“Hats” off to the Barton Cup side who secured a place in semi finals by beating a very strong Corrstown G.C. in appalling weather conditions last Friday evening.
Yet again the side were drawn away and after a lot of thought and debate amongst the selectors they opted for some new faces on the away team.
It was a very strange start at home with the first pair of Sleepwalker and On Order building an big lead early, which they never relinquished, while the Mayor & Too close were 3 down after 3.
They away team were also finding mixed fortune with Buckets & Bright Man on the receiving end of a pasting as their opponents posted 5 birdies to be -2 gross in their win on 14 but the other 2 pairs of Slasher & Gigger and Fingers & Hats holding their own.
Just like the majors these matches only kick off on the back 9 and with Corrstown protecting a 100% home record we were up against it and when Slasher & Gigger lost 14, 15 and 16 to go dormie 3 down the pressure was switching to the last match out, the debutants, Fingers & Hats.
Back at home Mayor & Too Close had things back under control and from a shaky start of 3 down through 3 were 2 up playing 16.
While we had a chance to go down 17 in Slasher & Giggers match the soaked green slowed Slashers putt enough to leave it on the lip. 2-1 to Corrstown.
All eyes turn to Fingers & Hats who are 3 up playing 15. Finger’s drive ended in the fairway bunker but his opponent put it into the trees from where they can only progress it 20 yards. Young Hats steps into the bunker with a 6 iron and lands it onto the green. Advantage L&B. Corrstown look like surrendering their 100% home record but they fight back by hitting their third shot to 3 feet. The L&B ball has come to rest against the collar of the fairway. Fingers now has a tricky shot along the spine of the slope to the hole and he decides to putt it. Its tracks the hole but runs 30 inches past.
Now in true match play golf Corrstown now have a chance to win the hole when they looked like they were going to lose the match here. They role their 3 footer in piling the pressure on the young shoulders of Hats Browne. It’s the shortest putt he has been asked to hold but the biggest putt of the game so far. He bangs it straight in pumping his fist. Like Bright Man says “Pressure is for Tyres.”
After Corrstown found trouble off the tee the 16th was a formality and the debutants secured the second point 4&2. 2-2.
As we made a hasty retreat from the soaked course all phones were tuned into L&B for the last match. Last we heard Mayor & Too Close were 2 up playing 16. Was it Over? What hole were they on? Surely they had not lost. At last news. They lost 16 but were in the driving seat on 17 with Too Close splitting the fairway and Corrstown on the 14th green. Waiting for news, waiting for news and then a text. It’s the bloody vice captain who’s at a wedding and wants to know the score. I reply. Waiting, waiting, waiting…A TEXT. It’s the bloody Vice Captain again telling me “its close.” I reply thanks or something like that. Wait….A TEXT. We lost 17. I shake my phone, that cant be right. Corrstown confirm. All square down 18. I call Spike to hear Corrstown are in big trouble down 18 off the tee and we are down the middle. Waiting, waiting, waiting, I try Spike, no answer. I try Two Time, no answer, I even try Numbers………no answer and then this rounds magic moment. The Corrstown captain announces that they are winning the 18th by 5 shots to 1. Mullingar Here We Come.
Well played team, a fabulous team performance.