One down, one to go for the Premier League title
Murray Leyden’s League Golf Update
Durban Country Club 71⁄2 Kloof Country Club 41⁄2. Now for Southern Natal at Margate at the end of the month. Just one more win and we’ll be there - a successful defence of the KZN Premier League title and champions again for 2010. Sounds quite simple, really, doesn’t it? After all, 71⁄2-41⁄2 is pretty clear-cut in anyone’s language. Not so fast. Let’s not kid ourselves. This away victory against Kloof was anything but clear-cut, with six of the eight singles going all the way to the 18th green and the others ending just a hole earlier. The result was on a knife-edge throughout an extremely tense afternoon. Yet it all began with some home hole heroics in the morning’s foursomes, where Lyall McNeill and Michael Hollick holed crucial pressure putts to halve their games (with partners Ryan Birnie and Elton James respectively) and enable us to scrape through to lunch with honours even at 2-2 after Sean Fenger and Clive Lazarus had earlier earned the first point. In a heartbeat, it could so easily have been 1-3 and our backs squarely against the wall. But never count out this team. When it comes to producing under the gun, when it’s time to stand up and be counted and second just will not do, Murray Gilson’s Premier League team certainly has what it takes. Just look at those eight singles.
First out, young Ryan Birnie fought all the way before going down by one hole, while Clive Lazarus showed just why he is such a respected opponent, calmly squaring things up again with his 2/1 win. Murray Gilson played superb golf all afternoon, holding on to win by a single hole against a game opponent. 4-3. Sean Fenger was as determined as ever, but lost at the 17th green. 4-4. Still very much anybody’s game. Absolutely nail-biting stuff. There was nothing at all in any of the other matches, although Keith Forde was surely dead and buried, when five down at the turn. Like I said, not so fast. There’s too much pride here and Keith worked some back nine magic of his own, bravely taking the last two holes to halve his match when knowing full well it could decide the outcome of the league match. News of that fantastic turnaround and crucial half point seemed to make all the difference as those who followed all got their noses in front over the final holes, Lyall McNeill, Elton James and Michael Hollick all recording excellent one hole wins. Phew! My nerves! Durban Country Club 71⁄2 Kloof Country Club 41⁄2. Clear-cut? Forget it. Impressive? You bet. One down. One more to go.
Share this article: