In round four of the Bonnar Cup, The Grange set their sights on the previously undefeated Aston Hills.
Although only early in the year, this match shaped as likely our toughest match of the season.
This was a home game for Aston Hills on a course some of our guys hadn’t played until they stepped onto first tee.
The course was presented immaculately with full credit going to green staff.
Our first match off was No. 7 Patrick Fisher and he won his first hole after a pretty tough opening tee shot. However it wasn’t Patty’s day as he ended up going down on the day.
No. 6 Patrick Brind, coming off two impressive wins in a row, played against an ex-club mate and put his opposition on the back foot immediately. He was never headed and claimed a 4-3 win – his third in a row.
No. 5 Ryan Sugars faced a tough ask this match, having never played course before. He remained competitive but slowly leaked losses until the deficit became too much and went down 4-3.
No. 4 Colin Coleman had his entire family on his bag for the day, but more about Col’s game later.
The seven-foot Mark Inglis, playing at No. 3, even found trees on this course taller than him. He faced an opponent who didn’t mind how he got to green, but never missed a putt all day once he got there, halting a spirited fight back by Mark. After turning even, then finding himself four down with six to go, Mark took the match to the 16th, only for his opponent to hole out from distance to lose 4-2.
No. 2 Mathew Wilson played like he was the local here. He never let his opponent come up for a breath, playing smart golf on the fairways and greens all day. Mathew’s opponent couldn’t match him and he claimed a 6-4 win.
This would have been enough to clinch best player on the day, if it wasn’t for No. 1 Angus Dunghey.
Up against one of best players to have come out of SA golf in Phil Chapman, this game would be a test.
Gus has length to envy, but if they weren’t straight this day he’d have been in trouble as hitting fairways would be essential.
Gus was down most of day, that was until I told him after the 12th hole that due to our scores across the board, he needed to get up.
Maybe this is what he needed to hear, but perhaps it’s just me thinking I made the difference.
From a precarious position on his 14th hole, Gus punched a low fizzer which spun so much it almost pulled sideways into the hole for a gimme birdie to go one up.
On the 16th hole after a huge wide tee shot, Gus’ second was one he’ll put in his top drawer of shots. It’s hard to describe a shot that had no right to finish on the green. It ran through trees, rough, fairway and even a bunker, only to pop out of the trap to about 20 feet. Gus ended up halving the hole.
By this stage we had only two wins on board and three losses.
Colin was just ahead of Gus playing the 17th having lost his two-up lead from a few holes prior.
Colin almost drove the green on 17 and chipped it to gimme range for birdie to go one up again.
At the same time, Gussy had played his miraculous shot to get away with a half and hold his one up lead with two holes to go. At the same time, Colin teed off the tough left hand dog leg 18th, splitting the fairway. Gus did similarly, landing just 30 metres from the green.
This was an exciting finish I didn’t need as manager, but it was great none the less.
From our team’s vantage point, looking on from higher ground watching Gus and Colin play their second shots toward their respective greens, it was like a split screen on Kayo.
Gus almost spun his ball sideways again into the hole for two, only to finish a few inches away. This was enough to secure the win as Phil Chapman missed his birdy putt to extend match another hole. Both teams sat on three wins each.
Colin only had about an eight foot putt for birdie and two putts to likely halve the hole. He rolled it past by 5 feet, giving his opponent a chance to par and put real pressure back on Colin. However Colin’s opponent missed his 6 foot par putt and Colin holed his for four to conclude his match and secure victory for The Grange.
This was a sensational 4-3 win for The Grange as we moved to equal top spot on the ladder.
For the second round in a row, Angus won our team’s best player award for his clutch shots under pressure. I’d like to have given one to all our winners on the day. Very proud of all of them.
Aaron Amos
Team Manager