The 2007 Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship was contested at the magnificent Barwon Heads Golf Club from September 24-28, 2007. Barwon Heads Golf Club is a high quality and challenging golf course and is celebrating their centenary year. Considered one of the best links golf courses in Australia this year the club has hosted the Four Nations Cup and the Australian Women’s Interstate Teams Matches.
The 2007 champion was Chris Coats from Queensland. Coats battled through gale force winds, heavy rain, thunder, lightning and hail storms to claim a hard fought victory over Victorian Phil Wood 3 and 2. Despite the conditions the quality of the match was very high. Both Coats and Wood described the weather as the worst they had experienced for many years but were equally full of praise for the Barwon Heads course.
In the consolation play off Denis Dale (NSW) defeated Alan Evans (Victoria) 3 and 2.
Golf Australia announced that Chris Coats will now receive automatic qualification for the 2007 HANDA Australian Men's Senior Open to be played at Concord Golf Club in Sydney from November 2-4.
The Senior Advisory Group also announced that the 4 semi finalists in the 2007 Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship (Chris Coats, Phil Wood, Denis Dale and Alan Evans) will be automatic selections in the 12 man team to play New Zealand in New Zealand in February 2008. They will be joined by the next 6 players on the Australian Order of Merit as at July 31, 2007 plus 2 captain's picks.
A highlight of the Welcome Cocktail Reception on Monday night was the presentation of trophies to the winners of the 2006-07 Australian Senior Order of Merit. Denis Dale successfully defended his 2005-06 title and Norm Way was the first ever winner of the new 65 Years and Over Australian Order of Merit.
THE FINAL
Chris COATS defeated Phil WOOD 3 and 2
A classic final with the experienced former Eisenhower Cup player Phil Wood against the regular senior circuit player Chris Coats who was chasing his very first title.
Holes were exchanged early and as expected the match soon became a tight struggle prolonged by a few interruptions when the wild weather made play impossible. When the players teed up on the 14th hole it was Coats who had a 1 hole lead. Wood was penalised in unusual circumstances on the 14th green - he had grounded his putter when addressing the ball for his putt but moved away when a heavy gust of wind arrived. While standing away from his ball it was moved by the gale force wind and in accordance with the rules of golf the match referree had no choice but to penalise Wood one shot - the hole was halved.
Coats then won the 15th hole to establish a 2 up lead as they teed up on the par 5 16th. Wood drove long and straight with Coats in the rough. Coats then played further into the right hand rough with Wood just short of the green in two. Coats recovered well to the edge of the green and Wood pitched to 10 feet. Coats had putted very well all week and once again his putter worked its magic as the 30 footer from off the green dropped in for a birdie. Wood's birdie putt slid just by the hole and the Australian title belonged to Coats - 3 and 2.
Both players will be team members in the Australian team to play New Zealand at Titirangi Golf Club in February, 2008.
SEMI FINAL CONSOLATION
Denis DALE defeated Alan EVANS 3 and 2
This was a match between the two losing semi finalists and to add a little extra "spice" to the match good friends Dale and Evans were sharing accommodation for the week in Barwon Heads.
Dale led by 2 holes after a solid start and maintained this until Evans won the 7th with a very good par. After nine holes Dale was 1 up. The match stayed this way until the 15th where Dale holed a long putt for a birdie and a 2 up lead. Given the conditions the scoring from the pair was quite remarkable.
On the par 5 16th both players hit solid drives and with the wind again at gale force Evans pushed his second slightly into the rough. Unfortunately the ball could not be found and the loss of the hole gave Dale the match 3 and 2.
Both players will be team members in the Australian team to play New Zealand at Titirangi Golf Club in February, 2008.
SPECIAL EVENT WINNERS
The format for the 2007 Match Play Championship provided all competitors with a match play game every day. The winners of the major "special event" finals and only losing one match play game during the week of golf were:
Peter MCGREGOR defeated John HILL
Alex CLEAVE defeated Jim GILCHRIST
Roy VANDERSLUIS defeated Russell ROGERS
SEMI FINAL MATCHES
Chris COATS defeated Denis DALE 1 up
Phil WOOD defeated Alan EVANS 3/2
Former Eisenhower Cup representative Phil Wood defeated fellow Victorian Alan Evans 3/2 to claim his place in the final. Played in very windy conditions Evans described the match as "a good honest battle with Phil just a bit too good at the end".
Wood had claimed an early lead and held on to a narrow advantage of one and two holes all day. The match's turning point was the 15th where both drives looked fairway bunker bound. Evans kicked into the bunker with no shot at the green while Wood skipped over the same bunker for a clear shot. "Such is the game of golf!" quoted the luckless Evans who is still very pleased with his semi final position giving him automatic selection in the next Australian team.
In the other semi final Queenslander Chris Coats edged out NSW player Denis Dale. This was a "special" match as good friends Dale and Coats had recently teamed as fourball and foursomes partners in the international series against New Zealand.
Coats led early after a trio of long putts on holes 3, 4 and 5 for birdies gave him a 2 up lead. Dale continued with his par golf and recovered to hold a 1 hole lead at the turn. With the pressure well and truly on, Coats again produced his magic putter on the homeward nine. Three more lengthy putts saw him square the match with Dale after 17 holes.
Both players drove well on 18 and found the par 4 green in two. Coats putted first and as a large crowd looked on he struck his 20 foot putt perfectly and excitedly saw it drop in the centre for a brilliant closing birdie. Dale's putt from 18 feet to extend the match looked a great chance but there was no fairy tale finish and he watched on as it ran around the edge. "Chris is a very good player and a great fighter - he just refused to go away" commented Dale after the match. "This will be a great final" he added.
The final commences at 10:30 am on Friday. Strong winds are again forecast and this should ensure the victor is a worthy winner of the title of 2007 Australian Senior Match Play Champion.
The excellent format for this Match Play Championship allows all competitors to play a match play game every day.
Friday will also see three other important matches to decide the winner of these consolation competitons. The three "finals" will be played between the following:
Peter MCGREGOR v John HILL
Alex CLEAVE v Jim GILCHRIST
Russell ROGERS v Roy VANDERSLUIS
QUARTER FINAL MATCHES
1 Denis DALE (NSW) defeated 24 Peter MCGREGOR (NSW) 7/5
4 Chris COATS (QLD) defeated 21 Alan BUCKLEY (VIC) 4/3
10 Phil WOOD (VIC) defeated 15 John HILL (SA) 21 st
6 Alan EVANS (VIC) defeated 3 Ian READ (QLD) 1 up
ROUND TWO MATCHES
1 Denis DALE (NSW) defeated 17 Tony IRVINE (Qld) 5/4
24 Peter McGREGOR (NSW) defeated 8 Russell ROGERS (NSW) 5/3
4 Chris COATS (Qld) defeated 13 Paul DAY (NSW) 2/1
5 Alan BUCKLEY (NSW) defeated 21 Jack PARKER (Vic) 3/2
15 John HILL (SA) defeated 2 Norm WAY (QLD) 2 up
10 Phil WOOD (Vic) defeated 26 Roy VANDERSLUIS (NSW) 20th
3 Ian READ (Qld) defeated 14 David MCDONALD (Vic) 6/5
6 Alan EVANS (Vic) defeated
11 Grahame MACDONALD (Qld) 3/2
ROUND ONE MATCHES
1 Denis DALE (NSW) defeated 32 John BEAUMONT (SA) 2/1
17 Tony IRVINE (Qld) defeated 16 Clark GIBBONS(NSW) 2 up
8 Russell ROGERS (NSW) defeated 25 Paul LULOFS (Vic) 5/3
24 Peter McGREGOR (NSW) defeated 9 Cameron FRASER (NSW) 3/2
4 Chris COATS (Qld) defeated 29 Brian BAKER (NSW) 5/3
13 Paul DAY (NSW) defeated 20 Bob MACAFEE (Vic) 2 up
5 Jack PARKER (NSW) defeated 28 Neville WRIGHT (Vic) 4/3
21 Alan BUCKLEY (Vic) defeated 12 Alex CLEAVE (WA) 2/1
2 Norm WAY (Qld) defeated 31 Barry WEBB (Vic) 4/3
15 John HILL (SA) defeated 18 John STEPHENS (NSW) 2 up
26 Roy VANDERSLUIS (NSW) defeated 7 Richard FROEBEL (Vic) 1 up
10 Phil WOOD (Vic) defeated 23 Graham BOWEN (WA) 2/1
3 Ian READ (Qld) defeated 30 Graeme ALTMANN (Vic) 2/1
14 David MCDONALD (Vic) defeated 19 Denis LONG (Vic) 5/4
6 Alan EVANS (Vic) defeated 27 Jim GILCHRIST (ACT) 3/1
11 Grahame MACDONALD (Qld) defeated 22 Pat GILES (Vic) 6/5
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