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Yarra Yarra’s Dallas & Philip Wickenden have won the 2018 Sir Dallas Brooks Trophy.
The pair defeated Woodlands’ Mike & Kathy Smith on the 19th in a close and exciting final played at the superbly presented Metropolitan Golf Club on Friday 2 November.
The Smiths, playing off a handicap of 9, had to give 4 shots to their opponents.
It was clear early on that this match was destined to go the distance as neither team could gain a significant lead.
On the women’s par 5 9th hole, the Wickendens made an impressive four to take a 1up lead at the turn.
They followed up the effort with another superb four on the tricky 10th hole to extend the lead to two.
The seesawing score line continued until the Wickendens regained a 2up lead at 15 and halved the next to see the match dormie after 16 holes.
The Smiths proved that they weren’t going to go down without a fight and won the 17th to extend the match to the 18th hole.
On the 18th green, staged in front of an array of grandstands for the upcoming World Cup of Golf, the Wickendens had a six foot putt to halve the hole and win the match but watched in disbelief as it lipped out of the cup.
All of a sudden the match was back to square and the final continued on the 19th hole for the second year running.
Dallas Wickenden delivered the decisive blow on the 19th, chipping a lob wedge to one foot and allowing her partner Philip to tap it in for four.
The Smiths came tantalisingly close to matching the effort but just missed their par putt to see a thrilling match come to an end.
Both pairs enjoyed a match played in great spirits and were overly grateful to have played on the stunning Metropolitan layout for the past four days.
The Wickendens look forward to returning next year in a bid to defend their title.
Click here for full results and photos for the week.