On Wednesday, August 24th, two top-rated teams met for a crucial match. It was do or die for Fred/Nick. Lose or even tie and they were done. Win and they claim a place in the playoffs. For Ken/McD  it was a chance to better their secured play-off spot.

 

First the headlines:

 

NICK GETS 5 STROKES AND DOESN'T USE ANY OF THEM.

IS IT POSSIBLE FRED  4 PUTTS #3 TO HALVE THE HOLE?

McD SPENDS TUESDAY EVENING WORKING ON HIS SHORT GAME. RESULT???

KEN MAKES A BRILLIANT "TAKE THAT" BIRDIE ON 9

 

Ken and Gord never really had a chance. Or did they...?

 

And now the details:

 

1. Nick's first stroke hole. But he is the only one to make a real par after a deft chip to a foot. 1 Up F/N and the rout is on.

2. Fred sinks a four footer for the only par. 2 Up F/N. But that was about to change.

3. Fred is just over the back. Ken and Gord both take three to get on and then two putt for 5's. Fred's first putt is ten feet past. His second four feet past. Enough is enough so Nick holes a three footer for the winning bogey. 3 Up F/N What a dream start.  

4. All stroking off Fred. Nick makes a real birdie from the fifth fairway. K/McD make net pars so again Nick doesn't need his stroke. Holy Cow. 4 Up F/N

5. Fred and McD play the hole the same way into the wind. Excellent pitches from 60 yards see Gord's five footer go in for par just before Fred's four footer follows. The mo is starting to change. 

6. Nick is five off the tee so again his stroke doesn't matter. Gord uses his for net par. Not enough to win though as fred two putts from 100 feet including an 8 foot comebacker. 

7. Ken is the only one on with a fifteen foot uphill birdie putt. Curiously he lags it. Nick comes out of the right trap brilliantly and makes a halving par save. It is stuck on 4 up F/N but not for long.

8. Nick hits a huge drive 80 yards from the green. But after he three putts Fred has to sink a 2 footer for the par - which is enough to win another hole.  5 up F/N and K/McD are fading fast.

9. Nick is the only one on and 15 feet away. GMcD is in the front trap to a back pin. Ken is over the back. Fred is short of the green in 3 and is away. Asking and playing ready golf, Ken chips and talks and coaxes and builds in pitch until Holy Cow it's in for a birdie. This looked like an F/N lock but it's turned on a dime. Nick can't recover so it's 4 up F/N up at the turn. That is all about to change.

 

10. Another Nick stroke hole. Again not needed. Fred has his 7th one putt in 10 holes for a par that's enough to beat the bogeys from K/McD. 5up. Surely the fat lady is starting to sing.

11. A chance for Ken even though Fred is inside him. Nope. Par. Maybe Fred will 3 putt. Or Nick could chip in for par giving Fred a free run. Fred finally misses a putt so it's a push. 

12. Steady Fred taps in for easy regulation par. Ken stands over a four footer and thinks "If I miss this are we dormie?" He doesn't miss. 5 up with 6 to go. 

13. Everything looks like it's is not about to change. Again Fred is closest off the tee. Again Nick chips to gimmee distance so Fred has a free run at birdie. Again Ken has four feet for par to extend the match. But this time Ken is not up to the challenge. It's all over 6 and 5.  

 

In keeping with the day Nick hits his final stroke hole in 2 and leave his eagle putt an inch away. His real birdie would have won this hole as well. Again the stroke not needed. 

 

 

 

Nick 42 - 43 - 85 (net 70)

Fred 38 - 40 - 78 (net 69)

Ken 42 - 44 - 86 (net 74)

GMcD A Lot