Ian Callen
Last Tuesday when the ‘Callen Column’ went to print, it was learnt that Team Nicholson’s Captain Laurie Tormey had held back some of his star contributors; Geoff Hopkins, Alan ‘Easy Rider’ Davidson and Pierre ‘Peter’ Gebert for the final day 3 of round six.
Tormey was more than confident the trio could chase down the deficit and secure the six points, for he is an astute strategist and he wasn’t wrong.
Hopkins (35), Gebert (35) and Davidson (34) had put Nicholson two games clear of rival Riddell, with only two rounds of the tournament remaining.
Unfortunately for Riddell and their supporters, they now have mountains to climb; even if they were to win the remaining two rounds, they’d still need to make up the 59 points needed to overhaul the count back margin.
Tournament Golf Table
(After Round 6)
Team P W D Points
Nicholson 6 4 – 24
Riddell 6 2 – 12
Rael 6 – – 0
Round 6 Final scores
Nicholson; G. Whimp 36, Hopkins 35, Druitt 35, P. Gebert 35, A. Davidson 34, I. Callen 33, (208)
Rael; A. Lee Archer 36, D. Hutchins 34, S. Cubela 34, S. Oates 33, I. McMinn 33, G. de Bont 33 (203)
Riddell; B. Pollard 32, T. Battaini 31, D. Smith 31, D. Egan 30, R. Jones 29, M. McIntosh 28 (181)
Alba Paloma Stableford
Round 1; Rael (35) Riddell (34) Nicholson (32)
Round 2; Rael (37) Riddell (37) Nicholson (36)
Round 3; Riddell (37) Rael (35 Nicholson (33)
Round 4; Rael (44) Riddell (41) Nicholson (39)
Round 5; Nicholson (37) Rael (36) Riddell (28) Round 6; under review
Round 7
It was another perfect morning at Royal Healesville and golfers were waiting patiently to tee off day one of round seven.
There is something special about being on the tee block when the first of the sun’s rays clear Juliet; the signal needed to unleash club speed; the unmistakable moment when the club head strikes the ball.
As players progressed, it wasn’t long before supporters of Team Golf were on the RACV’s ‘MiScore’ app and immediately alerted to the round of Rael’s Don Stevenson; out early with team member Greg Urquhart.
Stevenson form has been excellent of late and he was producing another masterful round.
This time it was to be a 39 to make him the clubhouse leader.
As groups returned to the shed, news broke that Nicholson was in strife.
Riddell Captain Malcolm Moore, might have been on home duties but he was on his “App” and knew that Tormey (33), Druitt (32) and J. O’Brien (32) had failed to capitalise on promising starts and had limped home.
Not long after, Moore’s attention turned to a group who according to his iPhone screen must soon be arriving at 18th tee block.
They consisted of Tormey Taylor Medal contenders; Rael’s Kennith Emslie who returned a 34. Max McIntosh of Riddell with another sound round of 36 and Rael’s Doug Smith who had finished strongly after a poor front nine with a 28.
The final member of this group gave Moore the greatest satisfaction; Geoff Cooper is a much improved golfer who has relished the team environment; returning some very impressive scores for Riddell, this time 36 points.
Back in the shed, when McIntosh and cohorts sat down at their “reserved” table for their exact measure of red wine; it seemed Nicholson were gone for all money.
But if there’s one thing we’ve all learn over the tournament, you mustn’t write off Nicholson: and
enter another ‘Medal’ hopeful, Fred Lloyd; who walked straight to the Pro Shop with card in hand.
Fred doesn’t use the scoring app; he and his playing partners prefer to write and lodge their scores the traditional way.
Heads immediately turned to the clubhouse TV screen where scores are constantly updated and displayed on a scrolling screen.
Then the roar went up; Freddie Lloyd had returned a score of 39 and on count back was the new club house leader much to the dismay of Stevenson.
Nicholson were back from the brink and had re taken the lead.
But Rael’s Captain Steve Oates, desperately wanting to register at least one win for the season hadn’t given up hope and was on miscore again.
Purdie was still on course and always in the last group of the day and with Greg Whimp, Bruce McMicking and Graham ‘The Doc’ Stephens and Tony was scoring well.
When Oates finished the last sip of his cafe he grinned and quietly walked to the car park; Purdie had just lodged a score of 38 to reinstate Rael’s lead.
The wind was up for day two of round seven and it was Riddell’s Peter Monk 36, Dale Phillips 34 and Graham Cosham 33 who led the way, taking their team into the lead with a score to 208 points.
With the pressure on Rael’s Mark Jackson produced a fine round to keep his team in it with a fine 36 a point a drift heading into day 3 Tuesday.
As for Nicholson, only David Chipperfield provided scoreboard improvement; he chipped away into the strengthening winds to return an honest 32.
His effort was commendable but the gap for his team out to 10 points and their overall point lead had been reduced to 49 heading into the rounds final day on Tuesday.
Once again Nicholson will have to come from behind relying on Hopkins, Willey, Hennessey, Paykel and Callen.
While Riddell’s David Hutchins, a welcome sight on course last week; will be looking to strengthen his teams position in order to stay in the contest.
On the other hand Rael’s hopes lie with Ian McMinn, Captain Steve Oates, Rob Reed and Dickie Taylor.
Progress Score end day 2 Round 7
Rael: D. Stevenson 39, T. Purdie 38, K. Emslie 34, Urquhart 31, G. Newberry 30, R. Johnston 30 G. = 202
Riddell: G. Cooper 36, M. McIntosh 36, A Litchfield 34, B. Gordon 32, S. Cubela 31, B. Pollard 29 = 198
Nicholson: F. Lloyd 39, L. Tormey 33, J. O’Brien 32, T. Druitt 32, R. Keeble 31, H. Vaughan 30, = 197
