NSW Golf Club has set the standard in Sydney Metropolitan Major Pennant with a thrilling defence of their title against a gallant Avondale at Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club.
With a gallery of almost 200 people following, it was a clutch birdie on the 19th to NSW number two player, Zinyo Garcia, which sealed the deal for the La Perouse squad.
Earlier, it appeared NSW were cruising towards victory, with six of the seven matches in hand as the contest headed to the back nine.
Avondale wasn't going to give up, however, and put a point on the board with a win form Henry Hesketh to start proceedings before Shaun Cameron and Dean Van Kampen grabbed wins for NSW to tilt the ledger their way.
Bryce PIckin picked up a vital point for Avondale with a win on the 21st, and when Will Bayliss snared a 3/1 win, Avondale had their nose in front.
Zach Mullins, who was always in control of his match against Jye Pickin, squared it up at three-all with a 3/1 win, which left the fate of the 2019 Pennant in the hands of Garcia, or Avondale's Christopher Fan.
<image="10" align="left" />
With just the last hole to play, it was Garcia who held all the cards, with a hole in hand, but when both players blew their approach shots over the back of the green, it was Fan who wowed the gallery with a clutch par save to force the contest into overtime.
With the gallery abuzz and the pressure intensifying, both players pulled their drive on the 19th hard into the trees on the left, and the contest was anyones.
After finding their tee shots, both players elected to lay up. However, with Garcia considerably closer to the green. Fan wasn't going to play it safe and he promptly rifled a magnificent approach to about 15 feet.
Garcia bettered it though, knocking his wedge to about 3 feet and in doing so, heaped all the pressure back on Fan.
<image="2" align="left" />
Fan, first away, gave the putt his all, but when it slid by all that was left was for Garcia to roll his putt in and with it claim the Major Pennant for NSW.
Zac Mullins was a very relieved man after the win.
"Every year, it doesn't get any easier.
"It was pretty stressful in the end, but the boys hung in there for each other.
"Avondale put up a great fight. They are a tough side, and they will be tough for years to come."
The drama-charged atmosphere of extra holes is a familiar experience for Mullins following his win last week against Concord 's Josh Gadd, and he paid tribute to Garcia for maintaining his composure to seal the result.
"It's not a comfortable feeling, and there was probably twice the number of people following to what I had last week,
"He did really well. To hit that wedge shot the way he did with the adrenaline flowing, and with the title on the line, he did superbly.
"He's got big things to come. He's been playing well, and I wish him the best."
With back-to-back Division One titles now hanging in the Clubhouse, Mullins was asked If a three-peat was on the cards.
"I hope so, we've just got to get through the celebrations tonight unscathed and we will see," he smiled.
RESULTS:
Jake Reay lost to Bryce Pickin on the 21st
Andy Li lost to Henry Hesketh 1 hole
Shaun Cameron def Anthony Robson 1 hole
Dean Van Kampen def John Smoljko 2/1
Jake Baker lost to WIlliam Bayliss 3/1
Zinyo Garcia def Christopher Fan on the 19th
Zachary Mullins def Jye PIckin 3/1
CONCORD GO BACK-TO-BACK IN WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE
<image="3" align="left" />
It may seem like the start of an era for women's golf at Concord with their Women's Team defending their Division One Major Pennant Crown against St. Michael's.
The inner west team needed their best, and they delivered when it mattered against strong St. Michael's squad.
It was the battle of the powerhouse number ones and NSW teammates Doey Choi and Stephanie Kyriacou that painted the picture of the contest, however, and with Choi wrestling a 3/2 win from her opponent, St. Michael's were always going to face a tough ask to claim victory,
Early in the contest, it looked like the big win of St. Michael's Makensie Toole may have been the spark the Marboura team needed, but wins from Angelina Gong, and Sophie Yip gave Concord the edge, and with it, their second Pennant in as many years.
RESULTS:
Madison Woodley lost to Makensie Toole 5/3
Angelina Gong def Casey Cook 1 hole
Sophie Yip def Danielle Vasquez 2/1
Belinda Ji halved Kelsey Bennett
Doey Choi def Stephanie Kyriacou 3/2
'NEAR- PERFECT' MONASH TOO GOOD IN DIVISION TWO
<image="4" align="left" />
A 'near perfect' Monash was too good in the final of the Division Two Major Pennant with a resounding 4 1/2 to 2 1/2 win over opponents, Liverpool.
The club from the Collaroy Plateau breezed through the round-robin section of this year's pennant with an almost blemish-free record of five wins and a tie, and only after the final round was washed out.
Liverpool was always going to have their work cut out for them against a team that boasts the NSW and Australian Amateur runner up Nathan Barbieri, and new recruit Alex Henderson. The match, however, could have swung either way, and it was wins from Zachary Telfer and Jordan Mackay at the end that sealed the result for Monash.
Team Captain Jordan Mackay said the result was a very satisfying one.
"It's been a perfect season.
"We won Division Two in 2013, and since then we have had a few team changes, but we have got a strong bond now," he smiled.
Mackay said the addition of Barbieri and Henderson had strengthed an already formidable unit.
"They were the key, 100 per cent. Barbs didn't play every game, and Alex Henderson in his first year after moving from Avondale was a standout.
"It was a big result from Barbs, 6/5. I know a few games could have gone either way, but we kept strong and got the win."
RESULTS:
Zachary Telfer def Scott McGee 2/1
Sunil Patel lost to Darren Shepherd 2 holes
Ryan McClelland halved Jamie Clark
Alex Henderson def Guy Nardo 4/3
Anthony Tan lost to Riley Carter 2/1
Jordan Mackay def Blake Davies 2/1
Nathan Barbieri def Tom Murray 6/5
CRONULLA GRAB FIRST-EVER WOMEN'S MAJOR PENNANT
<image="5" align="left" />
Cronulla grab first women's Major Pennant flag
Cronulla has grabbed their first women's Major Pennant flag with a gutsy three matches to two victory over a strong Avondale team.
Faced with the daunting task of combatting Avondale's NSW Junior representatives Kara Williams and June Song in the top two matches, it was wins from Abbey Bull, Sophia Perkins and Jenni Thuge who got the Shire team over the line.
Thuge, the team's spokesperson, was ecstatic after the win.
"With Cronulla spirit we got it done," she grinned.
"It's awesome, with Abbey going down the 19th.
"She hit a great third shot to put the pressure on her opponent.
Thuge also recognised the eight players who had competed throughout the season. She also paid tribute to the team's Manager, Suzanne Wilson.
"Suzanne is the best Manager ever, and she does a lot to bring the juniors on."
It's been quite a year for Women's Golf at Cronulla. They claimed the Friday Grade Division Four flag earlier this month, and now a first-ever Women's Major Pennant. They are looking forward to Divison One in 2020.
"It's a double for Cronulla ladies this year. I can't describe the feeling."
"Division One next year," she smiled. "Bring it on."
RESULTS:
Abbey Bull def Lishan Sung on the 19th
Sophie Perkins def Jessica Meakin 4/3
Jenni Thuge def Margaret Goodrick 4/3
Lily Pierce lost to Kara Williams 9/7
Marie Ticehurst lost to June Song 5/4
LAKESIDE SURVIVE A NAIL-BITER
<image="6" align="left" />
A plucky Lakeside team has prevailed over a gallant Manly to claim the Division Three flag after three extra holes of sudden-death drama.
With the match locked at three games apiece, it was the team's number four, Jay Choma, who finally prevailed with a lockout par against his opponent, James Cockerill.
Captain Matthew Brinkworth was thrilled with the result after the match.
"It was a very nervous wait.
"Jay played solid, and the other bloke pulled some rabbits out of the hat on the first two holes, but couldn't get up and down on the 21st.
"Unlucky for him, but great for us," he beamed.
Team Manager Hugh Lester added it had been a break out year for the south-west based club.
"it was a fantastic year."
"Three of the team were undefeated through the round robin."
"Division Two next year, bring it on."
The group was expecting a quiet celebration on the trip back to the club, with Lester noting it was going to be an arduous trip
"We have 1 1/2 hours on the bus. We will need to rehydrate." he laughed.
RESULTS:
Robbie Minns def Julian Jackson 4/3
Matthew Brinkworth def Luke Gough 5/4
William Wright lost to Tyson Holmes 1 dn
Jay Choma def James Cockerill on the 21st
Darren Hawkins lost to William Crisp 3/1
Corey Dowling def Finlay Bellingham 4/3
Ben Warby lost to Eddie Blake 2/1
RICHMOND GET UP IN A THRILLER
<image="7" align="left" />
Richmond has got up in a thriller against Springwood for the Division Four Pennant with 4 1/2 to 2 1/2 win against Springwood.
With one match needing extra holes, it was the win of Damion Miller 2 & 1 over Kykle Honeysett that clinched the flag for the Northwesterners.
Other winners were David Dennis, Trent McMillen, and Ian Davies.
Richmond Team Captain David Dennis described the camaraderie around the team as special.
'It's great, good to go to Division Three next year.
"It was a lot of hard work, but everyone in the team was willing to play where I put them,
"I had to leave two people out this week, and it was a tough decision, but they totally understood, and got on the boat to build the team spirit and get us home today."
"Our ultimate goal is to get up divisions; the ultimate will be all the way to Division One, but one step at a time.
"Hopefully next year we will be back here again.
As for celebrations, Dennis said it was going to be a big one back at the club.
"Copious amounts of alcohol will be drunk back at the club," he smiled.
RESULTS:
Ian Davies def Sal Ballard 5/4
Jason Moss lost to David Limbach 1 hole
Tommy Zahn halved Mark Smith
Trent McMillen def Jake Minney 2/1
David Dennis def Nigel Bles 3/2
Damion Miller def Kyle Honeysett 2/1
Craig Ellings lost to Brad Cole 3/2
CHATSWOOD CLAIM DIVISION FIVE PENNANT
<image="8" align="left" />
Chatswood has claimed their first pennant title in over 40 years with a 5 -2 win over neighbours, Cammeray.
Ben Fisher, Marcus Pritchard, Biraj Silwal, and Tim Fletcher grabbed the necessary wins for Chatswood, with the final two matches called as halves.
Chatswood's Manager Mark Miller was thrilled with the result and heaped praise on his charges.
"It's the first win in over forty years for the club, and it will mean a hell of a lot, we aren't going that well.
"They are a great bunch of blokes. I couldn't wish better for them.
Miller identified Ben Fisher as the team's backbone.
"Ben lost his first game, and never lost another after that.
"He went out first today and set the example for everyone else to follow.
"But it's a team thing and everyone was in there," Miller beamed.
RESULTS:
Ben Fisher def Mark Erichsen 4/3
Marcus Pritchard def Colin Leadale 2 holes
Lez Cheung lost to Dan Glimore 6/5
Biraj Silwal def David O'Kane 4/3
Tim Fletcher def Mark Owens 4/3
Michael Robertson halved Jason Richardson
James Greathead halved Kevin Gibb
<image="9" align="left" />
The 2019 Sydney Metropolitan Major Pennant finals are underway at Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club.
The early matches have delivered a pristine morning for golf. There's a slight chill in the air, and a southerly breeze blowing, with the mercury just topping 10 degrees celcius.
It is expexted to rise however, and reach a perfect 23C by around lunch time.
Stay tuned for results and photos as the day unfolds, or better still, come on out and support your club.
QUICK LINKS: REPORTS AND PHOTOS (click to view)
DIV 1 AVONDALE VS NSW: REPORT PHOTOS
DIV 2 MONASH VS LIVERPOOL : REPORT PHOTOS
DIV 3 LAKESIDE VS MANLY: REPORT PHOTOS
DIV 4 SPRINGWOOD VS RICHMOND: REPORT PHOTOS
DIV 5 CHATSWOOD VS CAMMERARY: REPORT PHOTOS
DIV 1 WOMEN'S CONCORD VS ST. MICHAEL'S: REPORT PHOTOS
DIV 2 WOMEN'S CRONULLA VS AVONDALE : REPORT PHOTOS