AN impressive back nine handed Michael Watts the win in Saturday’s par round at the Blue Lake Golf Club.
The Jen’s Hotel playoffs round attracted 109 competitors and Watts shot the lights out with a round of 4-up.
However, he never had his own way as he recorded the equal-best score of the day, but it was his back nine that gave him the overall win on a countback as he lit it up with five pluses in a row from the 10th hole until the 14th where he recorded an impressive birdie-two.
A Grade saw Shannon Fullerton lead the way with a fine round of 4-up with splits of 2-up to defeat Jacob Reed, who also recorded a good score of 4-up.
Gavin Coon rounded out the podium, also on a countback after returning to the clubhouse on 1-up.
Leading the way in B Grade was left-hander John Kamp, who set up his round with an impressive back nine of 3-up, which included five pluses to record his winning score of 3-up.
In second place was Tayte Spencer, one shot further back on a count-back, as he edged out Fred Gould, also on 2-up.
In C Grade it was great to see Will VonStanke lead the way as he also matched the round of the day, but had to be content with his grade win as he recorded a round of 4-up followed by John Barrett two shots further back.
The in-form Dean Zeven finished third on a count-back as he too returned with a score of 2-up.
Shot of the day went to Trevor McLean who cleaned out the eagles nest with an eagle-three on the par 5 17th hole.
The pro shots were taken out by Adrian Wallace on the par 3 fifth hole and Colin Ferguson on the par 3 16th.
Nearest the pins for the day were won by A Grade’s Colin Ferguson, B Grade’s Michael Olle and C Grade’s David Lock.
The novelty for the best front nine went to Jacob Reed on a countback with a score of 3-up.
Meanwhile in the women’s competition Annette Ford returned to form with a fine round of 2-up.
She set her win up on the front nine, with seven halves and two pluses recorded on her card to secure the win from Kate Hommlehoff.
Hommlehoff was one shot back with 1-up from Josie Ashby, who was also 1-up but had to be content with third place.
The novelties for the best front nine went to Annette Ford and the nearest the pin on the fifth hole was taken out by Ronda Edwards.
