First club champion honour for Whinhill Golf Club

The last 16 matchplay knockout stages of the championship got off to an exciting start with all of the matches being closely contested.

Two of the matches were concluded on the 17th green, four of the matches were decided on the last hole and the tightest match of the night was won at the 20th hole by Anton O’Donnell who edged out Brian Cabrie.

In the quarter-finals the winner of the strokeplay qualifying competition Andrew McDonald exited the matchplay stage of the competition at the hands of Graham Brown by the score of 5 & 4, while Stephen Wilson defeated Anton O’Donnell by the score of 3 & 2 in a match between two former junior champions.

The other two quarter-final matches were decided at the last hole with Stephen Donald defeating Brian Blincow and Michael McLennan getting the better of Paul McCarn.

The first semi-final would see the best golf produced all week by any player, in Stephen Donald’s commanding performance in his defeat of young Michael McLennan.

In the other semi-final between Graham Brown and Stephen Wilson, Graham surrendered a four-hole lead before seeing off a brave Stephen at the last hole courtesy of an excellent par, despite the hole playing into a strong breeze.

The 36-hole final was met with pretty dreadful weather conditions which was a shock given the terrific weather the three previous rounds of matchplay golf had been played in.

Strong winds and the odd shower was what greeted Stephen and Graham in the morning round of the final, with Graham winning the first hole and never surrendering his advantage in the match until losing the last three holes, due to uncharacteristic errors, to go into the interval one down.

The standard of golf in the morning round, from both players, was decent considering the tough conditions they faced.

The conditions worsened in the afternoon with heavy rain now a constant visitor.

Stephen extended his lead to four up after the fifth hole and just when it looked like Graham was about to pull one back at the seventh hole Stephen holed his putt from off the green to save his par. Graham did not give in and got one back at the ninth to reduce Stephen’s lead to four holes.

Any threat of a comeback faded at the 10th when Graham three putted to only half the hole, when he looked favourite to win it, and further reduce Stephen’s lead to three holes. Stephen won the 12th with a solid par to go five up and after an excellent drive on the 13th his putt for eagle would finish close enough for Graham to concede the hole and the championship to give Stephen his first club championship title.

Graham, who was playing in his first club championship final, can be very pleased with his efforts throughout the championship week. Graham’s golf game has improved immensely over the past couple of years and it is no surprise to see him now competing for club championship titles.

He can take heart from his display and will no doubt be a contender for next year’s championship.

This first championship win is the very least Stephen deserves after many years of producing quality golf.

Stephen has been, for the past three of four years, one of the Whinhill’s most consistent strokeplay competitors, as he produces sub 70 scratch score rounds almost every week.

After several near misses in recent years in the club championship, this could be the first of many titles for Stephen.

The championship week contained many exciting matches. Matches were followed by large crowds, played on a course in great condition and played in a tremendous spirit.

The golf was generally of a high standard throughout the championship week.

The Whinhill Golf Club would like to thank the match committee for their tremendous efforts in the organisation of the club championship and the greenkeeping staff for all their hard work over the championship week, with the course having never been better.

Congratulations go to Stephen, Graham and to all who took part in the championship week.