Published Monday 8th July
Please see the results from the semi final of our Sharp Cup team in the Golf Australia SA Metropolitan Pennant Season below.
Sunday Results
Simpson Cup • Sanderson Cup • Sharp Cup • Pike Cup • Bonnar Cup • Junior Division 2
Monday Results
Semi Final
Royal Adelaide 2 lost to The Grange 3
Sunday 7th July at The Grange Golf Club (West Course)
Report courtesy of Peter Maddern
Semi final day at The Grange v The Grange started under darkening skies. The hope was our last three may overcome potential losses at the top. Mason Holden, back at five, and Hudson Haynes, at three, both got off to slow starts putting those plans under pressure. However, previously unbeaten, Jay the Mun-ificent and Isabelle Watson led after four; the latter by three against their number one.
Unfortunately, Jay then got caught up in a sickly sequence of six holes and surrendered them all, putting him out of the contest. Both Mason and Hudson worked their way back into their fixtures, from three and two down respectively. A brilliant fairway bunker shot on 11 saw the Lion take the lead there. Hudson’s superior iron to the heart of the following par 3 green restored a swagger not seen for a month.
Meanwhile, in the number 2 seat, JiSung Park was finding his groove and staying in the hunt with Michael Jay, thanks to a cocktail of pain killers and chemicals, ‘enjoying’ his afternoon on JiSung’s bag. So long as only players can get swabbed a good result here was still possible.
Around an hour from the finish, but for an all too brief a moment, we hit the lead, as Watson, still in front, hit to the last par 3. Soon after, Holden had line honours after 17, then Haynes claimed his a hole earlier. Park was still alive. Now, we were on the home stretch.
However, two holes later, Isabelle had slipped behind. A hair-raising putt by her from the high ground at the back of 16 brilliantly to a foot restored the balance. Albeit putting on his best show of his truncated season, JiSung had conceded there just minutes before.
After hitting the lesser of the approach irons on 17, Isabelle headed to the last once more one down. Her bunt out from under the trees aimed at the apron of the green gripped nothing on its run but the sand beyond and, with it, so went ours on a grand final berth.
Everyone deserves great praise for their seasons. Both Mason and Jay scored five wins, Isabelle went to the 18th in all her contests. Very many thanks to caddies and parents who supported each and every week including Patrick Kroschel and Michael Jay today.
Semi-final day at The Grange v The Grange started under darkening skies and ended beneath demoralising ones. At 4.00pm, there seemed there was no silver lining. Only our junior golf supremo thought he could see Lucy up there with her diamonds.
Sharp Cup: Semi Final
Royal Adelaide v The Grange
Sunday 7th July at The Grange Golf Club
Tee time TBC
Round 5
Royal Adelaide 3 defeated Glenelg 2
Sunday 30th June at Willunga Golf Club
Report courtesy of Peter Maddern
It was a top of the table clash to determine minor round bragging rights. Things didn’t get off to a good start when we were one down even before the first hole was completed; the team manager had fallen off the surrounds of the opening green with all the grace and poise that the current US president uses when descending a podium.
With Isabelle Watson called up to the Sanderson outfit, Josh Antell answered the call on a one week only loan from the Henley Football Club. With the big dawg, his older brother, the still injured Lewis, on the bag, it was always likely his game would determine the contest and top spot and so it proved.
At the top of the order, for the first half of his contest, our Ji had well and truly become detached from his Sung but, against a much better (handicap) credentialed opponent on the second nine, JiSung Park put in a more than creditable show before losing just three holes out.
If you thought watching the big presidential debate this week that Joe Biden was losing his marbles, well he had nothing on Hudson Haynes today who took to despatching his all over the picturesque Willunga circuit (excluding the housing estate in the middle of it), taking ‘til the 11th to find the cut grass off the tee. Beyond that, the less said the better and so we won’t.
Jay Mun, now in the #3 slot, had a tight tussle but utilised a bladed iron on seven on his way to a birdie that secured a lead. Thereafter, its extent waxed and waned before he closed it out half a circuit later. To his great credit, Jay finishes this part of the program unbeaten.
Willunga may not exactly remind you of Mount Panorama (except if your brakes fail coming down the hill after) but like that big race our Holden, Mason, had his strictest test of the season ahead of him, now batting 4. Slow off the grid, three down early, he then turned on a display of raw power to draw level after the first lap and then cruise to a big lead. Against his Glenelg opponent, it looked like he had well and truly put this tiger in his tank. However, in a haze of shredding rubber and peeling paint, it took to the shadows of the clubhouse to get the checkered flag, a 2 up victory and for Mason his fourth straight Sharp Cup win.
And so, with all other contests concluded, the match, the minor round came down to how our boom recruit, on his one match contract, would end his afternoon. Up, down, down, up, Josh Antell nearly holed out on the par 3 16th to again take the lead and then hold it to the last tee. After his drive on the par 4, the brothers together cunningly conjured up a second shot of great bravery and imagination and Josh delivered it; an in-swinging fairway wood around tree trunks and over bushes to ten metres; and another 2 up triumph. Oh well, if you find footy more fun, Josh.
Sharp Cup: Semi Final
Royal Adelaide v The Grange
Sunday 7th July at The Grange Golf Club
Tee time TBC
Round 4
Royal Adelaide 2.5 halved with Tea Tree Gully 2.5
Sunday 23rd June at Tea Tree Gully Golf Club
Report courtesy of Peter Maddern
It was always going to be a tough encounter at Tee Tree Gully, especially against the home team. A blow by a ball to the buttock of Jisung Park’s caddy and mother made it physical as well, even if it did come from one of our own.
First off, Mason Holden put his bonnet in front early, but after the chicane (where the road crosses the course), the Lion roared away to lead by plenty at the turn. Jay Mun destroyed his opponent and previously a friend, recording, with an 8/6 victory, our biggest ever win over three seasons in the Sharp Cup. Just one of many highlights; a chip from the forward pocket at his 9th through the trees and over a hungry bunker for the best up and down of the day.
At the other end of the spectrum, coming back from injury, Jisung Park’s expansive work off the tee didn’t suit a course where accuracy trumps all-out assault, particularly from between the blocks. Still, he (unlike his mother) will be better for the hit with July commitments looming.
For a while it looked like a repeat of last week was on the cards where collective team brilliance at the 14th determined the course of the rest of the afternoon. Today, Mason Holden’s 9 iron to 90 cms ended his contest. Then, Hudson Haynes, the subject of a frustrating fixture in the middle of the draw, put an 8 iron to 8 cms and resumed a lead previously lost. Finally, our number one seed, Isabelle Watson, rode her luck around that green and a tricky 10m putt to draw level.
However, uncharacteristically, Hudson lost the next two. He might have been four up two hours earlier but now he couldn’t retrieve the situation climbing the hill for the last time. Not even the luxury of switching his caddy mid round could spark his afternoon. Who knows, looking forward, a haircut might. Having conceded two of her next three holes, Isabelle also set off for the clubhouse one down, but a superior iron to the green’s upper tier earned her a just reward and, our team, split honours.
Sharp Cup: Round 5
Royal Adelaide v Glenelg
Sunday 30th June at Willunga Golf Club
1st tee at 12.30pm
Round 3
Royal Adelaide 3.5 defeated The Grange 1.5
Sunday 16th June at Kooyonga Golf Club
Report courtesy of Peter Maddern
Approaching the winter solstice, as we all know, it is not uncommon to encounter pockets of cold air. At Kooyonga, on this Sharp Cup Sunday, as our team made its way to the first tee, it seems one had occupied the inside of the starter’s hut. A frost of bitter proportions it must have been, persisting in contrast to the warm midday sun that prevailed elsewhere, yet, nonetheless, so severe its occupant felt compelled to abandon her post; the kids would have to organise themselves.
For our hitherto undefeated lineup, this was certain to be our stiffest contest so far, especially with three players out with serious injuries. After four, only Mason Holden led with Hudson Haynes needing his opponent to four-putt from 14 feet on that green to be square.
At the outhouse now there all involved found that, whether by the calls of nature or the laws of golf, one was entitled to take free relief within this architectural inspiration. With the benefit of motions passing as easily as those at the club AGM the evening before, things became more comfortable for our team, players and supporters alike. Strong irons on 6 and 7 saw Haynes join his two RA brothers up at the turn but both Isabelle Watson and Alice Cho remained down.
By the time the field had ventured up and back, up and back in the direction of the Bunnings Homemaker Centre, the match was very much in the balance. But it was at that point, on the long par 3 15th, that our class showed through.
First up, Mason Holden, again playing an opponent half his size, had used that previous portion of the course to double his lead. Now, the Lion let loose one of his lovely, languid left-handed irons and finished his match there. We await to see how he goes against someone his own height.
Then, Jay Mun replicated his superior 180m 5 iron on the 9th to the front of this green and he too ended his contest at that juncture with a 4/3 win. Feeling intimidated on the first tee by the height of his opponent, now Jay came to appreciate the wisdom of the adage ‘the bigger they are the harder they fall.’
Immediately following, Hudson Haynes nearly dunked it in off the tee but the birdie was enough to finally get a lead, one he didn’t then relinquish. Having trailed by two at the outhouse, Isabelle Watson’s steely 10 footer here saw her finally draw level and keep it that way through the remainder of the 18. It was typically tough stuff from Isabelle.
Thus, the first four contests on that hole had delivered four wins!
Alice Cho, down by as much as four, had been fighting back through the Bunnings bunch of holes; her opponent, Hunter, was now the hunted. Unfortunately, she couldn’t keep her run going and had to concede in front of the majestic Kooyong Towers 400m later.
It had been a great encounter and, with the 3.5 – 1.5 win, finals are ensured but nothing more.
The last shake of hands was with the sun in a deep retreat. But, what do you know, inside that starter’s hut it was now warm and welcoming.
Sharp Cup: Round 4
Royal Adelaide v Tea Tree Gully
Sunday 23rd June at Tea Tree Gully Golf Club
1st tee at 11.30am
Round 2
Royal Adelaide 4 defeated Country Districts 1
Sunday 2nd June at Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Report courtesy of Peter Maddern
Our country opposition came from all corners of the State – Loxton, Mt Gambier and the like – for the dawn fixture on a crisp and clean morning at RA. Their first three must have felt like they had entered a right royal lion’s den.
Jay Mun (pictured) was the first to hit a gorilla into the mist and, resolving his putting problems and more from last week, cruised to a 5/4 win. Hudson Haynes chipped in for a birdie on the first and was impressive thereafter, not needing to check for trains two hours later. On debut, Billy White got into more conversations than challenges on the course, bolting away to lead by 6 after 7, leaving only the frost in his wake and before easing up for a 5/3 victory.
Isabelle Watson was 2 down for a lot of her contest but, in typical style, fought back to level, aided by a five iron to five feet on 12 and a 12-metre birdie putt on 17. Unfortunately, on the last, her opponent drove longer than his hair, beating Isabelle on both counts and thus it was decided there.
Flattering her opponent really, Alice Cho only led marginally for most of her match before halving 17 with an eight-metre birdie putt. 300 metres later she had doubled that margin.
Well done to the Country team to make it to town for this clash and, of course, to our caddies and supporters.
Sharp Cup: Round 3
No matches will be played on Sunday 9th or Monday 10th June due to the King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Royal Adelaide v The Grange
Sunday 16th June at Kooyonga Golf Club
1st tee at 12.30pm
Round 1
Royal Adelaide 4.5 defeated Kooyonga 0.5
Sunday 26th May at Glenelg Golf Club
Report courtesy of Peter Maddern
Perfect golf conditions greeted teams at Glenelg Golf Club for the first round of the 2024 Sharp Cup campaign, with the serenity only disturbed by the drone of scheduled airline flights next door (plus or minus 50 minutes in the case of Qantas’.)
With all the tinkering that goes on there, Glenelg is a hard course to prepare for; a par 5 when you drive in may well have been converted to a par 3 and a short par 4 by the time you play it. Still, the same for both squads.
Due to injury and illness, a flurry of communications in the morning saw an unsettled Royal Adelaide side take to the course against the old foe. In the #5 slot, and on his debut, lanky Mason Holden at times performed like his last name might suggest, in fits and starts, with some poor manoeuvrability of the ball tee to green and often putting with more throttle than required. Still, against an opponent half his size, like an aging Commodore, he got the job done, after 17. But, to be sure, the badge might have gone but this Holden is a keeper.
Also on debut, Jay Mun, of no great stature himself, then took on an opponent now half his size, slipped away to lead by 3 as they crossed the road before some mess up greens made things a little tight. Turning for home for the last time, as his opponent found the hazard, Jay drove superbly and so his game also ended 2/1.
Then came our recent tourists. Fresh from success in Malaysia, Hudson Haynes, solid from the start, kept building his lead before winning 5/4, with his demoralised opponent last seen heading for sanctuary beyond the IKEA sign standing proud a kilometre away. Hudson’s shot of the day was a hybrid to the 8th green; a ferocious inswinger that tracked the pin all the way; it was a delivery that would have brought a smile to Mitchell Starc’s face.
Fresh from England and no doubt dismayed at the state of the Old Dart, Isabelle Watson was not at her best but took a few quick wins on the holes mostly cast in shadows on the back nine before withstanding a stern challenge from her adversary that took matters to the 18th green.
Finally, there was the big dawg, Lewis Antell, his hair, like his stroke play, somewhat unruly, at least for the first half of his contest. Down four at one juncture and not giving a yelp, gradually he got his bark, swing and swagger back and in winning the 18th he secured the last half point.
Thanks to our caddies and also to Glenelg Golf Club which always turns on the best hospitality of the Sharp circuit.
Sharp Cup: Round 2
Royal Adelaide v Country Districts
Sunday 2nd June at Royal Adelaide Golf Club
1st tee at 7.30am
