Summer Pennant Finals Report
Posted on: 16 February
Mooroopna and Tally-Cos win pennants
The finals of Summer Sunday 4 Ball Pennant were played Sunday 16 February at a well presented Mooroopna Course.
The men’s final between two of the Districts smaller clubs in Merrigum, the West pool leader and a combined Tallygaroopna- Cosgrove (Tally-Cos) team, the East pool leader, started first. The scoring was characterised by two big wins for the Tally-Cos first and last pairs, with Nev Larson and Zac Brett easily defeating Bruce Brown and Gary Eden and Tally-Cos captain Neville Montgomery and Brent Karl making quick work of Merrigum’s Andrew Wood and Phil Barca. Then the next three matches got very tight. Merrigum Captain Simon Doherty sank a good putt on the eighteenth for him and Barry Webber to take a one up win against Mark O’Sullivan and Graham Montgomery. Next in, saw Merrigum’s James Campbell and Clinton Prygoda gain a 2/1 win over Tim Brett and Howard Cooper. At this stage it was two pair match wins each per team. The Tally-Cos pair of Peter Jeffery and Neville Hosie remained calm and scored a 2/1 victory over Ashley Sanders and William Bray to give Tally-Cos a three matches to two team victory.
At presentations GMGA President David Roberts and Captain Shane Halloran, congratulated both teams on making the final and praised the small clubs for their spirit and endeavour. Both Team Captains thanked their opposition for the match, and the GMGA for organising the competition. Neville Montgomery, on accepting the pennant flag added a sad note that it may be the last competition for Tallygaroopna as their club will struggle to continue next season, and added, a great swan song and a terrific record of eight pennants in the last eleven years.
In the women’s final an undefeated Cobram-Barooga team took on Mooroopna on their home course. The course for the finals was decided weeks before the season even started. The women’s matches did not have any of the huge wins as recorded in the men’s final. The first group to finish saw Mooroopna pair of Estelle Houlihan and Alison Bently fight back from being three down to win on the eighteenth. Julie Evans and Annette Gallagher, got off to a shaky start but maintained consistent golf on the back nine to win 3/1 over Cristy Ashton and Helen Hall and in so doing giving Mooroopna a two out of three majority win. The last group of Sonya Hill and Kerrie McCormick of Mooroopna against Rowena Wallace and Carolyn Huggins of Cobram-Barooga fought back after being 4 down with the final score Cobram-Barooga pair one up with one to play; Under the supervision of the GMGA President, the players returned to the Clubhouse as the team result was decided with the 2/1 win to Mooroopna.
Presentations for the women was highlighted by recognition of the opportunity the Clubs gave to some of the women to play pennant on Sunday, when it is impossible for them to play in the mid-week competition. GMGA President thanked all at the Mooroopna club for hosting the day, while Captain Shane read the results, and then Mooroopna Pennant Captain Sonya Hill thanked Cobram-Barooga for the match and her team of consistent players for their efforts over the season. In a very pleasing gesture Sonya made a formal presentation of the Pennant flag to Sue McIntyre the Captain of Mooroopna Women’s Golfers.
The next District events are the Mixed which will be played at Numurkah on Sunday 29 March. Women’s mid-week pennant will start in April and the Gray Barton – Gollan Hicks Kelly teams’ events for men and women will be played at Shepparton on Sunday 26 April.