Moore Park, Pymble in Pennant Final
BY Anthony Powter | Pennants Golf Tour | 2008 Schweppes Metropolitan Pennant Semi-Final | Semi-Finals | 04 May 2008
Moore Park Golf Club will be seeking to go one better in its second consecutive Sydney Major Pennant Final appearance after defeating Bonnie Doon 5&2, at Camden Lakeside this morning. Moore Park faces Pymble Golf Club, following their 5&2 win over NSW Golf Club, in the second Semi-Final.
Pymble’s Brendan Smith, continued with his stunning form of late to secure one of his biggest match-play victories, when he overcame fellow National Squad member and 2008 Riversdale Cup champion, Scott Arnold, 2&1.
Their match was evenly balanced after the first nine holes, until Smith was able to apply the pressure on Arnold, with birdies on four of the next six holes. It was Arnold’s first Sydney Major pennant match loss in three seasons.
Luke Humphries followed Smith’s example, carding six birdies of his own, to secure the second match, 3&2, from Alex Katholos, and cemented Pymble’s place into the final.
Pymble have, for many years, being serious challenges in the Sydney Pennant competition, winning Section Flags, however, coming short of claiming the actual Major Pennant Flag. The current team is a mix of both youth, in 19-year-old Smith, and Luke Humphries and experience, with Captain Guy Wall, Craig Green and Brenton Cross. Pymble will certainly challenge Moore Park in a fortnight in the Final at Elanora Country Club, on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Last year the Sydney Major Pennant fell The Australian’s way with a 4½ to 2½ victory, at the expense of Moore Park.
Moore Park will be keen to make amends to events twelve month’s earlier. Its another team with a blend of youth and experience, headed by National Squad member Grant Scott, who is coming off some recent excellent form from last month’s Srixon Australian Amateur.
Scott finished a very creditable T2 in the Srixon Australian Amateur medal in Adelaide and went onto the top sixteen in the championship. Combined with three top-ten finishes this season in national selection events, the Nelson Bay native has amply justified his recent promotion to the National Squad. Scott in this morning’s Semi-Final disposed on good mate and talented amateur Justin Roach, 2&1, who in 2007, combined with Scott to win the 2007 New Zealand foursomes championship.
It’s been over thirty years since Moore Park returned to its eastern suburbs layout with the prized Major Pennant flag. Pymble also have not secured the pennant flag for a similar period. It sets the stage for a thrilling Final, as two eager teams do battle in classic inter-club golf.
