Club Championship 2009
Simon Curle claimed his 6th Glamorganshire Golf Club Championship Title, 27 years after winning his first Championship in a thrilling final against Matt Mullooly who was looking for his 3rd title in a row.
Qualifying
The Championship started the week before with the 36 hole scratch qualifying event with the Gold Medal and top qualifying slot being won by Brian Rigby with rounds of 70 & 74, with the silver medal for the best Nett score over 36 holes won by the talented junior James Greenslade with outstanding scores of 73 & 62 Nett.
Defending Club Champion Matt Mullooly was first in the Clubhouse with two work man like rounds of 75, whilst Jay Morris was left sweating on his qualifying place with rounds of 78 & 75. Leighton Brooks a new recruit from Wenvoe golf Club shot solid rounds of 74 & 75 to book his place as 2nd seed in the last 8.
With a good crowd on the veranda the atmosphere was building nicely, just in time to see Chris Payne hole out for a superb afternoon round of level par 70 to go with his morning round of 83 securing a Houdini like place into the last eight.
Dean Bezant backed up a round of 77 with a quality 73 in the afternoon and yet another reminder to everyone in the club at how good yet underrated this youngster is.
Peter “Porky” Edmunds hung in for rounds of 74 & 79 despite suffering with a leg injury, and he was into the last 8.
Simon Curle was one of the last home and his afternoon round of 78 went with a superb 71 in the morning, and Brian Rigby completed the top 8 in the Club as he qualified as the No.1 seed.
Quarter Finals
Brian Rigby played Peter “Porky” Edmunds where Brian’s short game was just too good for Porky and he went through by 3 & 2 into the Semi Finals.
Dean Bezant faced Matt Mullooly in a repeat of the 2007 final, with Matt cruising to 4up. However, Dean’s putter, ironically bought off Matt had other ideas as he putted away the 4up lead to leave the game all square on the last hole, but Matt’s experience showed as he took a crucial up and down on the last to leave Dean ruing his chances.
Simon Curle played Chris Payne in what was the toughest looking quarter final to pick, but Chris had too many sloppy holes on the back nine and Simon Curle went through by 4 & 3.
Leighton Brooks the Clubs new recruit from Wenvoe was too steady for Jay Morris who never found his rhythm and Leighton won by 3 & 2.
Semi Finals
Brian Rigby faced Matt Mullooly and the pre-match hype was lived up to as Brian birdied 4 of the first 6 holes, only to find himself all square. Clearly Matt had the bit between his teeth and went on to birdie 3 more holes on the back 9 to give him a safe passage into the final.
Simon Curle Faced Leighton Brooks who had got himself 2up, but Simon Curle’s beautiful broom handled putting stroke went into over drive and he ran out winning 2 & 1.
The Final
For 99% of amateur golfers it doesn’t get much bigger than your Club Championship final, and it was great to see a good crowd as Simon Curle and Matt Mullooly hit their first shots of the 2009 Final. With a very strong wind blowing and rain in the air, the weather was not ideal for great scoring and Simon Curle’s putter was first to strike as he went 1up through 5 holes.
Moving into the back 9 Matt could not convert any of the chances he made and Simon continued to give a superb display of putting ability, rolling in 6 footers as if he was out on his own practicing and Simon moved to 3up. With the 18th hole left in the morning Matt’s superb iron to the green was enough for him to grab the last hole leaving the score 2up with the afternoon round to come.
The first 2 holes were shared, then Simon Curle converted a cracking birdie on the 3rd hole to move 3up, with Matt missing crucial putts at the 4th and 5th and bogeying the 6th from the middle of the fairway, you could sense that the momentum was with Simon Curle at 3up.
However, Matt rallied and as he birdied the 7th and won the 9th hole, with both players making a horlicks of the 10th Matt’s 2 superb blows down the 11th gave him a great chance to get the match within touching distance, but Matt’s clumsy chip handed Simon a get out of jail and he calmly knocked in his 6 foot putt dead centre for the half.
With Simon playing an outstanding pitch to 12 inches on the 12th Matt was now 3 down with much to do, especially as Simon had ripped his next shot into the 13th green that glanced the cup finishing 8 feet away, looking odds on for 4up, but Matt dug deep holing a 20 foot putt for a half.
Simon Curle hit another great iron into the 14th only to see it roll off the back of the green, with Matt missing the green left both faced near impossible up and down’s, so when Matt’s chip hit the centre of the flag and dropped the crowd erupted as he’d grabbed a vital hole back.
With Simon’s second shot at the 15th safely on the front of the green, Matt was chasing a win and his wedge did not disappoint as he knocked it too 8 feet, but as was the storey of his day he could not convert the putt and with holes running out Simon was moving in on his 6th title.
Looking very calm Simon Curle closed out a superb day’s work as he hit 2 perfect shots down the 16th leaving his birdie putt hanging over the lip and with it the much deserved 2009 Club Championship Title.
