JESSE Smith and Heather Gill are the Casterton Golf Club’s Men’s and Women’s Open Champions for 2022, taking out their respective finals at the weekend.
The finalists teed off from 8am in cold but fine conditions, which did not deter the competitors from playing some impressive match-play golf while vying for the honour of winning the championship in their respective grades.
The golf course was presented in excellent condition due to the hard work of our greens committee chairman Jesse Smith, greenskeeper Darren Hulm and the volunteers who spent many hours preparing the course and raking bunkers.
Men’s Open
THE men’s open championship final played over 36 holes, was a great battle between best mates and young-guns, Pete Hutchins and Jesse Smith.
Hutchins went into the final as the top qualifier after playing a great elimination round the previous week, but equally impressive to reach the final was Jesse Smith’s golf over the past few weeks.
Over the first four holes, Hutchins’ impressive driving from the tee saw him race to a four-hole lead, but Smith kept himself in the match with some accurate putting.
Smith then got on a role and won nine out of the next 11 holes, to take a lead into the half-time break.
On the second eighteen, it became the battle of the big hitters with both players producing some great golf shots at times, but under pressure Smith’s early advantage proved to be a match-winning one when he birdied the 17th hole to win the match 4/3.
Congratulations to Jesse Smith, the Casterton Golf Club Men’s Open Champion for 2022.
While Hutchins could not take the major prize in the day, some excellent play saw him take out the AW Corney and Dick Cooper trophies.
Women’s Open
THE Women’s Open Championship match was a battle played over 27 holes between long-reigning A Grade golfer, Heather Gill and the up-and-coming Denise Gill.
After a nervous start by both players, Heather’s long drives were matched by Denise’s accuracy with the chipper and putter around the greens.
Both players were evenly-matched throughout the game with only one hole dividing both players and neither being able to gain an advantage.
As the crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the final nine holes, Heather held a one -hole advantage which was quickly reduced by Denise who played a wonderful approach shot into the first green, chipped accurately and sank the putt to win the hole.
The match was then back to being all square.
It was a see-sawing event which went hole for hole, Heather driving well from the tee but Denise dynamite with the putter.
On the seventh hole, Heather held a one-hole advantage and much to the delight of her caddy, she sank a long putt on the seventh green from a tricky position to win that hole.
With only two holes remaining, the pressure was on Denise to win the final holes.
Heather managed to square the eighth hole which gave her the win, two-up with only one hole to play.
Congratulations to Heather Gill, the Casterton Golf Club Women’s Open Champion for 2022.
B Grade men
IN THE Men’s B Grade final, Phil Niewand took on the veteran of the golf game, Bill May.
Sometimes when playing this game, the golf-gods are either with you or not.
This could be said for the B Graders.
With May’s accurate driving he never missed a fairway and parred several early holes while the ever reliable ‘Fairway Phil’ just couldn’t win a trick; a bad bounce here, or a putt that just wouldn’t drop in.
May’s finals experience saw him take an early lead in the match.
Once Niewand’s accurate iron play returned, he applied pressure to May and reduced the lead to four holes after the first 18.
Heading into the final 18 holes, May produced some great golf shots to par the first three holes and despite Niewand’s consistency, he could not reduce the gap.
Both players hit shot-for-shot on many holes but May’s early advantage gave him an unassailable lead.
He went on to claim the B Grade championship win, 8/7.
B Grade women
DUE to illness, the B Grade women’s final did not proceed.
Congratulations to Sharon McGrath who was declared the B Grade champion for 2022.
She is a very consistent golfer with great determination and she played extremely well in the qualifying and elimination rounds to reach the final.
She is a deserved winner of the B Grade championship.
C Grade men
The C Grade men’s match was again a match between mates, with Pete Larkins and Sam Broomby playing over 27 holes.
Larkins got off to a flying start winning three out of the first five holes, but Broomby accepted the challenge and once he got his driver going, reduced the margin to two after the first 18 holes.
Both players produced some massive drives and accurate iron shots in a very close contest.
The match became a rollercoaster when Broomby won three holes in a row. But, when the window of opportunity arose, Larkins took control of the match with some accuracy around the greens and went on to win the C Grade championship, 4/2.
