THE Lucindale Golf Club claimed the 2022 Golf SE Men’s Pennant in a nail-biter which went down to the last putt.
With plenty of close contests throughout the year, it was anticipated the final could be just as tight.
On a cool but sunny morning, Luncindale won the toss against Mount Gambier Red to get the proceedings underway.
Matches ebbed and flowed throughout the day, with both teams having their nose in front at some stage.
The first completed match was a win to Lucindale when Danny Lane capped off a consistent year with a 4/3 win over Peppi Pace.
The lead doubled when Peter Justin completed a solid win on the 14th hole when he went 5-up.
Mount Gambier had the lead in the majority of other matches, but needed to get a win on the board to peg back the margin.
This came when John Miles eventually wore down Mitch Baker to win 2/1 and get the red team on the board.
The other matches started to tighten up and as they crossed the road all matches were still in play.
Sam Letizia held a good lead all day, out to 3-up after nine holes.
Brad Hocking showed plenty of character, pulling off one of the all-time come backs the previous week in the semi final.
When he won the 16th hole he was within one hole with two to play.
Letizia steadied and completed the victory on the 18th, winning 2-up.
With the match level at two games a piece, the pressure was starting to mount on the other players.
When the number ones, Handford and Beaumont, headed up the 18th, the other two games were already into extra holes.
Jon Clayton held his nerve to get Mount Gambier’s third win on the 19th hole, having saved the 18th with an amazing chip to within an inch.
With Mount Gambier now holding a 3-2 lead, Lucindale was suddenly behind.
Both Shaun Menz and Bailey Letizia three-putted on the 20th hole to let the an opportunity slip.
As both final pairs almost simultaneously halved the 19th and 21st holes, the layout of the course had both groups heading back towards the clubhouse.
Handford and Beaumont had had a great tussle throughout the day, with both deserving to win.
Handford got out to a small lead to be 2-up after nine holes but the margin was pegged back to be square after 15.
They then halved the final three to be square after 18.
With drama playing out in the other match on the 22nd hole, Beaumont sunk a nice putt on the 20th to take the match and level the score.
It all came down to Menz v Letizia and after halving the first three extra holes, Menz had a shot up his sleeve thanks to the handicap difference.
With that in mind, he safely made his bogey.
When Letizia’s par putt narrowly missed, the game was over, with Lucindale prevailing in a thriller.
Results: Lucindale 4 defeated Mount Gambier Red 3. B. Beaumont d M. Handford 1-up on the 20th hole; B. Hocking l/t S. Letizia 2-down; P. Justin d J. Mann 5/4; S. Menz d B. Letizia 1-up on 22nd; E. Pitt l/t J. Clayton 1-down on 19th ; D. Lane d P. Pace 4/3; M. Baker l/t J. Miles 2/1.
