After six rounds of competition, this year&aposs Mens&apos Pennants finals will take place at Lake Karrinyup Golf Club on Sunday the 4th of August between Royal Fremantle and Cottesloe Golf Clubs. Since the inaugural Mens&apos Metropolitan Pennants season of 1925, only two clubs have been able to claim the title of most successful Pennants team in WA?s history. With 20 and 19 titles respectively, Royal Fremantle and Cottesloe have each had their fair share of success, however both clubs are looking to Sunday&aposs clash to break decade long droughts. Since winning eleven pennants between 1927 and 1939, Cottesloe have seen limited success as Royal Fremantle slowly whittled down their lead. A great rivalry erupted from the 1970s, right through to the mid-nineties. With a strong group of players that included current PGA tour player Greg Chalmers, Royal Fremantle dominated with 17 titles while Cottesloe took home four of the remaining seven contested. When Royal Fremantle won their last pennant in 1995, neither of the number one current ranked players for Royal Fremantle or Cottesloe were born. Cottesloe&aposs drought extends even further, going back 34 years to when they defeated Royal Fremantle 5-4 in 1979. With two of the best junior golfers in the state, Royal Fremantle and Cottesloe look to start a new dynasty behind their number ones in Minwoo Lee (15) and Curtis Luck (16). Despite their young age, both players have enjoyed a multitude of successes in state and national golf competitions, and are among youngest and most promising players to be selected to the WA state team. Luck and Lee share a healthy rivalry too, with Lee holding the upper hand after recent victories at the Srixon Junior Championships and the Drummond Golf 54 Hole Classic in July. Both victories for Lee were by a single shot over Curtis Luck, despite Luck holding a lead going into the final round. While Royal Fremantle and Cottesloe contested the Division 2 final in 2009, which was won 6-3 by Royal Fremantle, there is very little Division 1 finals experience between the two sides. Cottesloe?s Don Pyke may be able to help his team-mates with some advice in this regard. Despite having a handicap of 1, Pyke is much better known for his two premierships won with the West Coast Eagles in 1992 and 1994, as well as being named to the Eagles Team of the decade in 1996 and Team 20 in 2006. If history is anything to go by, Royal Fremantle and Cottesloe have a knack of putting streaks together. With some of the best young talent in the state, it looks probable that another great streak will start come Sunday at Lake Karrinyup. Spectators are welcome to this free event to watch and cheer on some of the state&aposs best amateur golfers.
Author: Tom Fee / Golf WA