Matchplay results report June 2012 for Doubles

David Hatt & David Jenkins Vs Irene Huber & Alain Cardoso 5&4

Süssenbrunn: Applying the new rules for calculating handicap differences, Alain and Irene
had to give 11 strokes to the 2 Davids.

The Davids got off to a flying start, winning the first 2 holes. Taking
advantage of their handicap advantage, and finding that on the day Irene
and Alain were not in their best form, they managed to build on that lead
and were 4 up at the turn.

On the 10th, David remembered that he had not yet practiced his wellknown
OB drive (he can do it to the left and to the right) and almost
succeeded in decapitating a Süssenbrunn member practicing on the driving
range. David’s drive, however, went well down the fairway and the Davids
went on to win the hole. They also won the 11th, putting them 6 up with 7
to play.

With 4 of the next 5 holes giving no stroke advantage, it was time for Irene
and Alain to fight back – which they did, winning the next 2 holes and
reducing their opponents’ lead to 4, with 5 to play. Was this to be the most
dramatic turn‐around of the season?

No, it wasn’t. On the par‐3 14th, David’s tee‐shot was somewhat off the
green to the right, but David’s tee‐shot, with the help of the bank behind
the hole, finished on the green. This proved to be good enough for the
Davids to win the hole and the match by 5&4.

Commiserations to Alain and Irene, who played well below their potential,
but thank you for a very congenial round.

Davids

P.S. In case you want to know which David is being referred to in the above
report – sorry, you had to have been there!


JF Feuz & B. Shahandeh Vs M. Harris & B. Hodgkin

Colony Club, Gutenhof, Himberg, Wednesday 6 June: With a birdie on the
16th hole, Jean‐Fred Feuz and Behrouz Shahandeh took the lead for the
fifth time in this finely‐balanced match and held on to half the next two
holes for a one‐hole victory over Marc Harris and Barry Hodgkin.

Playing at Himberg's beautiful West Course, Jean‐Fred and Behrouz started
strongly parring the first and birdieing the second to go two up. But Marc
and Barry used their length off the deck to win holes 3 and 5, thus squaring
the match. From there on, it became a see‐saw battle with Behrouz and
Jean‐Fred going one up again on the par‐three 7th, and Marc and Barry
striking back immediately to draw level after the 8th.

At the turn, Jean‐Fred and Behrouz edged ahead again when Behrouz
drained a seven‐metre putt for par (net birdie) to win the ninth hole. The
slender advantage was short‐lived when, after a lengthy search, Marc's
second was found some 30 metres from the green on the par‐five 10th.
Barry's perfect pitch from deep rough was enough to give his side the hole
and to square the match. But Behrouz and Jean‐Fred moved ahead again
winning the par‐three 11th on the strength of a perfectly weighted lag putt
by Jean‐Fred. They held on to the one‐hole advantage until the 14th, a parfive
which was won by Marc and Barry.

The par‐three 15th was halved and the match moved all‐square to the
pivotal par‐four 16th. Barry's booming drive was followed by a well‐placed
and relatively long tee‐shot by Behrouz. Jean‐Fred then stepped up and hit
a sweet five‐wood to within three metres of the flag. Marc kept his side in
the hole by pitching to about 7 metres of the flag. Barry's birdie attempt
slid by. But Behrouz sunk his putt for birdie which would prove to be a
crucial turning point in the match to go one up again. But it was far from
over as Barry and Marc battled to half the long par‐four 17th in spite of
giving a stroke to Jean‐Fred and Behrouz. More drama followed on the parfive
18th as Behrouz had to hit his side's third shot from 145 metres out.
Holding his nerves despite the mounting pressure, he struck a smooth
hybrid 4 to reach the green in regulation. Marc pitched closer to the flag
but Barry missed the long birdie attempt. After Jean‐Fred's putt, Behrouz
rolled in a tense three‐footer for par to half the hole and seal the victory
one up.

The match had been played in excellent conditions and in a very friendly
atmosphere. The gross scores of 77 strokes for Marc and Barry and 80 for
Behrouz and Jean‐Fred on the par‐73 course clearly show the closeness and
quality of this pulsating match.