President's Grade Report...............

From Manager and Staff Reporter Dennis Doherty.



For sometime Presidents have been knocking on the door to score points on the road. Good efforts at both Templeton and Clearwater in the last 2 matches put us close but we have just fallen at the final hurdle. But on Sunday – the team went the full hog a secured a magnificent win at Harewood - 5/3

It took a while for the results to come in as a lot of matches went the whole 18. At 3 & 4 Bill Abrams & I wrapped our games up early - Bill admirably keeping his cool on the 12th when a shanked drive went over the trees into the fairway bunker on an adjacent hole, a bad bunker shot - then he hit a tree - after 3 shots - he really had not advanced too far - But this 12th hole was a turning point - somehow Bill recovered for a 6 & his opponent managed to manufacture a 7. Bill won 4/3 while I won 7/6 - for a change I played some good golf but my opponent didn’t. Bill & I retired to watch the NZ Open in the clubhouse.

It was some time before John MacVicar & Geoff Brodie arrived on the 18th green. John unfortunately after a very close tussle went down 2/1 - I went out to the 18th to see Geoff Brodie lining up a good 4 metre putt (it may have been more) from all angles - from ground level to eye level - this was obviously a very important putt - after lots of precise practise swings - eventually the putter made very good contact with the ball which to the chagrin of Geoff's opponent disappeared down the hole - a very well secured half. Marcus Annan - appeared from I know not where - but eventually we got the truth out of him - a very good strong 6/5 win at the top of the order.

Next were Lindsay Buxton & Jeff Gray - it was difficult to tell the state of the games - but Lindsay confessed to a wobbly few holes, 14-16, which had cost him his match 2/1. Jeff had a 3 metre putt - which was taken quickly & again the ball disappeared down the hole, another half secured, much again to his opponents frustration as it was the only putt Jeff had sunk all day. (A thought for Jeff please for a speedy recovery of his wife who is on hospital recovering from an operation).


Now we had 4 points in & couldn't lose - with Chris Brocket still to come - We were a little concerned at Chris's approach to 18 - but all was well - his match secured with a 2/1 win at the 17th. A very welcome & magnificent away win 5/3. Well done team.