Pennants 2024 Report

Photos Division 2 team, Andrew James, Alex Gale, Jayden and Steve, Flapper and Steve, Jacob Lamb, Jody Parker, Shane Best and Steve Dury,

Welcome to this years 2024 Pennants. The report will encompass 6 weeks of play with reports from team Captains on how their Divisions faired. So as the weeks go by scroll down for the latest results

Division 2 where the only team in action last weekend travelling to balmy Cowra for the 1st Rd clash against Dubbo. Alex Gale led the team out on his debut in div 2 and he got off to a nervous start dropping the first hole. Alex rallied on the second to win that hole, then settled and played some nice golf to never be headed winning 4/3

Tony Wilds at 4 never looked in control of the driver and was hitting a lot of shots from the rough ( not ideal) he hung around most of the day eventually going down on the 15th

Jody Parker played the match of his life, up and down all day, it was decided on the last hole, both players hit there approach shots into the front right bunker, both blasted out to the top of the green (awful spot to putt from) with 2 putts to win Jody hit his first putt to hard and left a 5 footer to win right to left on the tricky 18th green didn’t phase him though and he calmly drained it to win the team the match.

Ben Hamer drove the ball perfectly off the tees, on the greens though it was a different story never coming to terms with the speed of the greens which cost him the match going down on the 15th

Andrew James is a new name to the Pennants team and has improved so much this year that he anchored the division 2 squad and wouldn’t look out of place in div 1 he didn’t have it all run perfectly his young opponent played some nice golf himself and pushed Andrew all the way to the 17th hole giving Bathurst a 2/1 result win, well done, now to win at tricky Mudgee next week good luck

Division 1 Rd1

We travelled to Parkes for its first round clash against Parkes. Hot temperature’s  greeted the team but the course looked a treat and the greens appeared perfect. Inspired tactical decision or a clerical error you be the judge, the team played in reverse order.

Jayden Every is a new face this year and he lead the team out. He played beautiful golf all day and easily defeated  Raill Harrison 4/3 playing at times what looked professional golf, well done Jayden

Steve McDonald played as 4 and has been a little out of form with a arm injury. Steve nudged ahead early against Anthony Riach and was never really tested 3/2

Reece Hodson went out as 3 against Robert Hey his power game was to strong for his opponent, running out a comfortable win 4/3

Rory Elphick found himself at 2 for the team he went down 5/4 against Jack Elliott, I spoke to Jack after the match and Jack was full of praise for Rory who he thought played quite well. Jack made a bunch of birdies late in the day and killed of any chance of a fight back. Rory will be better for the run

Darryn Bruce went out as the teams number 1 against Aaron Wilkie made a nice par on the first after missing the green Aaron knocked in a 30footer for birdie

and just like that 1 down, par 5s proved the difference Aaron easily reaching in 2 and he ran out a comfortable winner 4/3

The Team won 3/2 and now heads to Duntry next Sunday to play Mudgee

Division 3 Rd1

Report Captain David Clews

Bathurst Vs Forbes 4-1 victory

5 Stephen Finnerty  won 3 and 2 he was even up to the 13 hole and then he got same lucky shots to get home

4 David Clews 2 down early. Fought back in a see sawing match and after finishing 18 holes it was all square. Played 5 extra holes in the 35deg heat but both players started cramping up and decided to toss a coin. Unfortunately I lost.

3. Terry Staines had a good start and traded hole for hole on an absolutely beautiful golf course, but managed to tame the Kikuyu and a gentleman who hadn’t lost a Matchplay game in a very long time (6 years I think he said)

2  Peter Morgan Started off slow against a very young opponent thinking this could be bad, but 5 pars in a row got his confidence back, just missed a few chances to close it out early, 5&4 on a very very hot morning

1  Matt Lester after winning the first hole had his opponent respond by taking the next two. That was the only time he led and when Matt won the next two holes he was always playing catch-up and Matt ended up winning 3 & 2.

Division 4 Rd 1

report Captain Steve Dury

Bathurst wins 5 nil and scores a bonus point

Division 2 travelled to Mudgee to take on Cowra in the second round of matches.

Alex Gale lead the team out against a formidable young opponent who kept the ball on the fairway all day. Even with an off day with the driver Alex rallied to claim his match 2&1.

Tony Wilds was in control of his match from the outset, his Cowra opponent never getting into the game, Tony enjoyed a well deserved early drink in the clubhouse with a 5&4 victory

Match number 3 saw Matt Bennett go 4 holes down early to his Cowra opponent, determined not to suffer a loss he scrapped away all day to be only one down on the 18th. A green finding shot put the pressure back squarely on his Cowra opponent who pushed his tee shot wide, Matt took advantage with two putts to win the hole sending it to the 19th. An errant tee shot from Cowra saw the advantage swing to Matt who was putting for birdie and Cowra putting for bogey, the Cowra combatant picked up the markers and handed the win to Matt 1up

Ben Hamer was in absolute control of his match from the get go. His formidable Cowra opponent had no answers for Ben’s game. An emphatic 9&8 victory, which lifted the other 4 matches still underway once word got around.

Jody Parker anchored the team in the last match, a tight match all the way through. Jody got his nose in front in the closing holes and shut the door on his Cowra opponent , winning 2&1 giving the team the maximum amount of points with a 5 nil clean sweep The team will travel to Wellington to take on Duntryleague and will be striving to drive home the advantage created in Pool A, with strong performances in the first two rounds.

Division 1 Rd2 Bathurst vs Mudgee at Duntry

Darryn lead out the team this week and aside from a messy double bogey down the 1st played well making birdies at 7and 8 to lead by 3 at the turn Terry Ford made a unlikely birdie at the 10th from under the trees to narrow the margin but that’s as close as he got, Darryn winning 3/1

Jacob Lamb played 4 and just watching his warm was enough to know he was going to have a comfortable day on the course. Jacob got off to a good start against Ryan Bannerman and play like a pro to the end 6/4 and a early finish.

Justin Sutton loves Matchplay and Mark Bennie found that out and some, the relentless pressure of never say die and holing long putts to square holes can play with an opponents head,  Mark who played well found himself shaking hands early Justin’s putting to good 3/2

Steve McDonald at 2 never really got going and Tim Loneragon took full advantage and towards the end surged and gave Steve his first defeat in quite awhile 2/1 loss

Jayden Every at 1 this week, has everyone talking about Bathurst’s new player and for good reason, his game is well suited to Matchplay with intimidating length from the tee and stellar putting on the greens the score was close at the end 2/1

Division 2 report Matt Bennett Rd3 Bathurst vs Duntry at Wellington

Division 4 Report Steve Dury Bathurst vs Wentworth At Duntry

Much improved effort from the Div4 crew this week.
We got up 4-1.
Peter Harris was unlucky going to the 19th hole and shaved the hole with a 4 metre putt that would have taken it to the 20th.
Shane Best played well to win 7-5, Stephen  Dury showed a bit of form and got up 5-4 and Mitch Kirk held it together to square the last hole and win 1up.
By far the standout of the group was Simon Dundon who wiped the floor with his opponent and won 10-8.
Our fate is in our own hands for next week when we take on the undefeated Dubbo team at Forbes

photos Div 1 , Flapper what a day he would have, Steve Mac,

Div 3, Matty Lester, Flapper, Sam,

Division 1 Rd 3 Bathurst vs Dubbo at Forbes

The 5s was a battle of the juniors Cooper Starkey making his debut in the top division, he was up against Zac Mears the match went all the way to the 18th with Zac making a nice par to win on the last hole.

The 4s Steve McDonald played Chris Schubert and as the game unfolded both players never gave a quarter with only 3 holes halved all day. Steve was 3 up with 3 to play Chris chipped in from off the green on 16 and sunk a 10 footer on 17 to win that hole, both player hit the 18th in regulation with Zac’s putt hitting the hole but staying out Steve rolled in his 2 footer for par to give Bathurst its first point.

The 3s Justin Sutton vs Cooper Giddings and what a battle it was Cooper getting out to an early lead with Justin playing catch up for most of the day Captain Pennants didn’t go quietly though taking it to the final hole, Justin’s birdie putt hit the back of the hole but stayed out, (we all thought he had made it) but Cooper rolled in his par putt to win (great effort from Justin).

The 2s Jayden Every played an in form Matt Button. Bathurst got out to a 1up lead, Jayden’s length and accuracy from the tee in match play can be quite intimidating and Matts dominance in previous match’s was negated, the putter was also working well for Jayden running out a comfortable win on the 17th.

Jayden is new to the Club and central west Pennants and has quickly gained a reputation for quality play, well done young man.

The 1s Reece Hodson vs Matt Gleeson lots of passion was shown in this match up, with fist pumps galore, it remained close all day Reece making a clutch 8 footer for par on the 17th after Matt had 3 putted and so down the 18th, both players hit close to the pin with Reece first away, his birdie putt shaved the hole Matt then calmly 2 putted for par and Bathurst was done, 4 match’s going to the 18th it was a bit of a sombre atmosphere afterwards such is the passion to win for the Bathurst Golf Club. Thanks Forbes the course looked a picture after all the resent rain as you can see from the pictures. Thanks to all div 1 players another solid campaign for 2024

Division 2 Rd 4 report matt Bennett The Mighty Div 2 Boys finals bound

Last Round v Wentworth in Dubbo The boys travelled to Dubbo to take on Wentworth in the final round for the pool matches, the Dubbo track presented challenges once off the fairways with long rough while the weather was cooler than predicted it was humid and made for a long day.

First match out saw Blake Arthur step into the team at late notice, even though under the weather Blake delivered the result we knew he could for the team, winning his match 4/2

Tony Wilds took on a formidable Wentworth opponent, a tight match all the way through Wildsy clinching a vital 3&1 win

Third match saw Matt Bennett take on a big hitting Wentworth opponent, getting it back to square with 6 to go from three down early, Matt was unable to catch his opponent who played the closing holes under par, Wentworth then went on to win 4/2

Jody Parker delivered a clinical performance from the outset, creating a big lead early he continued to pile on the pain to his Wentworth combatant who never got in the fight, Jody running out with a solid 6&5 victory

Last match saw Andrew James have a great battle all the way down to the 18th hole. AJ with a couple down with the same to go fought tooth and nail to be one down heading onto the 18th tee, with his second shot clipping a tree, AJ fired an absolute pin seeker in for his third to give a par opportunity. Unfortunately his Wenty opponent was putting for birdie this saw the boys square the hole AJ going down on the last. Bathurst securing the 3&2 win and seeing the team go through undefeated for the 4 rounds of play, an absolute fantastic achievement. The boys now take on Parkes at Duntry league in the final who are also undefeated in their Pool

Division 4 Bathurst vs Dubbo

Bathurst travelled to Forbes to take on Dubbo which has been a powerhouse in their division and we needed a good result just to be a chance to make the final. but it wasn’t to be.  Thanks for a great effort by all the lads the elusive div 4 pennant will have to wait until next year.

Division 3 Bathurst vs Mudgee

Bathurst arrived in Forbes to take on Mudgee and really the only highlight was the 10/9 victory by Steve (flapper) Finnerty and as the final leader board shows it was that close  Thanks Captain Clews and the lads for another great campaign

Bathurst Wins Division 2 Pennants 2024

Andrew James, Ben Hamer, Jody Parker, Tony Wilds,  Matt Bennett, Alex Gale, Blake Arthur, Dean OBrien

Finals Bathurst vs Parkes at Duntryleague With bragging rights on the line both teams undefeated coming into the final the pressure was on

First match out saw Dean Obrien take on a very tough Parkes competitor. Dean fought all 18 holes, never leading. He got a few holes down at one point mid match, he continued to fight all the way to the end, getting back to square on the 18th forcing it to extra holes. With what was believed to be an errant tee shot, a favourable deflection came from a tree which gave Deano an opportunity to get on the green with his second. Both players putting themselves in with a chance to putt for the match. Parkes had first opportunity his putt lipped out. Dean in the box seat. Unbeknown to him at the time, his putt to win would be the one that would seal the overall team win. Dean drained his putt crushing his opponent who lead all day until the 19th where it all counted.

Tony Wilds was in for a fight from the outset with his young Parkes opponent. Wildsys match swung all day. Walking onto the 18th tee one down, an all out approach was needed to send it to the extra holes. Parkes pushing the tee shot wide which saw an opportunity to capitalise. An unlucky bounce off the drive saw Wildsy having to punch out from the trees. Both players on the green, Wildsy had a very tricky 25ft cross slope and downhill putt to win. Leaving no chance of being short Wildsy missing the cup on the high side rolling out to a tricky distance which he then missed, going down 2up on the 18th.

Third match out was Matt Bennett, getting out to an early lead keeping a 2 up advantage turning onto the back 9. The pressure was on Parkes to get back into the match.  Matt made the most of his opponents wayward driving off the tee throughout the match. Matt was 3up walking onto 15, but he played a couple of poor shots giving Parkes an opportunity. however Matts 3rd shot to the front edge of the green put all the pressure back on Parkes. Unable to convert the opportunity, Matt sealed the win going 4&3 to take the match.

Jody Parker……. Well again like a couple of times before throughout the Pool Matches, Jody put on a cracking performance. Saving his best golf for the finals Jody kept delivering punches to his opponent never giving a glimmer of hope. A crushing match win to Jody running out a comfortable 7&6 win

The final game saw Andrew James take on a confident Parkes Captain. Like Wildsy, AJ had a fight on his hands all match. With updates flying around, he headed into the last 9 holes.  AJ was a few down and needing a fight back.  AJ rallied to get himself to one down heading onto the 18th tee. once he had learned that Dean had sealed his teams victory it was all academic.

A very special thanks need to go to Blake Arthur, Alex Gale & Ben Hamer, everyone in the squad bought huge passion and a desire to win, and team morale throughout the campaign was fantastic and a true reflection of Bathurst Golf

Winners 2024 CWDGA Division 2 Pennants

Report Matt Bennett