TWO of the most prestigious trophies in South West Golf will hang proudly on the wall of the Cootamundra Country Club after the men’s handicap pennant side completed a fairytale double on the weekend.
Hot on the heels of the scratch team’s
victory over Young the previous week, the handicap side also emerged victorious after an absorbing battle, also against Young, with the final played at the tough Harden lay out on a bitterly cold morning.
The Cootamundra side of Brad Potter, Phil Moon, Matt Moon, Bryan Anderson and Neville Potter won the title 3-2, but only after an extra hole was required to decide the final result.
It is the first time in many years that Coota has claimed both the scratch and handicap title in the same year and a unique double for any club.
Unlike scratch pennants where players compete head to head, handicap play sees the lowest marker in each of the five matches ‘give shots’ to their respective rival.
Four of the Coota team found themselves in this position, with Phil Moon having to give his opponent shots on 10 holes, while Anderson was forced to give up seven.
The disadvantage proved to be too much with Moon, despite taking an early lead in his match with Jim Glasheen, under the pump from the overwhelming weight of shots given and eventually went down three-and-two.
Anderson had a tight tussle all day and he and his opponent Darren O’Brien were all square as they played the last.
Anderson tapped in for a bogey on the 18th and appeared to be in the box seat as O’Brien was faced with a tricky eight foot putt across a slope.
The former Harden cricketer held his nerve on the tough putt, and was delighted to see it disappear into the bottom of the cup.
Forced up the first again, Anderson’s tee shot hit a pine tree and ricocheted to the wrong side of the fence essentially handing the match to his opponent.
The youngest member of the side, Brad has been working extremely hard on his game of late and, despite giving his opponent Matt Williams shots on four holes, grabbed an early lead and maintained that advantage for a three-and-two victory.
Around the same time Brad was sealing his match Matt Moon was shaking hands with Ben Holmes having led from start to finish in a four-and-three triumph.
That locked the tie up at two matches each and set up what proved to be a thrilling
finish.
Neville Potter and his opponent Paul Blizzard fell well behind the rest of the field which only added to the drama back in the clubhouse.
Word came through that the match was all square after 14 holes and by the time the final group reached the 18th green and putted out, the pair still couldn’t be separated.
Forced down the first again, and with the players from both sides watching on in
support, Potter won the hole to give Coota a memorable win.
While the five players rightfully enjoyed the thrill of victory, it wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of Des Rowe and Geoff Knight who played important roles in the preliminary rounds.
Neither were available for the final, with Rowe involved in SES commitments.
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