrose and Martin Toon respectively in the semis. Warren had his brother Jim on the bag while Dodge's caddy was his son. For those of you who do not know Dodge is one of our most frequent golfers and it is not unusual during the summer months for him to be teeing off at 6am four or five mornings a week. I suspect it was that substantial extra practice together with a focused concentration that eventually saw Dodge emerge as the winner. It was Dodge's second major title at the Club having previously won a Shootout final again showing his competitive streak.
After a tight semi final against Peter MacDougall that went all the way to 18 for a one up win Brendon Follows played a former club champion and current President Bruce Taylor in the Final of the Seniors. From the first drive Brendon applied relentless pressure to Bruce who although playing well could not respond to the challenge. Going down 16 I asked Diana Taylor how it was going and she said "It's not that Bruce is playing badly he's only 2 over but Brendon is playing so well!!". Finishing ahead after 18 there was no let up in the afternoon and Brendon did not allow Bruce back into the match to emerge as the 2009 Club Champion a deserved honour in light of the manner of his play and victory.
Although over only 18 holes the competition in the plate sections were no less keenly fought. In the Juniors Chris Abbott was a clear winner over perennial finalist (although normally against Jimmy Will) Michael Sweeney. The Intermediates saw Peter Hollister (who last Sunday beat me!!) win over Alan Day in a match that went down to the last. In the Seniors Ian Currie broke 80 off the blue tees for the first time in seeing off Paddy Helmore.
A special thank you to David Page who gave his Sunday afternoon to be the referee although I am reasonably sure he was not called upon to rule. To all the finalists whether you were victorious or not congratulations on reaching Finals Sunday you have all played well during the competition and were the envy of your fellow Club members! I look forward to seeing you all on the tee during the rest of the season and next year.
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