By Ian Callen
Nicholson’s “Pierre (Peter) Gebert” played a wonderfully controlled round last Tuesday morning to ensure his teams lead had returned to a two game margin, heading into day one of round five.
By the Thursday Team Riddell we’re the only team with a chance of chasing down the leaders and when early morning golfers walked from the undercover car park, into brightening skies… they were to find the faraway’s covered with early morning dew.
This was emphasised dramatically by the spider web effect, left on the practice green; the trail of rolling balls cris crossing the surface head to a chosen cup.
The layer of silvery sheen on the fairways was soon under attack as ground staff, busily relocated pin positions, raked bunkers and mowed greens in preparation for play.
Then as Chris Handasyde and Glen Newberry made their way to the first tee block, onlookers were stunned to learn that Brenton King, one of the Tormey Taylor Medal favourites was to be a no show; nevertheless it wasn’t long before the familiar sound of the spank’d ball could be heard or a distance celebration as an extraordinary putt found its way to a cup.
It was a joy to be about the golf course and one man in particular; Bruce Pollard; showed his intent early.
His team ‘Riddell’ were desperate to pull back Nicholson’s lead and to set themselves up with a chance of taking out the ‘Premiership Shield’.
Pollard completed his round with par, par birdie, par to record a fine 41 points to head the leader board.
As scores came in Riddell’s Captain Malcolm Moore sat glued to the scoreboard with calculator in hand; his competitive nature acutely alert to the fact that his team could not rely on just one man. Last round, more than a half dozen of his team were ‘AWOL’.
By days end Riddell were a chance; only 2 points behind Nicholson heading into day 3 and what a hard fought day it was to be.
David Chipperfield increased Nicholson lead by two points early but Riddell’s Graham Gosham and Roger Jones fought a hard to overcome early round jitters to add points and to lift their team to a two point lead with only a day’s play remaining.
Riddell;
B. Pollard 41, D. Smith 36 M. McMcIntosh 36, A. Litchfield 34, G. Gosham 34 R. Jones 31 (212)
Nicholson;
H. Vaughn 37, A. Davidson 36, C. Handasyde 35, G. Whimp 35, D. Chipperfield 34, Pilcher 33 (210)
Rael;
K. Emslie 37, P. Henry 33, D. Hendricks 33 A. Purdie 31 Rob Johnston 31, D. Stevenson 30, (195)
The chase is on to become the Tormey Taylor Medalist for 2023.
Leaderboard after Round Five.
Chris Handasyde 15 votes
Max McIntosh 11.1 votes
Doug Smith 11.0 votes
Bruce Pollard 10.9 votes
Fred Lloyd 10.8 votes
Brenton King 10.7 votes
Ian McMinn 10.6 votes
Kennith Emslie 10.5 votes
Howard Vaughan 10.4 votes
Glenn Newberry 10.2 votes Mt
