Golf SA Pennant Finals – Preview & Schedule
The 2015 Golf SA Metropolitan Pennant finals will be held on Sunday 12 July with the top grades playing at Kooyonga Golf Club.
For the seventh year running, the state's two premier club events, the Simpson Cup (Men) and Women's A1 will be held at the same venue on the same day. In a further celebration of the inter club competitions, Sunday's play at Kooyonga will also feature finals for the Sharp Cup (Juniors) and Men's A2 grades.
In total 24 individual match play contests will be played on the day in what promises to be an exciting culmination of the 2015 Metropolitan Pennant season.
In the Simpson Cup final, Kooyonga will play arch enemy The Grange for the third straight year.
Kooyonga finished the season minor premiers and undefeated, notching up seven wins. Playing in its fourth straight final Kooyonga will be looking for its 33rd title and first flag since 2013.
"The team is playing well and with confidence. We have made an excellent preparation for a tight final. We are ready to go," said Kooyonga Team Manager Geoff Raneberg.
The Grange who are the defending champions, are gunning for its 23rd title.
“The Grange Simpson Cup boys are primed and ready to go head to head in yet another epic final against our arch rivals Kooyonga," Grange Manager Geoff Hendrick said.
“We know they will be thirsting for our blood after our narrow win in last year’s final and they go into this final as favorites after knocking us off earlier in the year. But we are quietly confident our number one Jack Williams having just returned from a successful USA tournament series, will again lead us to victory,” Hendrick added.
In last year’s final The Grange won by the narrowest of margins 4-3 with the final decided with a win to Jack Williams on the last hole 1up.
When the sides met in round two, Kooyonga triumphed 4.5 – 2.5, with the biggest margin being 3&2. Three matches went to the last, so another extremely tight contest is expected.
In the Women's A1 final,defending champions Glenelg play The Grange.
Glenelg will be gunning for its 22nd title and fourth in a row, a feat accomplished once before by the club, from 1964 – 1967.
Glenelg will be without ace number one player Jenny Lee unbeaten in her past 16 matches, due to overseas tournament commitments. Despite this the Glenelg team of Elysia Yap, Sophie James, Jill and Josie Hodge and Sarah Griffiths will be a formidable line-up in the final against their younger opponents.
“Glenelg Golf Club’s A1 Women’s Team have had an outstanding season. 7 players have represent our club this year, 5 of them are undefeated," Glenelg Team Manager Cathy Johnson said.
“We believe our experience and maturity will assist us as we attempt to win our 4th Pennant Final in a row. We look forward to an exciting Final,” Johnson added
In the minor round Glenelg only dropped two individual matches so The Grange will have to be at its best in the final.
The Grange will be looking to claim its 5th title and first since victory in 2004.
The Grange will likely field five women’s state team representatives in Ella Adams, Caitlin Roberts, Cassidy Evreniadis, Kristalle Blum and either Jin-young Yun or Jean Foo.
"The Grange A1 Ladies Pennant team have played consistently throughout the Pennant season, winning 4 out of the 5 matches leading up to the Finals. The team has gained valuable experience and confidence as the majority are members of the State team. It will be a competitive match and the team is focused on winning the flag and bringing it home to Grange," said Grange Team Manager Belinda Singleton.
The Grange has lost the final to Glenelg the past two years 4 – 1 and when the sides met in round four, it was Glenelg who triumphed again 4 -1 (with Jenny Lee). But will all Glenelg players having to move up a position with Lee absent, a close contest in the final is expected.
Spectators are welcome at Kooyonga throughout the day to support their respective club sides.
Golf SA will have score boards for each of the four finals, location at the half way hut by the 9th & 14th greens and 10th, 15th and 18th tees. There will also be a sausage sizzle operating at this location with food and drinks available for purchase. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase from the clubhouse Members Bar.
PENNANT FINALS – SCHEDULE
Sunday 12th July at Kooyonga Golf Club
Simpson Cup Final
Kooyonga v The Grange
Start: 1st Tee 11.15am
Women's A1 Final
Glenelg v The Grange
Start: 1st Tee 10.35am
Joint Presentation to be held at the conclusion of the above two finals est. 3.30pm (*subject to change)
Men's A2 Final
Flagstaff Hill v Southern
Start: 1st Tee 9.40am
Sharp Cup FInal
Kooyonga v Glenelg
Start: 1st Tee 9.00am
Joint Presentation to be held at the conclusion of the above two finals est. 2pm (*subject to change)
Periodic score updates available throughout the day via:
The remaining two finals will be held at the Flagstaff Hill Golf Club:
Bonnar Cup Cup Final
The Grange v Glenelg
Start: 1st Tee 11.10am
Men's B2 Final
Flasgstaff Hill v Westward Ho
Start: 10th Tee 11.10am
Presentations will be held in the clubhouse at the conclusion of the two finals.