Pennant teams finish the season with spirited performances

The A-Grade and Handicap pennant teams have finished the season with solid efforts, giving reason for each team to be positive about their season. The A-grade is often outclassed handicap wise each week, but make the opposition earn their win. Sunday was no different as they came within a whisker of knocking off Semi-final side, Mt Gambier B at Naracoorte Golf Club. Agnew set the ball rolling with a 2&1 win over SetioShannahan to chalk up his third win for the year. Leo Price and Don Ferguson were not up to their usual standard and both dropped their matches easily. George Kidman won his first ever game of A-Grade pennants, after finishing well. Scores were level after 15 holes, and Kidman, cool as a cucumber in the driving rain, drained a putt on 16 to go one up. He halved the 17th before belting a drive up the middle of 18th.  This was enough to put pressure on his opposition, who came unstuck allowing Kidman to in 2 up. Nathan Williams called for the head lantern as the rain and darkness started to settle in. This wasn’t helped by having to go down the 20th before he unfortunately fell just short. The team went down 3-2, but were gallant in defeat.

The handicap team ventured to Blue Lake to take on Millicent. Finals were a mathematical impossibility, however, the difference between third and sixth was very little meaning a win was crucial to the final ladder positon.

 After the first few holes, it was clear that one sided games were the nature of the day. When the heavens opened, four groups were seen heading back to the clubhouse, after timely finishes. Tony Gleeson (5&3 up) and Bill Cheers (6&4 up) were the big winners for the day. Paul Harmer (6&5 down) and Andrew Hutchesson (5&4 down) were outplayed, making the match all tied at 2-2. Greg Hutchesson was four up at the break and looked to be the man to get the Rosellas over the line. However, his opponent pegged him back and after 17 scores were level. Having to give his opponent a shot, Hutchesson needed to step up to the plate. That he did, with a crisp wedge from 114metres out pitching and stopping 4 feet from the pin. He made the birdie putt in front of a huge gallery and won the match one up, giving Penola a 3-2 win.

The win should ensure Penola holds onto 3rd spot in the Southern Division, just missing out on finals by a few points.