On Sunday, for the first time ever the winners of the Sunshine Coast and Glasshouse Mountain Golf Zones battled it out for the prestigious accolade of District Pennant Champions.
Once again our seemingly invincible B Grade Pennant team delivered, adding another Champion flag to the three consecutive Sunshine Coast Golf Zone (SCGZ) titles with a dominating 6-1 victory against an accomplished Maleny side at Beerwah Golf Club.
Scott Mayes, the Sunshine Coast and South Burnett Golf District Golf Association’s Director of Golf, said “We (the District Association) saw an opportunity to bring the best teams from the Glasshouse Mountains and Sunshine Coast pennant competitions to challenge for the title of undisputed District Pennant Champions. We are so impressed with personnel at Beerwah Golf Club for the way they have made the day a success. The course was prepared superbly. The free BBQ was running hot all day and the after-match meal was excellent. It was a wonderful day for all the golfers and spectators. An important element of this initiative developing Junior Golf in the District. As such, each of the winning clubs receive a $500 Junior Development Grant. Based on the interest and success of this event, there will be an expanded District Pennant competition in 2022.”
Our Mt Coolum B Grade team were the only success for the SCGZ. Pelican Waters convincingly took down three times SCGZ A Grade champions Noosa. Wantima won the Junior Pennant. Finally, in the Masters division, Wantima put away the Noosa Springs team that beat Mt Coolum in the nail biting finish at Gympie a few weeks ago.
A key component of Team Match Play strategy is the assigning of playing positions. Mt Coolum’s Captain, Jamie Franklin took advantage of careful analysis of the opponents and utilised this strategy to move some lower handicap players back up the playing order. The strategy’s goal was to gain some early wins and put pressure on their opponents. Without hesitation the team hit overdrive and did what they’ve been doing all season – playing confident attacking golf and standing tall when it mattered most.
Strong wins by Andrew ‘Rooster Mad’ Stephenson (5&4) and Leighton ‘The Shark’ Martin (5&3) got the boys flying. Both players doing what champions do after coming back from previous losses and smashing their opponents out of the park. Mr Consistent, ‘Smokin’ Jim Rice, was next in with an equally impressive 5&3 victory.
News of those three early wins flowed through the team, lifting their team mates who had been doggedly fighting in tough matches against very consistent opponents. Coming back from three down, Mick “Da Bomb” Mraz dug deep and got up on 18th (1up), whilst Captain Jamie ‘Ronnie Viz’ Franklin closed out his opposing Maleny captain 3&2. Nathan Collins had finally met his equal, another tough experienced match player. But Nath ‘The Postman’ delivered yet again with a gritty 2&1 win.
With six winners and the District Pennant flag already secured, the last player out on the course was Brendan ‘Highland Fling’ McCassidy. The Captain’s pick of ‘team player of the year’ for his unselfish team-first attitude. Playing at No. 1, Brendan forced his opponent (a +2 handicap!) all the way to the 18th hole before his putt to halve the match narrowly slid past the hole.
Captain Jamie Franklin said “I don’t know what these guys eat for breakfast before a pennant match, but by gum they must mix it with cement! ‘Cause they are tougher than a roman sandal! After three outstanding years of team golf, it’s over and out from me on an unforgettable high, thank you lads….. immeasurable!!”