Below are the senior pennant final team results and reports from both blue and yellow teams. Alas, luck wasn’t on our side and both teams lost but determined more than ever to win the flag next year.
Yellow Team
Gosnells 1 vs Nedlands 4
We venture out to the beautiful coast yesterday to Seaview Golf club, and the only thing missing from the course was the goats, ha ha ha, but after making our second final in a row for some players, we were unable to get over the line, and lost to Nedlands.
1st off where our normal pairing of Alan McFarlane & Bob Cush who started well and were 1 Up at the turn, and held the lead till they played the 18th hole where Alan and Bob were playing some solid golf. After losing the 18th hole, it was sudden death, and no halves where going to be given, but on the 19th hole the guys from Nedlands finally got their heads in front for the first time of the day and won the hole to win 1up. Great efforts Alan & Bob for the year.
2nd off the tee was a surprise from our Captain. He had the Terminator Twins together John Connor & John O’Connor and it seemed to be paying huge dividends and at the turn the boys were 3 up and like the movie were cruising. But the second nine was a different story with the guys from Nedlands making a big comeback, getting back to square midway thru the back nine. On the 16th hole John O’Connor holed a monster putt from off the green for par to keep the match even, 17&18th holes were halved as well, but like the first match no extra holes were required this time, as I will explain shortly. Match all Square.
3rd off in there normal position was the undefeated team of Rob Pearce & Fez Ferris who in 2 years of pennants have not lost a match, and playing their 13th match as a team finally going down the the guys from Nedlands 4-3. After 4 holes the match was all square but from that point it was a struggle to keep in the game. 3 Down at the turn and it got worse after the short 11 where we lost to be 4 down the holes running out, so it needed to be all out attack to get back into the match, winning the next
2 holes to be only 2 down with 5 to play , we were unable to keep it up and lost the next 2 holes, to a better team on the day. 13 unluckily for some it proved that yesterday. Fez & I will be back next year, to go 1 better.
4th off was our Captain Tony Peroni & Michael Smart, who had a big tussle from the guys from Nedlands but in the end were no match losing 4-2 and the win gave Nedlands the Pennant for the year. Michael played some really good golf yesterday and was still playing close to his handicap, when the match finished, but Tony did not play very well and had a lot of trouble off the tee, and and after 9 holes the match was all square. On the back nine they lost 2 holes early and on the par 3 13th, the player from Nedlands hit it stone dead with a shot for a birdie and won the hole. With holes running out both had par putts on 15th
hole and missed and the player from Nedlands with a stroke was able to make a putt with a stroke to win the hole. Things were looking grim 3 down 3 to play and on the 16th hole Michael & Tony both have par putts and missed , and the Nedlands player holed from of the green to win the hole. Game over 4-2 defeat.
5th off once again was our elder members of Barry Urbano & Paul Whealan who played out a very tight match and the end it was all square. Both Paul & Barry complimented each other of the game and had some good moments and finished off the year really well. Congrats on a fine year.
Stuart Allen was in Adelaide this week for the State of Origin and was replaced by John Connor. Thanks John for coming and playing and getting a halve point.
Been a fun year of senior Pennants, and thanks to all in the team for a great effort, until next year I am signing off.
Report by,
Rob Pearce
Blue Team
Gosnells Blue went down 3/2 to Cottesloe, however this was a hard-fought final with both sides having victory within their grasp at certain stages throughout the thrilling conclusion.
Ken How & David Voysey led us off and were galloping away for what looked like an easy victory, being 3 up with 3 to play when they unexpectedly lost concentration and lost the final 3 holes to finish square. Being a final, all games must continue until a team wins outright. David had an opportunity to win the 19th hole but just lipped out. He then made amends by having 2 putts from around one metre to win the 20th hole. At this stage Gosnells was 1 up.
Wayne Marrell & Eugene DeVries who replaced Terry Smith and Chris Hofman teamed up & were second off. They had an enthralling encounter with their opponents with neither side giving an inch. The game was close all day with Wayne & Eugene eventually winning 1 up. At this stage Gosnells were looking good at 2 matches to zero.
Myself & Belly were third off and after losing the first two holes to unbelievable 6 to 8m putts from our opponents, could not bridge the gap. The closest we got was one down on a number of occasions & whenever we were in the box seat, our opponents would sink a long putt to halve the hole. On the 14th when we looked like an easy win, the 25-handicapper chipped in from around 25m from the green for a par. TG who was only 3m from the hole for two could not convert his birdie putt to halve the hole & suddenly we were three down. Belly played extremely well however the Captain let him down in the most crucial game of the series. We lost 3/2. The game situation was now Gosnells 2 Cottesloe 1.
Alan Andersson & Rod Chapman were fourth off and could not get going. Despite some great drives and magic golf played in patches, they could not overcome their opponents who played like Sea view was their home course. Alan & Rod eventually went down 3/2. Now the final was getting interesting with the games all tied at 2 apiece.
Last off were the old stagers in Ken Gray and Roy Wingrove. They played like men possessed and were 3 up with 4 to play when the unthinkable occurred. The Cottesloe 20 handicapper had three birdies. I say that again, three birdies in a row to bring the match back to square playing the 18th. Cottesloe could have wrapped up the match on the 18th but missed two one metre putts. Off down the 19th they went. This hole was halved thanks to one of the Cottesloe players hitting the flag and stopping his ball from going well past the hole for a tap in four. Roy had a 3 – 4 metre putt to win the hole, but alas could not sink it. Down the 20th they ventured. All four hit great drives. This green is a double green with two flags. A yellow and Blue. Cottesloe landed on the top section around 6 metres from the flag. Roy landed on the green but close to the yellow flag or approximately 30m from the blue flag. Ken was over the back of the green whilst the 20 handicapper from Cottesloe was out of the game. Cottesloe two putted for par and for Gosnells Roy hit two great putts to again halve the hole. They were now playing the 21st hole and Ken & Roy hit a couple of good drives along with one of the Cottesloe boys. The 20 handicapper hit his drive to the left and was behind a couple of large low lying bushes. He hit his second into the low-lying bush & after a windy or two picked up. Keep in mind this is the guy who peeled off three birdies in a row. Roy played a couple of woeful shots leaving Ken to himself. Ken with nerves of steel hit his second to just short of the green however this was a two tiered green and with two putts the game was ours. This was not to be as Ken went around 3 metres passed the hole & just missed his par. Another halved hole.
Off they all went to the 22nd hole. At this time, it was starting to get a little dark. Cottesloe teed off first and the 16-handicapper hit a woeful drive that only went around 140m. The 20 handicapper sprayed his to the left onto another fairway. If you know Sea view it is very open. Roy hit his drive down the middle of the fairway which Ken sprayed his to the right. When we eventually found Ken’s ball, he was in all sorts of trouble and eventually picked up as he did not get a shot on the hole. This left Roy holding the candle. The 20 handicapper who had done nothing on the first three playoff holes then left his second shot approximately 5 metres from the green. Roy skinnied his third shot onto the next tee box and could not get down for a 5. This left the 20 handicapper with three shots for a win. Well, he only took two. Game over with Cottesloe winning 1 up and winning the final 3 games to 2.
The Gosnells boys should be proud of the way they fought to the end. It was a nail-biting performance that has done our club proud. We can look forward to next season with confidence.
Personally, I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who participated in Gosnells Blue this season. We had a very good year to easily top our South Blue division and almost bought a pennant flag back to the club.
Report by,
Terry Gale
