2009 AUSTRALIAN SENIORS TEAM NARROW WINNERS
OVER AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES GOLF ASSOCIATION TEAM

DAY 1 REPORT:

The 2009 Golf Australia Senior Team versus the Australian Defence Forces team competition began at The National Golf Club.
The morning Fourball matches were played in heavy winds and rain squalls resulting in very difficult playing conditions. The rain stopped late morning and the sun came out around 3.00pm. After a day of excellent and exciting golf the Golf Australia Seniors have established a comfortable lead - 9 matches to 3 matches and now only need three and a half points from the singles on Tuesday.

GA FOURBALL TEAM		ADFGA FOURBALL TEAM
Bill Wellington & Tony Mazzone		David Schwartz & David Standing	3 & 2
David McDonald & Bob Gamsby	SQ	Darryl Whitehead & Tony Greenwood	SQ
Jack Parker & Pat Giles	3 & 2	Martin Evans & Daryl Bell
Dave Morrison & John Stephens	3 & 2	Peter Reinke & Mark Nowakowski
Tony Gover & Geoff Everett	4 & 3	Tom Faulkner & Matt Creek
Peter Terrace & Geoff Burke	1 up	Bruce Sukroo & Ike Bamford

Highlight of the Fourball was an eagle 2 on the first hole by GA's Bob Gamsby who holed a 9 iron second shot. Parker and Giles came from 2 down to win 3&2, while Gover and Everett were all square with 4 holes to go and stormed home finishing with three birdies. Golf Australia won the morning fourball session 4.5 matches to 1.5 matches.

GA FOURSOMES TEAM		ADFGA FOURSOMES TEAM
Bill Wellington & Dave Morrison	SQ	David Schwartz & Darryl Whitehead	SQ
David McDonald & Tony Gover	1 up	Martin Evans & Peter Reinke
Peter Terrace & John Stephens		David Standing & Bruce Sukroo	3 & 2
Geoff Burke & Bob Gamsby	2 up	Ike Bamford & Tom Faulkner
Geoff Everett & Pat Giles	2 & 1	Matt Creek & Mark Nowakowski
Tony Mazzone & Jack Parker	1 up	Daryl Bell & Tony Greenwood

The Golf Australia team were down in four matches playing the back nine but then came back to win three of these and square the other one. Golf Australia won the afternoon foursomes session 4.5 matches to 1.5 matches.

With only the 12 singles matches remaining the Golf Australia Senior Team leads by 9 matches to 3. Although this lead is a considerable one the pressure will be on all players tomorrow as both teams strive to be the inaugural outright champions.

DAY 2 REPORT - from Australian player and manager, Pat Giles

Day 2 is Singles Day and with Australia leading 9.5 matches to 3.5 many thought it would be a matter of by how far Australia would increase their lead over the ADF and finally take line honours after the previous two drawn encounters in 2007 and 2008. However, it was not to be as the ADF came out fighting and after 9 holes lead in 7 matches, 3 were even and had 2 just 1 down.

WA's Bob Gamsby was first to draw blood for Australia with a convincing 5/4 win over former St. Michaels pennant player Mark Nowakowski. But the ADF struck back in fine style with Tom Faulkner defeating the mega experienced Geoff Everett 3/1, followed by Matt Creek accounting for Queensland's Geoff Burke 3/1 and big hitting David Standing edging John Stephens 1 up.

The ever consistent Tony Mazzone looked to be heading for an early shower turning 5 up but was met with a birdie barrage from ADF's Peter Reinke to lose at 18. Jack Parker and Pat Giles also lost at the 18th. Former SA state player Tony Gover kept his undefeated record intact with a good win over Bruce Sukroo 3/2 and was backed up by Queensland's Peter "Bulldog" Terrace who beat Ike Bamford at the last. When "Big" Dave Morrison came from 2 down to square his match it was getting close.

Out on the course the "top guns" battled it out in see sawing matches with Australian No.1 Bill "Whippy" Wellington falling 2 behind former UK Champion Daryl Whitehead at the turn. VIC OOM winner David McDonald was 3 down against big hitting scratch marker David Schwartz. A fightback was needed.

Wellington played exceptional golf and after a series of birdies and solid pars led 2 up but then found the lead reversed a few holes later. He was 2 down with 2 to play. McDonald got back to 1 down only to see Schwartz hole a 110m wedge for eagle at 17 to take the match. Wellington v Whitehead was now the decider! Whippy lifted from "dormie down" to win the last two holes for a remarkable halved match and the narrowest of victories for the Australian Senior Team by 13 matches to 11.

The National "Old Course" is a special course and was voted by many on both sides as the best course they had ever played. The organisation, hosting and personal service from staff at the Club was much appreciated by both teams and was a credit to the Club. After three years of this event only 2 matches separate both teams, which is evidence of the competitiveness of the now Annual Golf Australia Seniors V Australian Defence Force Challenge.

GA SENIOR PLAYER	4	ADFGA PLAYER	8
Bill Wellington	SQ	Darryl Whitehead	SQ
David McDonald		David Schwartz	3 & 1
Tony Mazzone		Peter Reinke	1 up
Pat Giles		Daryl Bell	2 up
Jack Parker		Tony Greenwood	1 up
Dave Morrison	SQ	Martin Evans	SQ
John Stephens		David Standing	1 up
Tony Gover	3 & 2	Bruce Sukroo
Peter Terrace	2 & 1	Ike Bamfordl
Geoff Everett		Tom Faulkner	3 & 1
Bob Gamsby	5 & 4	Mark Nowakowski
Geoff Burke		Matt Creek	3 & 1