Season Shootout-Sunday 31st October

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Shootout Report: 2021

It was a miserable looking start to the day on the last day of October for this year’s Winter Shootout. Top qualifier, Mark Tomsett, had the honour of getting the competition underway in persistent, but not too heavy, drizzle. Thankfully this was as bad as the weather got and by the end of proceedings the day had improved significantly.

Not that Murray Fraser got to see the improving conditions as he was eliminated on the first hole. With a rueful smile and his usual good grace, he was happy to tell anyone within earshot on his way back to the clubhouse that this finish fulfills a nice combination of results: 1st, 2nd,3rd, and now last.

Chris Hale was next to go after referee, Dave Lockton, chose a dastardly spot for the 2-man chip-off and the following hole saw the demise of Wayne Brierly who bit the dust after getting confused around the definition of GUR. So confused was Wayne that he was still mumbling about the predicament 5 shots later when he was called to the chip-off spot and was eliminated.

**Paul Williams succumbed on the 4th hole after carding a 7 and then lost the chip-off as did Mark Tomsett on the very next hole. Ian Diver lost a 3 - way chip-off on 6 and happily joined the ever-growing band of followers (who were by now outnumbering the players) and made a great job of adding some expertise to the refreshment cart. **

Big swinging Damien Dunlop was next to go after getting on the wrong end of another 3-way chip-off and Garry Towler didn’t get past 8 after finishing 20cm further away than Russel Dewey in a 5-man chip off. Some unkind people in the crowd were heard to say that they both should have gone as neither chip was within 9 metres of the pin.

Bryce Bevan was next to go after carding a 7 at the half way point and never being one to miss the opportunity to use a rugby analogy, commented that it was a game of 2 halves. The first half he played, the second half he didn’t.

The 10th hole saw the end of John Burns in another 2-man chip-off, which was a surprise given how consistently he had been playing.

Paul Weaver’s challenge was over on the 11th after finding difficulty in wet rough off the fairway and his 7 meant that no chip-off was required. Dave Campbell also shot a 7 on the next hole (12th) and he was gone.

With only 7 players left standing, the pressure was beginning to tell and Dennis Borman’s 3 putt on 13 left him in a 2-way chip-off which he subsequently lost and his day was over.

John Drent had an unfortunate visit to the greenside bunker on 14 which left more sand spread across the course than in the trap and an untimely 3 putt left him signing for an uncharacteristic 8, which saw him become a spectator.

Chris Pilmer was next to go, which some said was poetic justice as he was the only one of the 5 players left who didn’t make it to the 15th green.

Now it was down to 4 players, and despite the outwardly calm exteriors, the nerves were beginning to show. Despite this, Alex Teesdale and Mark Hume both made birdie on 16 which left Jacob Seymour and Russel Dewey battling it out in a chip-off. Jacob, who hit first was within half a metre and Russell’s effort came up well short.

Three really good drives were hit down 17 although Mark Hume’s second, which nearly went in, ensured that he was safe to amble to the 18th tee and leave it to Jacob and Alex to battle it out for the other spot. Unfortunately for Alex, his putt narrowly missed and he was gone.

Mark hit first on 18 and his huge drive put the pressure on Jacob who could only muster a slice out to the right and became blocked out by the trees.

Despite this position he played a remarkable shot to just in front of the green which transferred the pressure back onto Mark who subsequently put his second into the greenside bunker. After Jacob’s mediocre chip, Mark played possibly the best shot of the competition and all but holed out his bunker shot, which left too much for Jacob to do.

After a final thanks to Dave Lockton for a fabulous job as referee, Mark Hume was declared a worthy winner of the 2021 winter shootout.

Alex Teesdale employed his unorthodox follow thru to good effect. Finishing 3rd.

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