Thursday 14 June at The Vines (Lakes Course)
The Great Southern Growlers opened the 2012 event with their best start ever securing two points to square the ledger after the first day. Off-season signing Ross Baker proved to be a great acquisition for the Growlers as he built up a six hole lead with six to play against the usually reliable Todorovic. And despite the match continuing through to the par 3, 16th, a solid par there gave Baker a convincing 4&2 win.
The Growlers other point came from the most unlikely of sources, with Grant Woods prevailing in a titanic battle over Dean Sherlock 3&1. Neither golfer set the world alight through the first nine holes and in trying conditions, Woods held his resolve whilst his counterpart threw away a one hole lead with five to play.
The performance of the day though came from the stick of Matthew Schwarzbach who took family honours with a 1up victory over brother Damian. His comeback from 4dn after 11 holes relived memories of Kennedy Bay three years earlier when he squared the match against his older sibling after being two down with three to play.
And in the other match, Wez Smart won four consecutive holes to turn a two hole deficit into a 2&1 victory over Rick Beet.
Match Play Results:
Damien Todorovic lost to Ross Baker (4&2)
Dean Sherlock lost to Grant Woods (3&1)
Wez Smart defeated Rick Beet (2&1)
Matthew Schwarzbach defeated Damian Schwarzbach (1up)
Scores level at 2-2
Friday 15 June at Wanneroo Golf Club
A 4BBB was played for the first time since the inaugural competition at Rosehill when not only did the Growlers fail to score a point but the evidence of their team harmony, or lack thereof, was brought to the fore. This time was to be a different story though with the southerners coming with a different attitude for the 2012 event.
The signs were ominous though when Smart and Todorovic raced to a three hole lead after three holes over the combination of Baker and Beet. Some gamesmanship from Beet threw the usually reliable Smart off his game though and the Double B's were all square three holes later.
The match would ebb and flow thereafter until the 15th and 16th holes where wins to Baker and Beet put them two up with two to play. Smart and Todorovic fought gallantly though and both parred the 17th to send the match to the 18th where the Growler pair prevailed.
There was some consolation for Smart and Todorovic taking their crossover match against Damian Schwarzbach and Grant Woods who were also involved in a titanic battle in their head-to-head match with Matthew Schwarzbach and Dean Sherlock.
With the Growler pair one up coming down the last, Matthew Schwarzbach played a miraculous shot on the 18th green and holed his putt to square the match.
With Baker and Beet taking out the crossover though, the Growlers celebrated just their second daily win but for the first time, led the competition at the end of a day's play setting up an enthralling weekend of play. It was certainly a turn around from the beginning of the day when the Growlers struggled just to find the course.
The signs were ominous though when Smart and Todorovic raced to a three hole lead after three holes over the combination of Baker and Beet. Some gamesmanship from Beet threw the usually reliable Smart off his game though and the Double B's were all square three holes later.
The match would ebb and flow thereafter until the 15th and 16th holes where wins to Baker and Beet put them two up with two to play. Smart and Todorovic fought gallantly though and both parred the 17th to send the match to the 18th where the Growler pair prevailed.
There was some consolation for Smart and Todorovic taking their crossover match against Damian Schwarzbach and Grant Woods who were also involved in a titanic battle in their head-to-head match with Matthew Schwarzbach and Dean Sherlock.
With the Growler pair one up coming down the last, Matthew Schwarzbach played a miraculous shot on the 18th green and holed his putt to square the match.
With Baker and Beet taking out the crossover though, the Growlers celebrated just their second daily win but for the first time, led the competition at the end of a day's play setting up an enthralling weekend of play. It was certainly a turn around from the beginning of the day when the Growlers struggled just to find the course.
Better Ball Matchplay Results (head-to-head)
Smart/Todorovic lost to Baker/Beet (2dn)
M Schwarzbach/Sherlock halved with D Schwarzbach/Woods (AS)
Better Ball Crossover Results (total stableford points)
Smart/Todorovic defeated D Schwarzbach/Woods (xx-xx)
M Schwarzbach/Sherlock lost to Baker/Beet (xx-xx)
GSG lead 4.5-3.5
Saturday 16 June at Carramar Golf Course
With Course Superintendent Matthew Schwarzbach in the line-up, the QQQQ were favoured to bounce back on day three. Although the round commenced under bright sky, the rain soon set in with both sides battling to come to terms with the wet conditions.
The Irish Stableford format suited the pairing of Beet and Woods with the latter making the most of being within a shot of the green in regulation for the first time since he last played Supa Golf. The Growler pair raced to what looked like an unassailable lead after nine holes and when all look lost for Sherlock and Smart, the inner resolve of the QQQQ shone through with an inspiring halved match.
Smart was able to play through what he later described as the closest to death he has ever been when a ball narrowly missed him on the 18th. He was able to compose himself though and win the hole ensuring the holders didn't drop further back in the standings.
The Ross Baker fairy tale came to a halt when he tasted defeat for the first time in his Growler career. Partnering with the Growlers most prodigious player, Damian Schwarzbach, there was an expectation for both to carry on their merry way however the local knowledge of Matthew Schwarzbach coupled with some resilient play from Damien Todorovic gave the QQQQ a tight 3&1 win.
Some poor decision-making on the 18th saw Matthew Schwarzbach and Todorovic lose the crossover match to Beet and Woods 66-63. The news got worse for Baker and Damian Schwarzbach too with Sherlock and Smart taking their crossover resulting in the coveted pair registering donuts for the day.
Irish Stableford Combined Matchplay Results (head-to-head)
Sherlock/Smart halved with Beet/Woods (AS)
M Schwarzbach/Todorovic defeated Baker/D Schwarzbach (3&1)
Irish Stableford Combined Crossover Results
The Irish Stableford format suited the pairing of Beet and Woods with the latter making the most of being within a shot of the green in regulation for the first time since he last played Supa Golf. The Growler pair raced to what looked like an unassailable lead after nine holes and when all look lost for Sherlock and Smart, the inner resolve of the QQQQ shone through with an inspiring halved match.
Smart was able to play through what he later described as the closest to death he has ever been when a ball narrowly missed him on the 18th. He was able to compose himself though and win the hole ensuring the holders didn't drop further back in the standings.
The Ross Baker fairy tale came to a halt when he tasted defeat for the first time in his Growler career. Partnering with the Growlers most prodigious player, Damian Schwarzbach, there was an expectation for both to carry on their merry way however the local knowledge of Matthew Schwarzbach coupled with some resilient play from Damien Todorovic gave the QQQQ a tight 3&1 win.
Some poor decision-making on the 18th saw Matthew Schwarzbach and Todorovic lose the crossover match to Beet and Woods 66-63. The news got worse for Baker and Damian Schwarzbach too with Sherlock and Smart taking their crossover resulting in the coveted pair registering donuts for the day.
Irish Stableford Combined Matchplay Results (head-to-head)
Sherlock/Smart halved with Beet/Woods (AS)
M Schwarzbach/Todorovic defeated Baker/D Schwarzbach (3&1)
Irish Stableford Combined Crossover Results
Sherlock/Smart defeated Baker/D Schwarzbach (62-57)
M Schwarzbach/Todorovic lost to Beet/Woods (63-66)
Scores level at 6-6
M Schwarzbach/Todorovic lost to Beet/Woods (63-66)
Scores level at 6-6
Sunday 17 June at Joondalup Country Club
With scores level entering the final day, another tense finish ensued and whilst the QQQQ only required two matches to retain the trophy, most would have recognised their desire to win the competition outright.
And playing at the home course of Grant Woods gave the Growlers the edge in the first match where the veteran had registered a number of sub-handicap rounds in the lead up to this year's competition. His opponent, Damien Todorovic, had been less than convincing and the signs were ominous as Woods held the early advantage after two holes.
The lead didn't last long though with Woods finding the deep bunker on the third green and never getting out. Todorovic capitalised squaring the match and building a three hole lead by the turn. The telling point of the match came on the 10th and 11th holes though with Todorovic holing out for a 7 and 8 but still taking both holes for a five hole lead. The match ended two holes later.
Meanwhile, Rick Beet scored a win by the same margin over Matthew Schwarzbach avenging his loss at The Vines three years earlier.
The other two matches were titanic battles won and lost on the 17th hole. On both occasions, the QQQQ prevailed giving them their third Classic in as many years. Sherlock was inspirational as he accounted for Damian Schwarzbach with an amazing par on the penultimate hole.
Smart was more steady in his victory that saw Baker split his points in his debut appearance. That brought him just half a point behind the person he replaced in half the number of appearances.
With a third consecutive win, the QQQQ added to their history creating run now being the first team to win three Classics in a row.
And playing at the home course of Grant Woods gave the Growlers the edge in the first match where the veteran had registered a number of sub-handicap rounds in the lead up to this year's competition. His opponent, Damien Todorovic, had been less than convincing and the signs were ominous as Woods held the early advantage after two holes.
The lead didn't last long though with Woods finding the deep bunker on the third green and never getting out. Todorovic capitalised squaring the match and building a three hole lead by the turn. The telling point of the match came on the 10th and 11th holes though with Todorovic holing out for a 7 and 8 but still taking both holes for a five hole lead. The match ended two holes later.
Meanwhile, Rick Beet scored a win by the same margin over Matthew Schwarzbach avenging his loss at The Vines three years earlier.
The other two matches were titanic battles won and lost on the 17th hole. On both occasions, the QQQQ prevailed giving them their third Classic in as many years. Sherlock was inspirational as he accounted for Damian Schwarzbach with an amazing par on the penultimate hole.
Smart was more steady in his victory that saw Baker split his points in his debut appearance. That brought him just half a point behind the person he replaced in half the number of appearances.
With a third consecutive win, the QQQQ added to their history creating run now being the first team to win three Classics in a row.
Match Play Results:
Damien Todorovic defeated Grant Woods (6&5)
Dean Sherlock defeated Damian Schwarzbach (2&1)
Wez Smart defeated Ross Baker (2&1)
Matthew Schwarzbach lost to Rick Beet (6&5)
