SIMPSON CUP WEEK 1
Southern group lost their opening match against last year’s finalists, The Vines, 6 to 1 on Sunday at Flagstaff Hill.
David Ling driving at the 10th Tee, Flagstaff Hill
Skipper David Ling lost 2 and 1 in a tight tussle all day. He had a chance to win or halve his match at one down with two to play, however his opponent put his approach into a green side bunker, whereas David placed his approach shot high and left of the green, leaving a difficult shot off a skinny lie over a bunker. His opponent played out of his bunker to within 5 feet of the pin leaving an uphill putt which he triumphantly holed. Lingy produced a great chip which just missed the pin leaving a two foot sideways putt back, which he unfortunately missed for the loss.
Jackson Arthur lost 3 and 1. He had battled hard all day, missing many gettable putts early to get behind, lagging 4 down at one stage. Jack’s putter started firing late in the day, allowing him to fight back to have a chance to halve the match by winning the last two holes, but lost the 17th and the match.
Phil Chapman won 3 and 2. Phil was 1 down after the two opening holes, but with 9 straight pars was 3 up after 9 holes. A birdie at 10 put him 4 up, but his opponent sank a long birdie putt on the 2nd and with Phil making bogey on their 14th hole after a poor drive it was only 2up with the match tightening.
However, two pars on 15 and 16 was all it took to close his match out 3 and 2. Phil played consistent golf with 1 birdie and a single bogey.
It’s hard to argue with results, so these words from Phil about his philosophy. “Years ago, when first playing match play pennants at Simpson Cup level and State amateur I was focused too much on what my opponent was doing which affected my game. So, I changed my thought process to playing the course and if I could shoot even par or better, it would go a long way to winning matches. Also, if I was even par or better and lost, then congratulation to my opponent as he’d played well and had a good day. With this focus I started playing a lot better and winning a fair share of my matches. Now don’t get me wrong I still want to know how my opponent is going on any given hole as there’s times you’ll have a risk/reward shot and need to make a good decision but ultimately, I play to my strengths.”
Matt McDonald felt he played well most of the day, being only 4 shots over the card after nine holes but somehow 7 down! After birdies on 10 and 11 to get back to 5 down he rated himself a good chance in the closing holes, but couldn’t maintain the run to keep pressure on his opponent, eventually losing 4 and 3.
Steve Williams battled a wayward driver all day. After a bad start he was 5 down after 6 holes. Steve plugged away, eventually losing 3 and 2. Typical of his day, he chipped in from off the green on his 14th hole only to see his counterpart chip in from a green side bunker to halve the hole and stop Steve’s momentum. Steve sportingly walked 20 metres to fist bump his opponent after the bunker shot went down.
Jamie Burt’s match was close all day, with the lead alternating but never more than a 1 hole advantage all day. A couple of poor shots in the closing holes cost him dearly, losing two consecutive holes and going down 2 and 1 in the end.
Chris Barker lost 1 down after leading most of the day, being 3 up after nine. In the closing holes he lost confidence in his ball after two perfectly hit seven irons fell well short and his opponent seized the chance to gain the lead. Dormie with one to go, Chris’s halving putt agonisingly lipped out on the final hole.
This Sunday the team plays at Tea Tree Gully, off the 1st tee at 11:15am
1 David Ling (Captain)
2 Jase Hyland
3 Jackson Arthur
4 Matt McDonald
5 Hayden Massey
6 Steve Williams
7 Elliot Willgoose
Reserves Jamie Burt & Matt Hage
JUNIORS S.A. PENNANT – DIVISION 2
Golf SA manages a combined team of junior players called Country Districts which competes in the Sharp Cup and Junior Pennant division. Seven out of the twenty players in the squad are members of SGG Clubs.
Last Sunday, Country Districts defeated Kooyonga 3 ½ to 0 ½, but the result was helped by receiving two forfeits from their opponent.
The Sharp Cup team do not play until 22nd of May. This Sunday the Division 2 team plays Royal Adelaide at The Vines, Reynella. The team consists of 3 players from Aston Hills and two from Victor Harbor .
2022 WOMEN’S PENNANT CHAMPIONSHIPS
A GRADE PENNANT
L – R Jess Reynolds, Kath Layton, Helen Pengilly (captain) Karen Rama , Anna Watson and Ebony Riordan. Not in photo is Anne McDonald.
Willunga Golf Club were undefeated in the minor round and beat Aston Hills 4 and 1 in the final round. Pip March reports :
Willunga women golfers are riding high on the success of their Pennant teams this year. From a player base of about 50 women we were able to achieve wins in both the new Division 1A playing and Division 2 – second year in a row!
The commitment and support by members of the Div 1 team was extraordinary – Ebony a new member to the Club in 2021 had her Mum travel from Clare to Adelaide on several Mondays to baby sit for her so she could play. Her husband changed work rosters to take on babysitting too – all to ensure a commitment to the Willunga team.
Three other members of this team work full time and all juggled rosters and took holiday leave to be able to represent the Club. Winning all their matches was just reward for the effort, commitment and skill of this pennant team.
The club was really fortunate this year to have Ebony Riordan join and manage to play most games, thanks entirely to family support. Ebony’s husband changed shifts and her mother travelled from Clare to allow her to participate. Anna Watson has always been reluctant to play but this year filled in and enjoyed her games. All in all, a very strong team effort all year.
A great Pennant year for Willunga with two wins and a top two finish for all three pennant teams.
A1 GRADE PENNANT
L – R: Heather Grace (South Lakes), Sally Graham (Parndana), Deb Christie (Lameroo), Anne Hunter (Oakbank), Pauline Rowsell (Parndana) and Joy Page (Oakbank).
The Kombies, a combination team with members from various remote clubs, won the A2 final 4 and 1 after an undefeated minor round. They were especially grateful to their opponent, Victor Harbor, for their sportsmanship and good spirits and congratulated the Willunga Course management for their fine presentation of the course. All thanked the SGG Pennant organisers for the chance to play in this year’s high level competition. Sally and Pauline (Kangaroo Island), Heather (Clare) and Deb (Lameroo) all travelled long distances for the chance to compete in this year’s event.
DIVISION 2 PENNANT
L – R: Annie Owen, Leonie Jamieson, Jane Stewart, Carol Collins (captain) and Jane George. Other member not in photo – Pip March
The Willunga team beat McCracken in the final, 4 and 1.
Pip March again: Back-to-back wins by the Division 2 team was in part due to tactics! The new Captain, Carol Collins, supplied a bag of lollies to each player before the last two games to ensure they had a sugar kick to help them win – and it worked!!
The team was also able to convert Club women’s President Jane Stewart to the Pennant competition – maybe it was the lollies again – but Jane has never played pennants before despite being a golf tragic –we hope she is now going to be a regular pennant player in the future.
DIVISION 2 (HILLS) PENNANT
Pam Gray, Sue Telfer, Elizabeth Handsaker (Captain), Jill Sommerlad, Jeanette Rayner, Robyn Eibisch (photoshopped).
Echunga beat Lake Albert in the Division 2 (Hills) competition 3 and 2. Captain Elizabeth Handsaker reports : Robyn Eibisch unfortunately couldn’t play (Covid) in the final, a big disappointment as she had won most of her minor round matches.
Scores on the day were very close, and it came down to the last stroke on the 18th by Jeanette Rayner. Sue Telfer and Jill Sommerland won their games, but Pam Gray and Elizabeth Handsaker unfortunately lost. In all it was an enjoyable season and our finals opponents, Lake Albert, played in good spirit.
HOLE IN ONE
Julie Crafter and “That Ball”
Congratulations to Julie Crafter for acing the 5th hole at South Lakes GC in the opening A grade Pennant match against Aston Hills. South Lakes went on to win 4 and 1.
DIVISION 3 PENNANT
L-R: Rennie Williams, Ruth Waterman (didn’t play due to a muscle complaint), Shirley Cain, Ann Morton, Di Foster and Jill Williams. (Reserves Janet Petherick and Kathy Clark not shown).
In Division 3, Echunga finished top with 10 points, Willunga 8 points, Victor Harbor 6 and South Lakes last.
This report from Ruth Waterman, the Echunga Captain is a good reminder of why we play the competition (enjoy, compete, celebrate win or lose):
Echunga is a very small club and it is quite difficult to find players willing to commit to six ongoing weeks of pennant competition.
Our team comprised two “oldies”, both of whom played during the merry days of the (now defunct) Belair Park Golf Club, and the other three being “newbies” to the competition. Because of this, our mindset from the start was to just enjoy ourselves and let the results fall as they may. We had a fabulous six weeks. The competition was very well organised, our opposition teams (Victor Harbor, Willunga and South Lakes) were extremely welcoming and friendly, the courses were beautiful and well maintained, and to have a closely contested win (only finalised on the last week of the round robin) was the icing on the cake.
I have a feeling my ‘Thank You” speech may have come across as rather garbled and incoherent on the final day (the shock and euphoria of taking home the trophy) but I would like to sincerely thank the Southern Golf Group for their support and management of the competition, and also the opposition teams for their hospitality, kindness and good fellowship. The five members of our team (with reserves) are totally committed to returning next year to try and defend the 2022 result.
JUNIOR COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS & BRETT OGLE CUP
Junior members of SGG Clubs (17 or under on 18th of July 2022) are invited to register their interest in nominating for this event. The SGG is entering a team of five players and two reserves. Players must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Players must have a GA handicap, and we would generally expect handicaps of around 27 or less, although we are also interested in talent for future years, so all applications are welcome.
Email SGG.JuniorCoordinator@gmail.com to register interest.
Event 1 – Country Championships at Loxton Golf Club
- Sunday 16th July is available for a practice round at Loxton
- Monday 17th July – Round 1 – 18 holes stroke play
- Tuesday 18th July – Round 2 – 18 holes stroke play and Presentation
- Results in this event determine District Team standings for the Brett Ogle Cup (Match Play)
Event 2 – Brett Ogle Cup at Barmera Golf Club
- Wednesday 19th July
- Round 1 – 7.30am start – 18 holes match play
- Round 2 – 11.00am start – 18 holes match play
- Thursday 20th July
- Round 3 – 7.30am start – 18 holes match play
- Presentation
There will be one or two team selection/practice events in June, venues and times will be advised in coming newsletters.
JUNIOR SAND GREEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Peterborough 11th and 12th June This is a GolfSA event for individuals. Refer https://www.golf.org.au/events#/competition/3200815/info for entry details
Peterborough Junior Open & SA Junior Sand Greens Championship
Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th June at Peterborough Golf Club
Open to boys & girls who are aged 17 years and under as at 11th June 2022.
The event, conducted by Peterborough GC & Northern District Golf Group, will include:
- SA Junior Sand Greens Championship – 36 holes
- Peterborough Junior Open – 18 holes
- Peterborough Sub Junior Events (no handicap required)
For event information & entry form – Click Here