KANGAROO CUP Pairs Championship
Hayling Island 2018
HAYLING ISLAND - 24th APRIL 2018
It was the 7th year that the spring event was held at Hayling, with a field of 20 players. We had the pleasure of Alan Paterson joining us after many years' absence and one new player, Steve Boardman, who took on the challenge of getting Tom Ryan further up the leader board.
The morning 18 holes were played in ideal links golfing weather. Defending Hayling Champions Hedges & Taylor were off to a flying start with Taylor birdying the 1st for 4 points backed up by Hedges net birdies on the 2nd and the 4th for 12 points after the 4 holes of Better Ball. Both players had net birdies on the Par5 7th hole for 6 points to have 32 points after 9 holes which proved to be the best of the day. Hedges again had 2 net birdies on the Better Ball holes to finish leaders after the morning on 60 points. Couzens went out in level par and finished with a 73 gross to lie in 2nd place with partner Lumley at lunch on 55 points. Espley & Maciver also banked 6 points on the Par 5 7th to lie in tied 3rd place with 53 points with Peplow & Onions finishing strongly with birdies on 17th & 18th also on 53 points. New boys Patel & Lancaster had got to grips with the format in their second Kangaroo Cup also scoring net birdies on the 7th to lie in 4th place with 52 points.
The weather took a turn for the worse in the afternoon as did the golf of the two leading teams. Paterson & Berry dovetailed well for 25 points equal best of the afternoon. Couzens & Lumley faded in the tough conditions on the 5th to 7th holes only scoring 3 points. Patel/Lancaster playing with lunchtime leaders Hedges & Taylor fell a further 2 points behind after the better ball holes but as the wind picked up Hedges and Taylor got blown off course scoring only 5 points to Patel/Lancaster’s 15 points over the next 4 holes to pull level with one hole to play – game on. The 9th hole is a demanding Par 4 SI3 is a tough drive with a blind tee shot to a fairway with bunkers on the left and gorse on the right. Benson & Taylor chipped and 2 putted for net pars to Patel/Lancaster’s bogeys to secure victory by 2 shots. Field won the AM closest to the pin with Davenport the PM.
