Encourage Shield 2025
Round 2 at Antill Park

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The Leonay Encourage Shield team travelled to Antill Park on Sunday to play Round two of the shield. It was always going to be a difficult assignment playing Antill Park, who had won their Round 1 game 6/0 on their home course, which none of our team had ever played. The shield was played in very warm conditions on a course that was very dry with lots of run. The greens were very dry and fast with lots of slope. Water comes into play on many holes, especially on the front 9, where many of our players found the water. This was mostly due to not having played the course before.

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Our team again did themselves and Leonay proud with all players giving their very best.

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Leonay eventually lost 4/2 with Fletcher Birks and Jordan Baxter winning their respective matches, to remain undefeated for the season, but no doubt if the 'bounce of the ball' had gone our way the result could have been much different. A couple of examples: Harry Commins was 4 down at the turn and then won the next 3 holes to be only one down.  Harry hit a good drive down the next, but the ball could not be found.  The only explanation was that it had been taken by crows, who were very active, but as no one saw this occur, Harry had to take it as a lost ball and lost the hole, totally changing the momentum of the match.

In another example, Len Partridge's match was in the balance playing 17.  Len and his opponent hit almost identical shots slicing their shots towards the out of bounds internal roadway.  Len's ball hit a tree and bounced out of bounds.  Len's opponent hit possibly the same tree and bounced back towards the fairway.

There were other similar bad luck stories, but that is golf, especially match play.

The lads play at home next Sunday 26th October when we play Camden.  Hit off is 10.30.

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