2021 Men’s and Women’s Finalists with Silverware
The finals of the Men’s and Women’s Club Championships were decided on Sunday October 24. The sun was out on a perfect Spring Day and a large contingent of followers witnessed some fine golf by all players. As with the CG DUDLEY the Men’s Club Championships were sponsored by MORGAN STANLEY courtesy of Mark Palmer and Stuart Beattie.
Before moving on to the results it would be appropriate to applaud the committee’s decision to play the Men’s and Women’s finals on the same day and to acknowledge the Men’s and Women’s captains for coordinating the presentation evening. It was a memorable and historic day for the club and hopefully will become a club tradition.
Whilst these articles are normally written embracing Men’s results it would first be appropriate to mention the Women’s Club Championships. The results were as follows;
WOMEN’S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Women’s Club Championship Finalists
Cath Bellemore seeking her 14th Championship victory was up against first time finalist Honor Metcalf. It has to be said that Honor was a nervous underdog but she gave it her all. Ultimately, Cath was too good on the day and holing a 20-metre putt on the penultimate hole (5th) was the icing on the cake. For Cath the victory adds to her ever growing list of impressive golfing achievements. Honor should be congratulated on getting to the final – a great achievement in itself.
Other Champions on the day were Judith Drummond over Tracy Chin, Jennifer Keddy over Nikki Wehr, Susan Watson over Ping Heng-Tan, Kath Fordham over Susie Lau and in the inaugural 9-hole Championship victory went to Helen Warnock over Sandy Tolcon.
Congratulations to all Champions and Runners up.
MEN’S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship Finalists
Tristan Geerlings, the defending champion and leading qualifier, was looking to successfully defend his title against the number 2 seed Ben Cullinan. Ben was out for revenge after his runner-up finish to Tristan in 2020.
The 36 Hole final got under way in the morning and Ben got the upper hand early and was 4 up after 8 holes and 5 under the card. On the back nine Ben held a 3up lead after 14 holes. Tristan fought back to go to the lunch break 1down. The short games of both players were outstanding.
The afternoon round was nip and tuck all the way and after 32 holes the match was all square. Tristan won the 33rd with a birdie and 34th with a par to go two up. Ben’s approach to the 35th was amazing and he holed a 1 metre putt to take the match to the 36th hole.
Both players hit excellent tee shots and Tristan hit the green about 5 metres left of the hole. Ben pulled his slightly and missed the green. A good chip was not enough and Tristan comfortably two putted for a 1 hole victory.
Once again both players short games were most impressive and they are to be commended on the high standard of golf displayed right throughout the day.
Congratulations to Tristan Geerlings for successive Club Championship victories.
Result Tristan Geerlings(1) def Ben Cullinan(2) – 1up
MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Minor Championship Finalists
The Minor Championship looked to be an evenly matched affair with the highest qualifier, Riley Gott, looking on paper to have a slight edge over his opponent, John Venner.
Things did not go in favour of Riley early as John established an early lead and led for much of the afternoon. Riley fought back and was 1up after the fifteenth. John won the sixteenth and squared the match and was in great shape after his tee shot on the seventeenth. Riley, playing for safety, saw his iron shot from the tee sail OOB. After reloading he found the green in 4. John went slightly left with his approach and finished in the left-hand bunker – pin high. He left his first in the bunker, just got it out with his second and two putted for 6. Riley also made 6 – so on to the eighteenth with the match still all square.
Both players made the green in two and Riley putted first from around 5 metres – and in it went. John coolly sunk his 3-metre putt – hole halved in birdies. What a turnaround from the previous hole – on to the nineteenth.
Riley’s approach from the trees on the right found the back of the green and John’s short approach also found the green. Riley’s first putt went past the hole and John once again calmly sank a 3 – 4 metre putt for birdie clinching the Minor Championship and have his name added to the B K Bolton Tray.
Result John Venner(6) def Riley Gott(5) – 19th
“A” GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP
“A” Grade Finalists
The defending Champion Grant Evans, was up against the 2020 Spring Cup Winner Paul Coni. Paul had won each of his 3 matches quite comfortably whilst Grant on the other hand had some tough opposition on his way thought to the final – including a one up victory against the raging favourite – Gavin Furness.
Grant played an excellent front nine and was square with the card and 5up on his opponent. Over the final nine Paul could not make up the leeway and went down to the defending champion 6/4.
So, Grant Evans successfully defended his title and once again wins the John Roberts Trophy.
Result Grant Evans(7) def Paul Coni(12) – 6/4
“B” GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP
“B” Grade Finalists
On paper this looked to be the game of the day with the leading qualifier Ian MacDonald up against the number 2 ranked player Wilfred Ong – both members of “The Gallery”.
Ian had made hard work of some of his lead up matches whilst the ever-reliable Wilfred had more comfortable wins.
After displaying his prowess out of the bunker on the right-hand side of the eighteenth in previous matches, Ian was seen pre-match successfully practicing from the aforementioned bunker.
So, with the “lollipop” person on standby the match began.
It soon became apparent that he would not be required as Wilfred totally outplayed his opponent on the front nine and was 5up. After the twelfth he was still 5up and appeared to be cruising. A rare mistake by Wilfred’s caddy on the thirteenth allowed Ian to halve the hole and after a tacking duel up the fourteenth Ian got back to 4down and with Wilfred tiring a glimmer of hope appeared. To his credit Wilfred regained his composure and won the fifteenth for a thoroughly deserved 5/3 victory to win the J B Duncan Trophy.
Result Wilfred Ong(2) def Ian MacDonald(1) – 5/3
“C” GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP
“C” Grade Finalists
Probably the most interest of the day centred around the “C” Grade Final with the CG Dudley Cup winner Paul Orchard trying to make it a double. His opponent, the “wily” John Clarkson, was determined to upset his plans. Whilst it was close throughout the match the unflappable “Orch” appeared to be in control and led throughout most of it, and was 2up with 3 holes to play.
Under pressure on the sixteenth, Paul played the shot of the day when he nearly holed his tee shot. He then calmly sank the one metre birdie putt to win 3/2 and take out the Fred Symons Tray.
In doing so Paul became one of the few players in the history of the Championships to win both the CG Dudley Cup and any Club Championship in the same year.
Result Paul Orchard(1) def John Clarkson(6) – 3/2
SUMMARY
The Men’s and Women’s Club Championships are over for another year and with the Men’s Championships-;
Two defending champions won again – Tristan Geerlings and Grant Evans
Two leading qualifiers won – Tristan Geerlings and Paul Orchard
Paul Orchard won both the CG Dudley Cup and “C” Grade Championship. Rumour has it that in recognition of his achievement “The Gallery” will be mounting a bronze bust of Orch on a balcony wall.
Men’s Club Championship Winners – Paul Orchard, John Venner, Tristan Geerlings and Wilfred Ong
Absent Grant Evans
Congratulations to all the winners, both men and women, and also to all of those who made it through to the Match Play, well done.
Appreciation is once again extended to our sponsor MORGAN STANLEY for their continued support of the club.
Our course staff did an excellent job in their preparation of the course. The pro shop staff are acknowledged for their assistance as are the house staff. On Par Catering once again provided excellent meals during the championships and at the “after party”.
Their efforts together with the member’s support made for a most successful Club Championship.
Finally, the combining of the Men’s and Women’s Championships this year was an initiative that, to most members, turned out to be very successful and a format which hopefully will be continued in future years.
From – Greg Fitzhardinge
