Ralston Golf Club Champion

David Vennard Club Champion 2011

David Vennard beat Gary McCrea 1 up to become 2011 Club Champion.

Club Championship Final 20th August 2011

David Vennard plays Gary McCrea

The match started early on Saturday morning with a bright sun and a deceptively strong cool breeze. David took the first Hole with a par before losing the second to Gary’s par ( lost ball off the Tee by David). 3rd halved in par. 4 and 5 won by David with a par at 4 and then the first birdie of the day at 5. Both players made par at 6 and bogeyed 7 before Gary brought in the second birdie of the day at 8 to reduce his deficit to 1 where it remained at the turn.

Both made par at 10 and 11, and a par at 12 was enough for David to take the hole ( 2 up), however Gary’s par at 14 brought him back and then both players birdied 15 before Gary’s birdie at 16 levelled the match, both of them made par at the remaining two holes before lunch.
Level after morning round

Having warmed up in the morning both players were ready to take on the course, they exchanged the first two holes with pars, shared 3 and then it began , birdie for Gary at 4, one for David at 5, and birdie each at 6 and then the spectators really had something to cheer, a hole in one by Gary at 7. (Gary 1 up)

Gary also birdied 8 and David admitted he thought the match had gone at that point. Both made par at 9 for Gary to lead by 2 at the turn.

David kept his head however and won the next three holes (4,2,4), Gary squared the match with a par at 14 and both made par through 17. Match level.

18th. Gary drives down the fairway the ball holding on the right half. David takes his driver and goes for the shot, full drive, it takes a kick towards the pond, and the members on the patio can be heard to comment on David’s luck as the ball holds up on the fringe no more than 8 feet from the pond edge!! Gary doesn’t connect with his second properly and the ball holds on the top of the ridge at the back of the fairway bunker, he recovers well with his third and it slides just past the hole for a gimmie 4. David plays his second from the fringe but leaves it a good 6 feet short, a very cagey shot. David then manages to concentrate and roll in what must be one of the most nervous putt of his golfing life, a birdie to finish and become Club Champion 2011.

A days golf with 12 birdies, a hole in one and the lead changing hands several times throughout the day, more excitement than Sunday night’s TV golf.

The Club and both players would like to thank everyone who came and watched, it was quite a crowd out on the course, and no one left early. Keep your day free for next year’s Championship Saturday.

Ralston Club Championship 2011

Final

David Vennard (5) beat Gary McCrea (2) 1 up

Semi Final

David Vennard (5) beat Fraser Cardwell (9) 2&1

Gary McCrea (2) beat Derek Paterson (3) 4&3

2nd Round

Fraser Cardwell (9) beat Stuart Law (16) 5&4

David Vennard (5) beat David Leck (13) 3&2

Derek Paterson (3) beat Gordon Fuller (6) 1 up

Gary McCrea (2) beat Fraser Grant (7) 19th

1st Round

Stuart Law (16) beat Brian Macleod (1) 4&2

Fraser Cardwell (9) beat John Grant (8) 2&1

David Vennard (5) beat Niall Campbell (12) 4&3

David Leck (13) beat Stephen Douglas (4) 19th

Derek Paterson (3) beat Colin Downie (14) 4&3

Gordon Fuller (6) beat Johhny Mullaney (11) 1 hole

Fraser Grant(7) beat Colin Downey (10) 6&5

Gary McCrea (2) beat Ian Mcleod (15) 3&2