Into the Final!!

Played my semi-final of the club knockout competition yesterday. And WON!

Thoroughly enjoyed the game against Steve Ash, a 6-handicapper (so giving me ten shots). We were both right on our game, at the end he reckoned he had played to his handicap or just better, I was a couple under so won one-up (on the 18th, for those who don't know how match play works).

A real ding-dong battle, exactly why I love match play. He won 1, I won 2, he won 3 with a birdie, halved 4, 5, I won 6 etc, etc. Steve was 2-up after 15 but stuffed his drive into the trees on the tough dog-leg 16th (stroke index 1) when he just needed to hit a straight one. I got a shot on that hole, so I was able to keep it straight to win the hole in 5. The 17th is a 202 yard par 3 with a very difficult green, so is stroke index 5. We both took 4 so we got to the 18th all square. I tried to keep the pressure on with a straight one, and Steve went for the big one and put it into the trees. Afterwards he said it was the best match he had ever had, any mistake by either of us was punished. Points out again what hard work it is for the low handicapper with full handicap difference, he's certainly the best player I've come up against, anything from within about 150 yards was laid to within 10-15 feet and he made several really long putts and four birdies, but giving me ten shots he was really up against it.

Tony Beech in the 36 hole final on Sept 20th. I've played with Tony a couple of times and he's very similar to me - better than handicap a lot of the time but inconsistent. Should be another good game!