Handicap Pennant Team Start with a Win

The PGC’s handicap pennant side has started the season in a positive way with a hard fought 3/2 win over Millicent GC at Naracoorte Golf Club on Sunday. In hot conditions, the team was ken to get off to a good start. Any Mathys was first off tee, but that was the last time he had had the honour as we had a horror day to lose 9/7. With the other two games in pairs, the number 3 and 4 players, Paul Harmer and Brett Williams got off to contrasting starts. Williams shot out to be 4 up after 9 holes, whilst Harmer slipped to be 4 down after 7 holes. Fortunes changed after the break with Harmer on a roll getting back to square after 13 holes. A 10 foot putt for par on the 14th gave him an unlikely half to maintain the momentum. Two wins in the next two holes made him two up with two to play; a half on the 17th was enough to get the 2/1 win. Meanwhile, Williams settled after dropping a few holes to chalk up a comfortable 4/3 win.

 It came down to the matches played by Andrew Hutchesson and Tony Gleeson. Like the previous pair, the games were fairly contrasting with Hutchesson getting out to a 4 shot lead. Despite starting par – birdie and being two up after two, Gleeson had a poor patch and dropped down to three down. He worked hard to come back, but it became too difficult and he slipped to a 3/2 loss. It all came down to Hutchesson. Whilst comfortable early, he gave up his most of his lead into the back nine. Fortunately, he steadied and halved the 17th to win 2/1 and complete the win for the team.
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Penola was well represented in the prizes with Brett Williams and Greg Hutchesson taking home major prizes for their grades. Also congratulations to Penola resident, Richard Barnes, who was the overall Naracoorte Open Champion after shooting 72 off the stick on Sunday’s round.