The Winter Cup was first played in 1938 and was one of the first Perpetual Trophies played for at the club. The trophy was presented to the club by Dunkley’s Diamond House and has been played for every year (bar one) since its inception.
2022 marks the eighty third playing of the Winter Cup and was held on the weekend of the 13th and 14th August in true wintery conditions with the first day providing cold temperatures with heavy rain squalls – weather fitting for a Winter Cup.
The 36 Hole Par event attracted a field of 65 players and was sponsored by loyal supporter of the club, Andrew Fraser (Lazarus Corporate Finance) and once again we thank Andrew for his continued support of the club.
Unfortunately, Andrew could not take his place in the field so was unable to emulate hiswinning performance of 2010. Previous winners in this year’s field included Greg Parker (1980), Joe Alexander (2007), Gavin Furness (2011) and John Samuels (2018).
ROUND ONE
The 2018 Champion, John Samuels (7 H’Cap) showed the way after the completion of the morning round on Saturday. His score of 3 up was excellent given the conditions. Starting on the 7th he was 1up after completing his first nine holes. Two more pluses in the next three holes saw him 3 up with holes 1-6 still to play. An untimely loss on the first saw his momentum slowed somewhat but he regrouped with an excellent plus on the long 5th and ultimately, he signed for 3up.
Daylight was running second – Zach Nielsen (22 H’Cap) with 2 down – which given the conditions was a good score and actually saw him running 6th overall after the first day.
So, what could the afternoon players do? The weather turned for the worse mid-way through, but finally the sun broke through – all be it fleetingly!!
James Bai (17 H’cap), playing in his first Winter Cup, took a while to adapt to the miserable conditions. Starting from the 3rd hole he lost 2 out of the first 3 holes and looked in for an average afternoon. He then won 7, 8 and 9 and halves on 10 and 11 saw him turn for home 1up. After losing the next two holes he righted the ship and 3 pluses over the final 7 holes contributed to his final score of 2 up. An excellent score given his start – 2nd overall.
Michael du Pont, (11 H’Cap) started well as he did in 2021 where he was leading after the first round. It looked anything like it after the first 4 holes (6-9) as he was 2 down but then he exploded into action winning 4 of the next 5 holes and with nine holes remining he was 2 up. He stayed that way until his run was halted on the fifteenth with a loss. Over the final eight holes he survived only losing the 3rd and his score of Square was excellent in the conditions – 3rd overall.
Vice-Captain Campbell Thompson (11 H’Cap), as he did in 2021, started well and finished Square. Commencing from the first he turned square and was 1 up with 3 holes left to play. Squandered opportunities on the 16th and 18th coupled with a plus on the 17th saw him finish the day square and in 4th position overall.
On 1 down after the first round was John Sheridan (17 H’Cap) in 5th position, followed by a group of 3 players on 2 down and 10 players on 3 down.
Best Gross after round one was also John Samuels on 4 down on a countback from Riley Gott.
So, the course and conditions won the first round with only four players on square or better.
Now it was time for everyone to go home, dry out, shower, grab a bottle of red and settle in to watch the “Shockers vs the Budgies”.
ROUND TWO
Weather wise – what a difference a day makes. After the dismal first day, fine, sunny but cool conditions were welcomed by the players for round two with a light breeze all day.
Who was going to take out the 2022 Winter Cup? Would it be one of the overnight leaders or would someone come out of the chasing pack?
The overnight leader, John Samuels, started well in the morning and seemed to be cruising after his first nine holes – square (two pluses and two losses). And then disaster – losing 4 of the next 6 holes. Fighting back over the final three holes, he finished with 2 halves and a birdie on his final hole (the 6th) – 3 down for the round and square for the 36 holes. But would it be enough? Would the birdie on his final hole be the difference? Time would tell.
Unfortunately, Zach Nielsen lost his first 4 holes and played himself out of calculations.
The best of the morning field was Ken Douglas (27 H’Cap) with square and an overall two round total of 5 down, the same as Tim Song (16 H’Cap).
So, who could catch John Samuels in the afternoon?
Michael du Pont was flying after his first 7 holes and was 3up, 2up overall and looking good to make amends for last year. Similar to John Samuels he lost 3 out of the last 6 holes and signed for 1 down and 1 down overall.
James Bai’s front nine was costly – 3 down was not what he was looking for and he was now back at 1down overall with 9 holes to play. His back nine saw an improvement but his overall 4 down for the day put him out of the running – overall score 2 down.
Campbell Thompson had a day he would rather forget so it is forgotten!!!
John Sheridan was looking for his first “Season Cup”. He turned for home all square and one off the lead. He hung in and completed the day all square for an overall total of 1 down. A win rather than a half on his final hole, the 2nd, would have seen him the clubhouse leader. That was not to be and he was one behind John Samuels.
So, what was the chasing pack doing – not a lot except for Ian Macdonald (11 H’Cap) who had an excellent last day finishing 1 up and 2 down overall, tied with James Bai.
So, it looked like the irrepressible John Samuels was going to make it his second Winter Cup – that was until Simon Smith (19 H’cap) came onto the scene.
On Saturday he started from the 9th and was not looking like having a great weekend as he was 5 down after 5 holes. He was still 5 down with 3 holes to play. He finished in a blaze of glory and submitted a first-round score of 3 down leaving him in 18th position.
So then came the second round and after his first ten holes he was playing nicely and was 1 up but his overall score was still 2 down.
Then came the last 8 holes as he slipped into overdrive. The card read – win, loss, win, win, loss, win, loss, win. That gave him a final round score of 3 up and square overall – enough to beat John Samuels on a countback and be crowned the 2022 Winter Cup Champion.
So a new champion is crowned. Well done Simon Smith, on an amazing win when you look back at his first five holes on Saturday and final 8 holes on Sunday.
RESULTS
WINNER Simon Smith 3down/3up = Square
RUNNERUP John Samuels 3up/3down = Square
THIRD John Sheridan 1down/Square = 1down
FOURTH Michael du Pont Square/1down = 1down
FIFTH Ian Macdonald 3down/1up = 2 down
SIXTH Geoff Robey 3down/square = 3 down
Best first round James Bai 2up
Best second round Brett Thompson 1up
Best Gross Riley Gott 7down
The best placed former champion was John Samuels.
Finally thankyou to Andrew Fraser from Lazarus Corporate Finance for his support of this year’s Winter Cup and we also acknowledge the Course Staff, House Staff and Pro Shop Staff for the contribution they made to a successful weekend.
CONGRATULATIONS SIMON SMITH
Roving Reporter’s comment – In praising Simon Smith you have to feel for John Samuels and also for Michael du Pont who has come close in the last two years – losing on a countback last year and 4th this year.
From – Greg Fitzhardinge
