Sparta golf society

CSSC 2010 Lloyd George Trophy- Sparta B

1st Rnd: 3rd time lucky for Sparta 'B'

It was 3rd time lucky for Sparta B in their first round match against Comets at Kings Hill GC. The team had drawn Comets for the 3rd time in three years and on the previous two occasions had narrowly lost.

However, it was a winning start this time for the team of Jerry Doyle, Doug Little and Vince Rossiter. All three won their games to take the tie 3-0.

Despite early forecasts of rain, none materialised and the weather was pleasant - even sunny towards the end - despite a testing wind. Despite this all three played steadily using their handicaps to their advantage as all the Comets players had to give shots - indeed Jerry had 11 shots on his opponent.

Vince as team Captain lead the way but got off to bad start losing the first hole but got this back at the second and by the turn was 2up. From then on it was a case of not handing back the advantage. Indeed, Vince went three up with 3 to play but lost the next. A good half though at the 17th ensured and 2&1 win.

Doug and Jerry had more comfortable wins, 3&2 and 5&4 respectively. It was the second win in two days for Doug who had won a seniors event at his home club the day before. Jerry admitted it was the best he had played for long time and was proud of his gross par the SI 2, 13th, which was made much harder as it was against a strong headwind.

Comets Captain Keith Fisher admitted that his team had not played well on the day but added that it was always going to be difficult when giving so many shots to a team that all played to their handicaps.

2nd Rnd: SPARTA B MARCH ON 

Whilst Sparta A continue to have problems with arranging their match, Sparta B triumphantly marched on with a second impressive win in the CSGS 2010 Lloyd George competition.

The team of Vince Rossiter, Doug Little and Jerry Doyle met HASSRA B in the second round at Chelsfield Lakes GC and recorded a 2¹/₂ to ¹/₂ match win.

Doug Little came in with the best result winning 7&6 despite the distraction of losing his car keys before the round and having to leave his car unlocked during the round.

Doug got of to an flyer going 4 up after only 5 holes. His opponent steadied the ship for a while but could not compete with Doug's inspired play and finally succumbed on the 12th. Doug's card recorded a gross 81 - a net 9 under par.

Doug's match sealed the victory after Vince, in the first match, came in with a 4&3 win. After Vince went I up at the first, his opponent nearly chipped in from the back of the 2nd green with the ball somehow defying gravity on the lip of the hole. Vince managed to get a half to retain his lead.

That near chip-in was only a prelude to the event on the 3rd hole, where the HASSRA man holed his second shot for an eagle from 120 yards. With play like that Vince feared it was going to be a bad day. However, he rallied to win the next 2 holes only to lose the next. And that was the pattern to the turn where Vince held a 2 hole advantage.

Three halved holes followed before Vince stretched his lead to 4 and saw out the match with a half on the 15th. Vince also had an impressive card which showed a gross 78 - net 11 under par! Of course that was a bit generous as some scores were the result of 'gimme's'.

In the third match, Jerry had a much closer game and indeed went 1 down to a birdie on the first. However, Jerry too played well and never let his opponent get too far ahead. On the back nine Jerry took the lead and went two up with three to play. But his opponent game back strongly to level the match at the 17th. With a half on the 18th the match ended all square.

Sparta B now have an away match against a strong team from HMRC, but in the form they are in it will not be an easy match fro them.

As for Doug's car keys, he finally found them on the parcel shelf of his car. It was put down to another senior moment!

Semi Final: Oh so near for Sparta B

In glorious Autumn sunshine, Sparta B met HMRC at Hainault Golf Club for their semi final match. The team was in good spirits after victories in earlier rounds. These were raised even more when all three found they would have handicap advantage on their side.

First up was Vince Rossiter who was buoyed by his opponent going out of bounds with the first tee shot. That was short lived though as Vince's second shot disappeared into the undergrowth and he had to concede the hole.

However, by the 6th, Vince was 1up and looking good but by the turn it was back to level. This soon became two down as Vince's short game failed him and from then on he was struggling. The game ended with a superb birdie by his opponent on the 15th to round out the match 4&3 in favour of HMRC.

In the second match, Doug Little never seemed to be troubled and once he got the lead his opponent never seemed to quite have enough to get it back. With a win at the 14th, Doug was coasting at 4up with 4 to play.

Perhaps, it was in Doug's mind that it was only a matter of time that he would round out the match, but his opponent never gave up winning three on the trot. So it was to the last and a simple chip over the bunker and two putts would have given him at least a half and a win. But Doug found the bunker and only just managed to escape.

But all was not lost as his opponent, in the same bunker, thinned it through the green. But a great chip and a putt meant he had a par which Doug could not match. The result was the match was halved.

And so it was down to the last match. In this Jerry Doyle kept it level until the third where a lost ball meant he went

one down. However, he soon levelled again and then went 2 up only for his opponent to level again soon after the turn.

The match continued in the same vein, first going one way and then the other. At the last, Jerry was one up and feeling confident after a superb drive to within 10 yards of the green on the short par-4. His opponent, who had been driving long all day, drove the green and just rolled off the back.

Jerry, perhaps feeling the pressure, had a poor chip leaving himself a long putt up the green. His opponent then put his ball stone dead which was given for his birdie. Jerry then too time to size up his putt and we all held our breadth. The ball trundled ever close to the hole but unfortunately just missed to the right. The match was halved.

HMRC were victors, 1 match and 2 halves to 2 halves. A great game and a great day but perhaps Sparta B can go one better in 2011.