Club Champions 2010

Sunday was the Finals Day of the Club Championship and although it was a dry and mainly sunny day, the weather was dominated by very strong winds which shook the trees, flapped the trouser legs and accentuated any spin on the ball into exaggerated movements in the air.

The morning matches included the Men's Senior Handicap Trophy and the Ladies Bronze Championship Finals, both played over 18 holes. In the Seniors final, Keith Simpson and Terry Cooper contested a close contest with both players making some excellent shots in the windy conditions. However, the match came to a conclusion on the 17th with Keith triumphing 3 and 1.

In the Ladies Bronze, the Lady Captain, Deborah Welch was playing Terri Hallows, an excellent match player who often punches above her weight. This was a very close match throughout which was only decided on the 18th when Terri, playing her second shot from a divot hole, chipped through the green to give Deborah a win on the 18th. Congratulations and well played Debs.

The Men's and Ladies Championships were played over 36 holes and both matches nearly went the distance. In the Ladies, Gill Davison in her first final was challenging Alyssa Balding a previous champion. In the morning session, the match score moved as expected with Alyssa taking a comfortable lead of 4 up at lunch. However, things changed on the afternoon and Gill made serious dents in Alyssa lead which was 6 holes at one point and this was cut back to 2. Alyssa finally got her golfing brain together, but not before Gill had missed a few putts to win holes that could have tied the match. The match finished on the 17th with a super win for Alyssa Badling. Well done and congratulations.

The Men's final was between Graeme Hewitt and Ronnie Dixon. Graeme has been Club Champion in 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999 whereas this was Ronnie's first final. This was an enthralling battle from the off with a tight morning round. Ronnie was 3 up after the 15th only to lose 3 holes on the trot, as Graeme called on all his experience to go to lunch 1 up. The afternoon round again produced some gripping golf, always played in the most laudable of sporting manner. The match finished on the 36th hole when Ronnie, teeing off 1 up, held his nerves together and won the match and the Championship. Well done and thanks guys for a great final.