The weekend of the 25th and 26th of February saw 77 players contest the 71st playing of the Summer Cup in true summer conditions with temperatures on both days in the mid 30’s.
The Summer Cup was presented by Trevor Rodda’s sons and daughters. Trevor was club Captain in 1954/1955.
It was originally played over 36 holes on a Sunday and played as an Open Event which became an invitational event and then a member only event played over a weekend.
Special mention to Tony Slee who won the Summer Cup 50 years ago with the same swing as he has today.
Continuing their sponsorship of the Summer Cup was Phil Johnson Plumbing and Gas and the club sincerely appreciates Phil’s continued support. Phil himself was an accomplished golfer at State and National level and a four-time Club Champion (1991-1994) and won the Summer Cup in 2012.
ROUND ONE
Hot conditions prevailed for most of the day and only 6 players were better than Square.
Past President Tim Tan (4 Handicap) playing from the 9th tee in the afternoon played outstanding golf finishing 5 up, a round which included 3 birdies – a total Gross Score of one under par.
Tim led the way from Vince Caruso (20) and Brian Stuart (16), both on 3up.
Vince starting from the 6th in the morning certainly enjoyed holes 6/15, 7/16, 8/17 and 9 /18 where he had 5 pluses over the 8 holes.
Also playing in the morning, Brian starting from the 1st, had a steady round turning 2 up and finishing the second nine 1 up for his3 up score.
Grant Evans (7), starting from the 2nd in the morning had two nines of 1 up for his total score of 2 up and overall 4th.
Next were the 2019 champion, Jeff Lane (13) and Aidan Cooper (5) on 1 up with a further 5 players on square – Greg Parker (13), Steven Noske (8), Scott van Heurck (7), John Venner (6) and Tony Hudson (13)
So after the first round Tim Tan (4) was the man to catch on 5 up.
He also led the Gross with a score of 1 up.
The stage was set for an interesting second round with the likely winner coming from the top 11 players square or better after round one.
FINAL ROUND and OVERALL
Another hot day was not matched by hot scoring in the morning. Not one player finished better than par and only 4 players finished Square. Faster greens may have had something to do with it.
So how did the contenders fare in the morning?
Vince Caruso (20) was travelling like a winner and after 9 holes he was 2 up and overall 5 up.Then disaster struck with 5 losses in the next 6 holes, ultimately finishing the day 3 down and Square overall. He did continue his love of holes 6-9 and 15-18 where he finished 1 up.
Brian Stuart (16) fell out of contention and his back nine will not be fondly remembered.
Likewise Grant Evans (7) did not recover sufficiently from six losses in his firat 11 holes and signed for 6 down – overall 4 down.
Jeff Lane (13), starting from the 6th, did not recover from a disastrous start where he was 3 down after four holes. He stayed that way and signed for 3 down and 1 down overall.
Steve Harding (11), Chris Simpson (6), and Dylan Morgan (8) all finished Square but their first round scores would not see them high up on the final leaderboard. Never the less they can at least say they led the second round after the morning.
Edmund Hall (scr) with 3 birdies and 3 bogeys finished Square and 2 down overall so he led the Gross with 2 down. – 146 off the stick.
So after the completion of the morning round the leaderboard looked something like this-;
Vince Caruso (20) Square
Jeff Lane (13) 1 down
Edmund Hall (scr) 2 down
Callum White(1) 3 down
One would think Square would not be good enough to win but judging from the early afternoon scores it was still in with a chance. So for Vince it was sit and wait.
So let’s look at some of the contenders-;
Overnight Leader Tim Tan (4) was trying to hold off the challengers and was just holding on – 2 down after 8 holes. Six losses in the last 10 holes saw his chance of a first Summer Cup evaporate – finally finishing 8 down for the day and 3 down overall. Editors Footnote – it was the hat! Tim claimed the best first roundprize with his 5 up score.
Others on Square did not improve with Tony Hudson finishing 4 down, Scott van Heurck, and Steve Noske 5 down, and John Venner 6 down
The charming and always resplendent Haydn Robinson (18), was making a charge and was 2 up after 7 holes and 1 down overall but his charge faltered finally signing for 1 up and 2 down overall.
Joe Ricciardone (19) – 2 down after Round One amassed 6 pluses on his way to 1 up and 1 down overall.
The defending Champion, Don O’Brien (14) gave it his best shot and a 2 up second round saw him finish equal 6th but not enough to claim the previous winner’s title which went to Jeff Lane (13), 1 down and equal third.
Adam McLaren (21) claimed the best second round score with an excellent score of 3 up which included 7 pluses.
There was one man left standing, a man who finished square in the first round – none other than Greg Parker (13). Starting from the second he was two up after his first nine and had hit the lead. He held that score until the 17th but an untimely loss on his final hole, the first, left him with somewhat of a sinking feeling – final overall score 1up and leader in the clubhouse, Only time would tell his fate as he and everyone else, bar one, did not know that the overnight leader was having a nightmare. He was not using the ap.
And then the sigh of relief as he found out the final scores. Well done Greg Parker – his first Summer Cup win.
Well done also to Vince Caruso on being the runner up.
Best Gross went to Edmond Hall 2 down followed by CallumWhite on 4 down
TOP 10 – Greg Parker (1 up), Vincent Caruso (square), Haydn Robinson (1 down) Joe Ricciardone (1 down), Jeff Lane (1 down),Adam McLaren (2 down), Don O’Brien (2 down), Edmund Hall (2 down), Callum White (3 down) and Tim Tan (3 down).
Thanks once again to Phil Johnson Plumbing and Gas for continuing their support of the Summer Cup.
It has to be said that the course staff did a marvellous job and presented the greens in the best state and the fastest we have seen for some considerable time. Well done Brad and the team. Perhaps the extra pace contributed to the overall scoring over the two days.
Thnks also to Sean and his house staff, Andrew and the pro shop staff and Zamry in the kichen who all contributed to making it an enjoyable weekend for everyone.
Congratulations GREG PARKER – a deserved Champion
Editor’ s note – Believe it or not – Out of all the Parkers who have won in excess of 70 Major events, Greg becomes only the second “Parker” to win the Summer Cup, emulating the performance of his uncle Russell who won in 1958.
-from Greg Fitzhardinge
