Singles Final - Report
The final of this years handicap singles knockout took place on the Kings in cold and at times extremely windy conditions. Fifty Four hopefuls had entered but only two remained, Ryan Longmuir and Ken Marshall. Ryan was getting 5 shots! The game was bonkers.
Ken played the front 9 in 39 which given the conditions was pretty good going. Ryan however played like a tour pro, making 8 pars (3 of them nett birdies) and one gross birdie to reach the turn with a massive 7 hole lead! A couple of small mistakes from Ryan together with Ken playing the next 5 holes in one under par cut the deficit to only two holes with 4 remaining. It was turning into a game of two halfs, and indeed there had only been two halved holes up until this point.
Ryan was getting his final shot at the 15th and his 5 nett 4 left Ken needing to get up and down from well short of the green for a half which he managed to do. 2 up, 3 to play. Ken then pulled his tee shot at the 16th into a greenside bunker, Ryan took advantage and hit his to about 12 feet. Ken managed to get up and down again and Ryans putt for victory narrowly missed. Dormie 2. Both players finished to the left of the 17th in 2. Ryan’s putt went about 7 feet past, Ken’s about 6ft, Ryan missed, Ken holed. Dormie 1….
Down the last we went, into a strong breeze. Two good drives, two good seconds and two OK thirds left both balls on the front of the green more or less side by side a LONG way from the hole which was at the back of the green. Ken went first, leaving it about 6 feet short, Ryan came up a few feet outside of this and narrowly missed his third putt for the match in as many holes. Ken then holed his to complete a remarkable comeback, go round in 73 and take the match into extra holes.
Two good drives left Ken about a foot into the left semi and Ryan in the middle of the fairway. Ken’s wedge looked great but came up short up rolled back to the bottom of the hill. Ryan played a solid shot to the front of the green leaving a long uphill putt, advantage Ryan. Ken hit a decent pitch to about 25 feet to the right of the pin. Ryan then putted up but left it well short. Ken then drained his curly 25 footer to leave Ryan staring at an 8 footer to save the match, a scenario no-one had ever expected. To his credit he managed to hole it and on to the 20th we went.
Another two good drives but as the hole was playing into the breeze it still left a fairly long approach. Ken went first, hit it slightly heavy and left and it went about a foot into the bushes short of the green! Ryan knocked his just short of the green. A drop out and a chip on from Ken left Ryan with two putts to win which he duly did.
Congratulations to Ryan on his first trophy and judging by his play today it will be the first of many. Despite losing I thoroughly enjoyed the match and couldn’t really have played any better.