Woodward Report........

In a break with tradition I am filing a separate report for the Woodward Team partly in recognition of their sterling efforts on Sunday and over the last three weeks. The 2009 season has not been an easy one for a largely untested team and there have been some setbacks but on Sunday the mission was clear put pressure on the opposition teams by winning both games - then come what may!

The morning round saw us drawn against an inconsistent Waimairi Team but one that was still in title contention. This was simply a must win, and each and every member stood up to the plate! Early victories were recorded by Peter McDougall at 2 & Adian Millar at 5. Liam Cumberpatch closed his match out at the 17th and while Nathan Gilbert was required to go down 18 he held on for another win. While this secured the rubber every remaining point was of crucial importance should we have to enter a countback race later in the day.

In the other two key matches John (JB) Sanders, at 3, was drawn against the experienced Davitt Lavery and after being two down early, he picked up Dennis Doherty as a caddy, and then dropped to four down with not too many holes to play. In a never say die exhibition JB went down the 18th (the 10th) a par three, after winning 17, one down and proceeded to make a birdie two to secure a hard earned half.

At the top of the order Tom Turner was matched against the well performed Aaron Forsyth and after falling 2 down struggled back to square before a bad hole, a missed putt and a birdie to the opposition saw him three down with five to play. Coincidentally at that time Tom's biggest supporters, his parents John & Diana, arrived and they witnessed a resurgence in Tom's play. To put the game to rest Tom birdied home for the next 5 holes to go from 3 down to 2 up and record an important win. What impressed was the manner of his play, there were no chip-ins & no long putts but just laser accuracy to record a round of 67 - including that one very ugly double. All in all a 5 1/2 - 1/2 victory to the team.

The moral of the story as shown by JB and Tom is that when you are in Club colours "Its never over till its over and you never lie down and roll over. (Ok, I know it's a mixed metaphor but you get the idea - Ed)


The afternoon round was scheduled against traditional rivals Russley who were one of the pre-season favourites and potentially everything still hung in the balance. After a few upsets in the morning rounds a win would definitely put us in the finals as would a half but a loss would take our destiny from our own hands and we would be dependant on other matches and possibly a countback on games. From the outset it was clear that the overall result would be hotly contested as reports showed an ebb and flow through the games as the round progressed.

Since moving to the 6 position Nathan Gilbert has been a rock and although nominally in charge the whole way once again he was required to play the full 18 before he put our first win on the board 1 up. For the second time in the day JB was in a tight match but proving experience is gold he held his nerve playing 18 (another par 3) one up to birdie once again and secure a two up victory.

Narrow losses were recorded by Aidan Millar who played the 18th all square but lost the hole to go down by one and Liam Cumberpatch who only succumbed on 17 in another tight match. Earlier Pete MacDougall had gone down to Owen Burgess in a game he will want to quickly put behind him especially as it was his 50th Woodward Cup match for the club. Once again the focus was on the top position as we trailed by 3-2.

Tom Turner had drawn Drew Atkins and over the first few holes moved to an early 2 up lead before the match tightened and by 11 he had slipped to being 1 down. A birdie 2 on the 12th hole (13 on the card) moved him back to square with the next hole being halved. Tom hitting first played conservative golf taking 3 iron off the tee on 14 (15 on the card) and smoked it way down the fairway to place pressure on his opponent who carved his driver high right into the trees and then had to hack it out, 1 up. On the next a short par 4 Tom took driver and found the green and while Drew made par from nowhere he had to concede the eagle putt for Tom to go 2 up with three to play.

An errant drive from Tom on the next, a dog legged par 5, resulted in a loss and the match falling to one up with two to play. Playing the 18th as hole 17 Drew again sliced his drive and Tom calmly stood up and absolutely killed his driver down the centre right for a wedge in. Bunker trouble for Drew meant Tom had two putts for the win and put his first close enough for it to be conceded and a well deserved 2 up win and importantly a half on the match.

It was a hard day at the office but the team (and its supporters especially Mitchell Vincent and Scotty Adams) came through to make it to finals day at Russley on September 27 where we will play top qualifiers Kaiapoi. The semi will be a tough encounter but the team has shown great intestinal fortitude and self belief over the last few weeks and are in with a great chance of causing an upset. While this has been very much a team effort Tom Turner has grown as the competition has progressed both as captain and a player. In his first year at number one his 7 win 2 loss record speaks volumes of his commitment and example and in my view the best is still to come. Bring on the Finals!!