Southern Golf Club held host to today’s Junior Pennant final and the weather couldn’t have been better, clear skies and little wind made the sure the finale would be memorable. Yarra Yarra Golf Club and Woodlands faced off for the battle of 2016.
Yarra Yarra’s Krishan Dobson and Tate Ingham got the side off to a flying start with convincing 8 & 7 and 7 & 6 victories respectively. Charlotte Fraser also chimed into the winners circle with a 3 & 2 victory to have three matches secured.
With their backs against the wall Woodlands reconciled well and posted victories from their number one and two match in Ben Smith and Jack Cunnington. With Yarra Yarra having three wins and Woodlands two, the final match out on the course between Nick Rossato and James McLaren would prove pivotal as Woodlands tried to force a playoff. Rossato and McLaren strolled off the 18th green all square and made the walk to the 1st tee for a sudden death playoff that would decide on either a Yarra Yarra victory or a playoff for the title.
With McLaren conceding one stroke because of the handicap differences, he hooked is drive left but then hit a fantastic 4 iron from the trees to about 20 metres short of the par 4. Rossato hit a solid drive and approach shot just short of the green but was a little wayward with his pitch leaving himself a 30-foot putt over a ridge and down the hill. The Woodlands member chipped onto the green about 10-feet short. Rossato left himself a lot of work after his first putt finished a good 10-foot short of the hole. If Woodlands was to have any chance of forcing a playoff McLaren would have to make his putt for par but it shaved the hole and he tapped in for a bogey 5. With the support of his team mates and numerous onlookers, Yarra Yarra’s Nick Rossato stepped up to a putt that would guarantee the club victory and nailed it right in the centre of the cup.
All teams throughout the finals series should be commended in the manner in which the matches were contested.
Click here for todays final results
Click here for the junior pennant home page for season individual match results and photos.