Geertsen/Namer Vs Gazzola/Hopponen 1 up
Saturday 19May again was a big day for the Bandit!
This time Mathew and his partner Jacob had their second round matchplay against the Champions of last years (Maurizio and Jody!).
We played at the beautifull (home) course of Maurizio: Sussenbrunn; sunny weather and early start.
Jody and Maurizio were already very early at the driving range: They really took the game serious :>))
In spite of the good preparation, Mathew and Jacob started very wel and took the first hole and birdied(!) the second to take a 2 up lead.The champions however were not impressed (yet) and came back with solid scores on three and four which made the game all square again. The next three holes were squared ( three times par scores by both teams!). At hole 8 ( good approach from Jacob) and 9 (good putting Mathew!) the bandit and his teammate again broke the champions and went 2 up. A solid par on hole 10 brought the champions back to only 1 down.
Now, the real fight was on. The next three holes were shared by mutual par-bogey-par scores On the short Par 3 of Hole 14 the champions came back again and squared the score for the second time in the match by making a solid Par. Hole 15 was shared and on hole 16 the game was really on fire! The long Par 5 brought both Jody and Maurizio in the bunker with their Tshot; Mathew and Jacob were on the fairway. Good second shots from both maurizio and Jody and solid second from Jacob brought the both teams in range of the green. Unfortunately Mathew hit the bunker on the left and Jacob was confronted with a bad ball position. His bunkershot was too short and rolled back in the second bunker. Jody and Maurizion took their chance and won the hole. For the first time the Champions were 1 up!! and only two holes to go ( however not the easiest ones; both holes gave Mathew and Jacob one extra stroke, which - we found out - was crucial for the game).
First to the nasty 17th, Tee-ing off straight into the hard wind! The Champions put one of their T offs just a couple of yards over the green on the left side. Mathew and Jacob both!! managed to be too short and their balls landed in the water! The Champions, smiling and thinking: "our potential chip and a putt against their drop, chip and putt.........the worst that can happen we half the hole and go one up to the last one. Full of confidence they looked at the Bandit & co struggling with their confidence!
But as we all know: " It ain't over till the fat lady sings"! Jacob made a very good chip right on the green and Mathew finished with a great putt: In spite of the water punishment they played a 4! Most of all becaus the chip of the champions was too short they needed 2 putts, ergo ended also with a 4 and ....lost the hole!! The game went all square into the last hole!!
Jacob and Mathew were excited to be all square again and really went for it on the last hole. I think a little too much because again both T offs were caught by the strong wind and landed in the water! A unique opportunity for the champions to bring in some course management here. Jody first. He choose for a drive towards the left side of the fairway, at least to stay out of the water............helas, his ball went too far left and out of bounds!! Maurizio, the last one to T-off grabbed one of his irons instead of the woods to really go for a safe shot at the fairway. Miraculously his solid shot also was caught by the wind , drifted to the right and.....landed in the water!! With three (!) drops and one out of bound the game still was on and Mathew and Jacob sensed a sensation was possible.
Jody made a solid approach to the green, kept the ball far from the water and landed about 30 yards to the side of the green. Mathew and Jacob again decided to really go for it ( I mean they had two chances). Jacob made one of his - now already - famous appoaches and landed on the edge of the green making Mathew's shot obligatory. The Champions made a chip and needed two putt to end the hole. That gave Mathew and Jacob a three putt to win the hole and ....they did!
A sensational play ended in 1 up for the Bandit and his partner. With a stroke play score of 85 for the champions and 87 for Mathew and Jacob, we all realized it had been a very good game from all of us.
Thanks everyone for a wonderful and fair event on the beautifull course of Sussenbrun
Zachry/Gruenwald Vs FLEISCHER/CURRY-BESTAK (4&2)
On Friday afternoon May the 18th, the match between Zachry/Gruenwald vs FLEISCHER/CURRY-BESTAK was held at the Poysdorf Golf Club.
With the handicaps calculated using the new methodology, Zachry/Gruenwald were giving 14 shots to the ladies from Ireland. Ultimately they needed every one of them as the match was close and could very well have gone either way. The match was closed out after the 16th hole to give Zachry/Gruenwald a 4&2 victory. Hats off to FLEISCHER/CURRY-BESTAK for playing such a competitive match on their first UNGC match play event and for the enjoyable company they provided on the course and afterwards in the clubhouse.
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