The Metro Story Continues..........

Sunday dawned one of those Christchurch autumnal days that cause poets and golfers to wax lyrical – a slight hint of chill in the morning air then clear blue skies, warmth in the sun and only the gentlest of easterlies. Against this backdrop even the park like setting of Waitikiri assumed a favourable mien.

Having fulfilled a fun morning I arrived (a bit like the Duke of Windsor travelling incognito) at Waitikiri at what I calculated to be the approaching climax of the Metro Challenge. As I orientated the compass on my seek out mission I spied in my peripheral vision a blur of “red” returning to the Clubhouse. By process of elimination based on body type I was able to ascertain that it was in all probability Bruce Todd whose debut match seemed to have finished in a precipitate manner – matters did not appear to bode well- particularly as I was subsequently able to establish that ball identification has posed a significant if not determinative factor.

Heading for the fourteenth green I stumbled across the 5 & 6 pairing of Rex Price & JD – at least I assumed it was JD; it was hard to tell as he was partially obscured by the low hanging branches of the shrub under which he appeared to be prostrate. Needless to say a few seconds later a ball appeared at speed to unfortunately trickle off the back of the green. As he dusted himself down JD’s opening words were “You wouldn’t believe the lie I had just off the fairway I was lucky to be able to hit it into the tree!!”. Initially at least the signs were good, both Rex and JD were involved in close matches and while Bruce’s demise was confirmed there was an indication Cran was up, further down the fairway AITA (Acting Interim Team Advisor) Ben was able to declare he and Savill looked even at this early stage set for wins (Savill immediately took control of my drink bottle having forgotten his own), while at the top of the order Rod O’Brien was up and Tony Park down again in close matches.

Like an experienced reins man we were poised one out, one back ready to hit the front at the head of the straight and secure that long awaited away win with the run in. Unfortunately as we pulled out from the parked position we developed the speed wobbles. I caught up with Cran on the 16th tee perhaps more by way of misfortune than planning – he was returning to play 3 having been unable to find his initial drive while he was two up that was soon to be one up with two to play. His opponent then knocked his tee shot on the par 3 17th to within 6 feet and sank the putt for 2 – all square one to play. To prevent encroaching on the players I watched the final hole from a position ½ way down the fairway nestled behind one of the many poplar trees – it was perhaps not either of the players finest hour but at the conclusion it was halved in 6’s after Cran sank a nasty 4 footer across the green having watched his playing partner three putt.

The 5 & 6 match now assumed critical importance – although hitting the ball reasonably well JD was struggling to stay in touch and finished on the 16th. Rex was in the battle of a lifetime with, as one player put it, “his great grandson”. Rex our “strong” man of the middle order was pitted against a 13 year old, someone 5 ½ times his junior and was in danger of being chased down by “a boy on a BMX bike”. Rex experienced tree trouble on 16 and had to play his third right handed with an inverted club – he then made a great up and down for five but had to watch his young opponent drop a 6ft uphill putt for par to go one down. On 17 the young man got up & down from the front bunker for par and Rex struggled a half. One down one to play and the Waitikiri player stood up and smacked it down the middle right, Rex replied with the Rangiora fade down the left, neither could reach with their seconds and they passed in the centre as they crisscrossed Rex to the right rough and his opponent to the rough short left. Carefully navigating the intervening trees Rex pitched to 10ft while his opponent calmly flopped it inside Rex to 6ft. Rex’s putt hovered on the edge but didn’t drop. As is the wont with youth his opponent pushed his putt past the hole but confidently walked to the other side and smacked it into the centre cup coming back for a half on the 18th and to win the match with an 82 off the stick and a truly credible performance - watch out for the name Jack Harline in interclub golf in the years to come. This was Rex’s first loss in nearly two years.

Trekking back up 18 Ben & Steve Savill confirmed they were both winners. Savill shot 76 with 15 pars to win 5/4 against the experienced John Thompson. Ben bearing the burden of leadership bravely had closed out his match 5/4. Our hopes dreams and aspirations were now vested in the top match. Standing on 17 tee Rod was 2 up and Tony 1 down. Rod played his tee shot pin high to 3 metres but his opponent placed his inside that to 2metres – Rod made par but his opponent made birdie. Rod was 1 up one to play. Following a booming drive from the Waitikiri player Rod played a “ropey” hook down the left into the trees almost through onto the practice range, however he followed that with a “career” 4 iron low and slicing 180metres - partly hindered by a bush, to the green fringe pin high, while his opponent hit the green he was well short and then charged the hole, subsequently the putt coming back raced past as well. Despite a first putt that slipped by the pin further than intended the putt was conceded for 4 and Rod had secured our third win with a round of 76. Despite such heroics it was all for nought as on 17 the Waitikiri number 1 made par and Tony after chipping short missed the putt for a half to go down 2/1.

While it was a fine fighting effort closely contested we came up short. Congratulations to our three winners and to Cran with the half. Great rounds to Rod & Steve Savill but no doubt that will be reflected in their reduced slope indices for the next match. Once again there will be difficult decisions to be made on team selections as we play the tricky Windsor layout on the 26 April.