At 7.10am on Saturday June 7th, a chilly seven degree morning greeted the four finalists. The match featured the No I qualifying team of Chris Connolly and Wayne Wright and their opponents the No2 qualifying team of Will Crisp and Andrew Tunny. All four players were members of the Club’s 2025 Major Pennant team.
The cold conditions saw all four players finding the early holes not the easiest to play with Will being the only player to par the first two holes and finding his team with a quick two up lead. The third was halved in pars with the match still two the difference.
On the fourth Wayne was the only player to miss the green finding his tee shot pin high but 10 metres to the right of the green. With the pin at the back Wayne had plenty of room to play his shot and an exquisite chip saw the ball touch the pin and stop on the edge and not go in. Andy’s tee shot finished just on the green a good 20 metres from the pin. To his delight he then watched his putt track perfectly and find the hole for a birdie 2 and another win. The difference was now three up.
The fifth hole was halved in regulation pars. All players found difficulty on the sixth and as a result the hole was halved in one over 5s. The seventh saw Andy hole a two metre birdie putt and the team’s lead increase to four up. On the eighth all four hit fine tee shots but on reaching his ball Andy found it sitting down in an unfilled divot hole. Not to be dismayed he simply took his wedge and hit a wonderful shot finishing less than one metre from the pin. Again his holed birdie put resulted in another win and the lead increase to five up.
The ninth must be one of Will’s most favourite holes as this time his tee shot finished one metre short of the green and two putts for another team birdie were good enough to see the lead increase to six up. On the tenth the fight back commenced with Chris holing a three metre birdie putt after a very long drive to see the lead reduce to five. Holes 11, 12 and 13 were halved in regulation pars.
An immaculate 6 iron second shot on the 14th by Will to 2 metres for another birdie, returned the lead to 6up. Precision tee shots by all four on the 15th saw Chris’ tee shot to gimme length. However Will’s four metre downhill putt never looked like missing and as a result the hole was halved in birdies. Still 6 the difference. Two great shots saw Chris left with a two metre birdie putt on 16 which he duly holed. The difference now back to 5up. The 17 was halved in pars. Both Will and Andy struck trouble on 18 which saw Chris’ regulation 4 good to win the hole and reduce the lead to 4up at the conclusion of the first 18 holes.
The afternoon round saw the 19 halved in regulation 4s. Wayne came to the fore with a one metre putt for birdie on the 20th and the lead reduced to 3 up. The 21st was halved in birdies with Andy sinking another long putt (10 metres) and Wayne replying with his second successive birdie – a two metre putt. Holes 22 and 23 were halved in regulation pars. Still 3 the difference.
Will’s par 4 on the 24″ was good enough to win the hole and return the difference to 4 up. Regulation pars on 25 and 26 saw the score remain at 4 up. Birdies to both Chris and Wayne saw the difference back to 3 up with 9 holes to play. Holes 28 and 29 were halved in regulation 4s. The difference still 3.
On the 30th Will hooked his tee shot into the trees on the left half of the fairway. He then played one of the shots, if not the shot, of the day reminiscent, of Rory McIlroy’s hook shot on the 15th in the final round of this years Masters. The ball finished just over one metre under the hole and he holed the putt for a birdie 3 to win the hole and move again to 4 up.
Regulation pars saw the 31st halved . At this stage Will and Andy led 4 up with 5 holes to play. Having birdied the 14th in the morning round, Will then found himself with a tricky 6 metre side- hill birdie putt on the same hole in the afternoon. He left no doubt in the minds of those watching as he skillfully holed his putt to win the hole and seal the match 5 and 4.
In all a wonderful match played in fine spirit. A credit to all four players and a pleasure to watch.
Richard Evans
Match Referee
