12 July 2024
Report courtesy of Rob Manton
The Senior Inter Club 2024 competition commenced at RAGC on Friday 12 July.
The competition is played between RAGC, The Grange GC, Glenelg GC and Kooyonga GC. Teams of six players compete in individual match play over six rounds with the top two teams competing in a Grand Final and 3rd and 4th placed teams playing a consolation final at season’s end.
The RAGC team was drawn against The Grange GC in round 1 that saw 4 matches head down the 18th hole before reaching a decision.
At Number 6 Greg Chappell took an early lead and looked poised to take his match deep into the contest until his opponent, playing near par golf (clearly not in the spirit of the competition), took control. Despite continuing his well renowned stellar play from the tee (GC hasn’t missed a fairway off the tee since he retired from test cricket in 1984), Greg was unable to turn centre of the fairway opportunities into wins and lost 5/4.
Making a welcome return to the inter club competition, Tim Astley at Number 5 was locked in a tense battle with his opponent gaining a 2 up lead before giving up the lead in the middle part of the round. Standing on the 18th tee Tim was heard offering his opponent a free tooth extraction without anaesthesia – a move that had the desired result with Tim running out the victor 1 up.
At Number 4 Gavan Fox, wearing his uniquely coloured purple Royal Adelaide sweater, seemed in control for most of his match and was 2 up with 2 to play. Apparently he was then distracted by one of his horses racing at West Dragyourbagalong race course, lost his focus and the last 2 holes to halve his match.
Doc Cherry at Number 3 commenced the day by threatening to warm up on the range!! After being physically restrained by other team members Doc, playing his 4th round of golf for the year, kept his match close only 3 putting 3 of the first four greens. Sadly his putter then went cold. The Great Man eventually succumbed to a much younger opponent, who refused to give 2 footers (also not in the spirit of the game), 3/2.
At Number 2 Rod Phillips, often irreverently referred to as ‘Wayne’s Brother’, started slowly but fought back valiantly to be 2 down standing on 16 tee. Having positioned himself perfectly to show his Simpson Cup charges how to come from behind when all appears lost, Rod won both the 16th and 17th holes to square the match. Sadly Rod’s short game then took on similar characteristics to the Great Man’s – enough said.
At Number 1 Thomas Zhu was well behind early but showed true Aussie grit and determination to force his match to the 18th. Needing to win the hole to halve the match Thomas’s grit turned to pusillanimity losing 1 down. A disappointing start but some positive signs emerged.
