3 May 2013 – Finals Day
We were on the edge of our seats as we watched the scores and twitter feeds show QLD up, then NSW narrowing the margin about ready to take over. But QLD held on to win 4.5 – 3.5 and claimed the 2013 Australian Men&aposs Interstate Team Championship. QLD won a total of 21.5 matches since the series started with NSW&aposs 21. Both NSW and QLD had won 3.5 contests each. The NSW boys fought hard to defend their title in the finals to no avail by a narrow margin. All could be proud of the efforts of the NSW players. Coach Khan Pullen said, “It was unlucky to the GolfNSW Men&aposs team today who finished runner up to Queensland at the Interstate Series. I am very proud to be their coach!!” Congratulations to QLD, to Golf Australia, Golf Tasmania and to everyone involved in the Interstate Series. Big round of applause to our NSW Team and Coaching Staff. We were able to witness some truly amazing golf! To view full results [click here]
2 May 2013 – Day 2 Wrap
Well the boys have given themselves a chance to go back to back by winning today s final round match against South Australia 5-2. The plan discussed during last night s team meeting was to try and get off to a fast start and then maintain pressure throughout the match by playing solid high percentage golf. The boys played to the game plan perfectly as after 6 holes 5 out of the 7 team members had a lead in their match. This continued throughout the front nine as we were only behind in one match at the turn. Cameron Davis and Ricky Kato got the first two wins on the board winning 2up and 4&3 respectively. Ruben played solidly but was beaten one down. Dale Brandt-Richards, Callan O Reilly and Jordan Zunic all finished with solid wins. Brett Drewitt went down 3 &1. Unfortunately for Brett he was struck by his opponents golf ball on the forearm after ricocheting off a tree on the 10th hole. Although there is a little bruising, he will be right for tomorrow. After the round matches we finished in second place, half a match behind Queensland. So it will be Queensland that we meet in the Championship match tomorrow morning to decide the 2013 champions. During the round matches we had a halved contest, so it is going to be tight. The boys will need to win the match outright tomorrow, as in the case of a tie the team that held first positon after the round matches is declared the winner. All 8 players will play tomorrow, so it will truly be a team effort required to get us across the line. The boys have done everything possible in regards to preparation and recovery for this event, so are fresh and ready to go tomorrow!!
1 May 2013 – Day 2 Wrap
Well…the day started early at 6.15 am and the thermometer revealed a chilly 7 degrees when the guys started their warm ups. Preparations went well but unfortunately that s where it all ended as a determined Western Australian Team, that has been a nemesis over many years, ambushed us on the greens and gave our guys a good wakeup call by defeating us 5.5 to a 1.5. Callan O Reilly was the lone winner, winning his match 7&6 and Ricky Kato halved his match. Well what a difference a lunch break can do! The boy s come out after lunch determined to redeem themselves and redeem themselves they did! The putts that weren&apost dropping in the morning all started going in during the afternoon against Victoria. Cameron Davis had seven birdies during his match and closed out National Junior Squad Member Ryan Ruffles 2 &1 in match 7. Ricky Kato followed that up with a solid win in match 6 2&1. Troy Moses played solidly throughout the match, but just couldn&apost close out Lucas Herbert in match 5 eventually squaring the match. Dale Brandt-Richards, Jordan Zunic and Brett Drewitt were all able to turn around the morning s disappointment by posting solid wins against very strong opponents. Callan O Reilly remained undefeated for the series by closing out match 3 3&1. Les Browne and myself are extremely proud of the way the guys showed some true grit and determination to recover from the morning&aposs disappointment to post such a dominant win against a team that has 4 National Squad members and the current NSW Medal Champion. In saying that, it will all mean nothing if the guys get defeated by South Australia tomorrow. So the guys have all shifted their focus back to making sure that they prepare properly for tomorrow s match as a win will guarantee them a berth in Friday s final.
30 April 2013 – Day 1 Wrap
Wow what a day!! The boys showed a lot of heart today in both matches. In the morning match against Tasmania it was looking like it could go either way. Ruben Sondjaja, the recent Junior Boys Team Captain, made a successful debut in the Men’steam by winning match number 6 3&2. Unfortunately on his debut, Troy Moses battled hard but his opponent was too strong. Troy went down 3&1 in match 5. Ricky Kato halved the number 7 match, while Callan O Reilly got off to a flying start winning the first 6 holes of his match and eventually closing out his opponent 6&4. The Team Captain Jordan Zunic started slowly losing the first three holes and was never able to recover losing match three 4&3. Brett Drewitt playing at number 1 played solidly for a 3&2 win. Dale Brandt-Richards also making his debut in match 4, fought back from 1 down with two to go, birdieing the last two holes to win 1up. In the end it was a 4.5 to 2.5 win over the a very tough home state team that battled hard the whole way.
In the afternoon it wasn&apost going to get any easier playing Queensland. Ricky Kato led the team off at number 7 with a solid 2 &1 win. Ruben got behind early and found himself 3 down with four to go. Ruben staged a courageous comeback but just couldn&apost quite get over the line eventually losing 1 down. Troy again wasn&apost quite on his game going down in match 5 4&3. Callan O Reilly continued on his strong form from the morning winning match 3 4&3. Jordan Zunic played solidly in match two eventually winning 2&1. The match was all square with four holes to play. On the 15th hole Jordan rolled in a 25 footer for birdie to go one up and followed that up by holing a 7 iron for an eagle 2 to go 2up with two to go. A solid par sealed the win on the next. Dale Brandt- Richards played well but unfortunately lost his match 1 down. Dale s opponent hit his second shot to three feet on the par 5 last hole, making an eagle to win the match 1 up. So it all came down to Brett Drewitt and Cameron Smith in the number 1 match to determine the contest. Brett had fought back from being 3 down after 9 holes to be 2up with two to go. Brett hit a very sound shot on the 17th hole that finished about 30 feet from the hole. Cameron Smith hit his to about 20 feet. Brett left his putt agonisingly short by about 2 inches. Cameron rolled in the 20 footer to send it down the last. Cameron with the honour hit a tee shot down the middle while Brett was slightly left but finished in the trees and had to chip out his second shot on the par 5 hole. Cameron just missed the green left with his second, while Brett hit his 3rd shot about 25 feet under the hole. Cameron had a delicate downhill chip for his third which hit ran about 15 feet past the hole. Again Brett come up inches short on his birdie attempt. In the fading light Cameron Smith holed the 15 footer to square the match and also the contest. So at the end of the day the boys sit in third place behind Victoria and Queensland. It doesn&apost get any easier tomorrow with Western Australia in the morning followed by the current leaders Victoria in the afternoon. The equation is pretty easy for the boys. They need to win the remaining 3 matches to have a chance to be in the final match on Friday. [View full results]
29 April 2013
28 April 2013
Good luck to the NSW Men&aposs Team!!!
The NSW Men&aposs Team are busy preparing for the Australian Men&aposs Interstate Matches to take place from 30 April – 3 May at the Tasmania Golf Club. NSW is on fire to defend its title having won the 2012 Interstate Series. Go NSW!!! For more information click on the links below.