Lochend Ladies Championship 2005
Saturday
13th August
Anticipation was high as the top two players went head to head
in today's final. Eileen Gillespie, reigning Champion, going for three-in-a-row
titles, taking on Linda Bain, already a three time's winner (only Evelyn McCowan
has won more than three titles).
Eileen dominated the early stages of this
match as Linda couldn't quite hit top form to start with, wayward drives and miscaluated
irons were not indicative of the golf Linda has been playing recently, she didn't
appear to be swinging as comfortably as normal. Thankfully Linda did sink a couple
of excellent saving putts during this tough spell, had she not then the score
might have been even worse than three down after seven holes. To be fair Eileen
was driving huge (as she continued to do all day) and at this point could afford
to be conservative with her approach shots. However, at the 8th hole there was
the first indication that there was a match on. Eileen, three-up and cruising,
unleashed one of her huge drives over the ridge and middle of the fairway, then
for the first time in the match Linda hit a sweet drive which ended up side by
side with that of the Champion's. Although the hole was eventually halved, it
proved to be just the inspiration that Linda was so badly looking for, as she
went on with renewed confidence, swinging more freely and accurately to turn the
match round, winning the next three holes to get back to all square after the
11th. By now it was game on and to watch this match unfold, when both players
are on song was fascinating, after Eileen won the 12th it was stroke for stroke
being matched as hole after hole was halved, Eileen had a real moment of good
fortune at the 14th when she had a flyer out the rough which looked like it was
gonna miss the green completely, then it smacked into the flag and dropped down
to thee feet from the hole for another saving half, its those little things that
make a huge difference in such a match that by now was on a knife edge, and more
was to follow....with holes still being halved for Eileen to keep the slender
one-up lead, Linda appeared odds on to take the 17th hole when Eileen scrambled
a superb up-and down to half the hole and keep the lead going down the 18th. And
it proved to be decisive as Eileen closed out the match for her third Championship
in a row and another chance at the Champion Of Champion's next year.
In
the Bronze Championship Final Violet Paterson staged another one of those remarkable
comebacks to take the title.
Joan appeared to be cruising at three up with
three to play but Violet who lost in the final last year, kept her head and went
for broke. Joan had her chances but appeared to lose control at the vital moment
as Violet remained steady and took the match at the first extra hole. Another
exciting finale to the championship week.
Wednesday 10th August
The
big guns powered their way into the Championship Final tonight, and how.
Eileen
Gillespie and Linda Bain who between them have won the last three championships,
both showed some clinical finishing to see off the challenges from Pat Meikle
and Jaci Moriarty who both fell short of the excellent form they have both enjoyed
recently.
The final is really too close to call. Eileen and Linda both secured
their places in the final with emphatic wins, both appear to be playing at the
top of their game, there's nothing to chose between their qualifying scores so
if they both play to potential it'll be a real cracker. Championship
Draw in full
Likewise, the Bronze section is also dominated
by two players, as Violet Paterson and Joan Gray will play in Saturday's final,
having both had convincing wins tonight against Margaret Richards and Thelma Dey
respectively. Bronze Championship Draw in
full
Two mouthwatering finals, miss it at your peril, see you all
on Saturday.
Monday 8th August
Only one quarter final match
tonight as Kath Leith had to pull out due to injury after being struck on the
head by a golf ball at Gullane last week.. Thankfully she is recovering well and
should be back playing soon. As a result Jaci Moriarty moves into the semi final
to play Linda Bain.
And so to tonight's match-up, the annual Pat Meikle
v Coleen Derighetti fixture and in terms of good golf this was definitely one
of our best yet.
Suffering no after effects from the Aberfeldy weekend both
players raised their game on the night and both played better than their handicaps,
but it was Pat who had the edge in an outward half full of excellent shot-making
and low scoring, epitomized by the 6th hole when both players hit the green about
10 feet either side of the pin, Coleen narrowly missed the putt and Pat bagged
her putt for a two. Also the 9th when Pat carded an excellent four to be 3 up
at the turn. However, by the time Coleen nailed a putt for a three at the 15th
it was back to one up for Pat and game on again.
Pat's incredible slam-dunk
of putt from distance at the 16th kept her one up as did a superb up and down
at the 17th from over the greenside bunker on right (while Coleen had been sitting
pretty on the green and could only two putt for the half). Then on the 18th, a
poor drive from Coleen followed by a straight-up-the-middle drive from Pat it
looked like game over. However by the time we were on the green (both about 7
feet away) in three, the outcome was still not a certainty, Pat's putt was just
short and gimmed but Coleen's attempt just slipped by for Pat to take the one-up
victory in a very close and highly enjoyable match.
I cannot be disappointed
at having played one of my best ever games, having four three's on the card is
something I've never done before so I did give it my best shot in taking the match
to the final putt on the final green. I just came up against Pat who, on the night,
also played out of her skin but holed important putts and made up and down saves
at just the right times. Pat also gave a generous gimme for a half at the 14th,
which, in the middle of such a close and competitive match, was a very sporting
gesture. The match was such that most holes had to be won (and quite often with
pars and birdies).
If Pat can recreate this form on Wednesday night then Reigning
Champ Eileen Gillespie might be given a tough test. Championship
Draw in full
Two Bronze Championship quarter final ties were played
tonight, Thelma Dey beat Patsy Miller 3 & 1 and the Margaret Richards/Nicola
Moriarty tie also finished at the 17th when Margaret sunk the important putt for
a 2 & 1 victory. Bronze Championship Draw
in full
Please note Wednesday's ties are due off as follows (17:31) Eileen
Gillespie V Pat Meikle (17:38) Linda Bain V Jaci Moriarty (17:45) Joan Gray V
Thelma Dey (17:52) Violet Paterson V Margaret Richards. Hope to see you all there.