Kooyonga defeated the Country team in the McMillan Shield event at Tea Tree Gully on 5 February. We won 3 1/2 matches to 1 1/2. It did not look so good during the first nine holes. At hole 18 (we started on the 10th) we were up in one match, square in one and comfortably down in the other three. Sid McDonald off 27 overwhelmed his opponent off 11 and was +4. Scarlet Parker, Taylor Hards and Leo Fabian were down in their matches and Gabe Hedrick was square. I think we lost a bit more ground and then things started to turn around.
On paper Country was a strong team compared to us. Their lowest handicap was 11 and their highest handicap 25. Our players, ranging from 27 at the lowest to 45 at the longest were getting a lot of shots and eventually steady play from Kooyonga’s team ground Country down. Notwithstanding the relatively high handicaps of our players, they have developed quite a good skill set and are playing to, or improving their handicaps which is very pleasing.
Sid played strongly but did not improve on his position at the 18th and won his match 4/3. Scarlet played steadily and from being -2 at 18, went on to win 2 up. Taylor finished strongly and won 2/1. At nine years of age, and showing visible tiredness in the last few holes, Gabe won his last two holes to square the match; a very determined effort. Leo Fabian, the least experienced of the players, who had not played 18 holes previously did well to hang on, but was beaten 6/5. I think it was a big day for the Fabian boys (Teddy played as reserve) and their parents.
Next week is at Royal Adelaide and we play Grange at 1:10 PM, teeing off last.
Bob Brooke
