NATHAN ‘Schnitzel’ Williams has done what no Penola golfer has been able to do previously – defeat Ian ‘Jock’ Agnew in the final of the club championships.
Williams achieved the feat in almost perfect conditions at the Penola Golf Club on Sunday.
The course was immaculate, with the greens slick after a fresh mow that morning.
Chasing his ninth Open championship, Agnew was out of the blocks well, while Williams started nervously, taking a while to hit his straps.
Agnew shot out to a four-hole lead before Williams started to peg him back and by lunch had reduced the margin to two.
The second 18 saw Williams draw level then hit the front not long after the break.
It was a mixture of Williams taking the game to the next level and Agnew not at his best.
As expected, Williams’ putting under pressure was exceptional and gave him the edge.
Playing the 14th the second time a round, a crucial putt by Williams and a miss by Agnew proved critical and Williams iced the match on the 16th with a birdie to win 4-and-2.
It was Williams’ first Open championship after finishing runner-up the previous year.
The left hander was a well-deserved winner, with a complete game, while for Agnew, making it to his ninth championship final is a feat in itself.
EVANS WINS HIS SECOND TITLE
CURT Evans claimed his second B Grade championship with a comfortable 6-and-5 win over Paul Harmer.
For the first half it was a tight game, with the pair trading holes with regular pars.
Evans chipped in on the fifth for a birdie and followed up with a birdied on the 17th.
Despite a nervous start, Harmer hung in with deft chipping.
Not to be outdone, Evans’ short game was just as good, particularly with the putter.
After 22 holes the game was square, but a string of missed putts by Harmer saw Evans quickly out to a four-hole lead by the 27th.
Evans could not miss and continued to pile on the pressure with a birdie on 10 and pars on 11 and 13 to close out the game on the 13th hole.
It was a solid win for Evans, who has improved over the past 12 months and will not be far from Open qualification in 2020.
For Harmer it was more heartache, losing his fifth consecutive final.
MCPHERSON PREVAILS IN CLOSE MATCH
SHANE McPherson won a tight battle with club stalwart Peter Walker in the C Grade final.
In a game which was close all day, the lead changed regularly.
Walker had his nose in front after the first 18 holes, largely thanks to several lengthy putts from off the green.
The turning point came on the 24th hole when McPherson finally managed to sink a curving six-metre putt, while Walker pulled his short putt wide.
From there McPherson played smart, forgoing the wayward driver for the reliable 3-wood off the tee.
He never surrendered the lead from there and claimed his first club championship on the 34th hole, winning 3-and-2 in an absorbing contest.
For Walker, it was a courageous effort and a remarkable achievement for the 82-year-old to make the final of the 36-hole event and nearly win it.
MATHYS WINS IN AN UPSET
ANT Mathys managed to reverse his recent poor run of form against the red-hot John Gregory in the D Grade final.
Gregory had been in good form with impressive scores in his previous four rounds and started as red-hot favourite.
Mathys loves the match play format and started like a bullet, rushing out to a three-hole lead after the first five.
Hitting the ball long and straight he extended the lead to six holes, before Gregory pegged a few back.
Mathys went into the lunch break three up and maintained this lead for the back 18.
This was the third game which finished on the 16th hole, with Mathys taking out his third championship win 4-and-2.
