2018 Herald Sun Classic – Semi Final Matches

Some of the best Herald Sun Matches were witnessed today! Starting off with the Senior President’s Flight Louis Herndon and Danny Bailey both won their matches 4 and 3 against Geoff Thornburn and Warren Henderson respectively. Both Herndon and Bailey are playing very well and this match will prove to be one worthy of all 18 holes!

The Second Flight now has Drew Haywood facing Cedell Alexander after Drew won his match against Kiel Blanton 2 and 1. Cedell won his match against John Naillon handily at 5 and 4.

First Flight play has stalwart Jack Tomkovick outlasting the youth of Travon Davis 5 and 4 and Jack now faces Gary Newcomb who won a great match against Barry Roberts 1 up.

In the President’s Flight there was plenty of great play. Andrew Hanna put the pressure on Brian Campbell getting him two down with three holes to play. Andrew played first on the 16th hitting his tee shot down the right side and in the rough. Brian hit a great tee shot splitting the fairway. Both players hit the green on their second shots but Andrew was behind the hole eighteen feet away. Getting a bit too aggressive on his first putt left Andrew three putting the hole giving the win to Brian. Brian, now one down proceeds to make a great birdie on the 17th while Andrew failed to get it up and down from the right green side bunker. All square heading to the 18th brought sportsmanship to the front. Brian had placed his tee shot nicely on the right center of the fairway. Andrew hooks his tee shot into the left trees presumed to be out of bounds. Andrew’s provisional ball was right center of the fairway and about ten yards in front of Brian. Andrew’s first ball was located and with a margin of two inches, was in play. He managed to take some type of a stance and chipped his ball out toward the fairway. Brian was studying his second shot and began to address his ball to play. Andrew quickly brought to the attention of Brian that he was about to play the wrong ball. Correcting the mistake, Brian played the correct ball and won the last hole to take the last three holes in a row for the victory. If he had played the wrong ball, under the USGA Rules of Golf that are governing this event, Brian would have lost the hole and the match. All because Andrew Hanna made the decision to be a gentleman and display the ultimate sportsmanship. Brian may have won the match but Andrew certainly showed what he is made of. Congratulations to both players.

In the Championship Flight, Brian Gann found himself one down to Melvin Barnes after the front nine. After the eleventh hole the match was all square. Melvin’s balky putter left him with missed opportunities and Brian won the 13th and hit a 220-yard 5 wood on the 14th to easily take two putts for a birdie and a two-up lead after Melvin three putted. Brian proceeded to miss the green to the left on 15 but hit a wonderful pitch to four feet and made his par to maintain his two-up lead. The 16th found Melvin’s tee shot down the right side and in tree trouble. He hit a great shot to about 7 feet and looked at taking the match to one down with Brian fails to convert his birdie putt first. After Brian missed, Melvin, had a chance to gain a hole on Brian and head to the 17th only one down. Once again, the putter failed him and Brian Gann found himself dormie. The stage was set for the final two holes. Brian playing first hit a beautiful tee shot just off the green pin high to the left of the hole merely 17 feet away. Melvin knew he had to hit a great shot and tried to force his play and left it out to the right finding the greenside bunker. After playing his sand shot, Melvin conceded the match. Brian Gann now moves onto the Championship Finals. When asked about his play, Brian concluded that there was a higher power with him today and he found a great calmness from that. Having his dear friend Ronnie Williams on his bag caddying didn’t hurt either. In closing this Herald Sun Update, let me tell you something, it’s easy to review this match and say, “Well isn’t that just snappy.”