Well, this had to be one of the most tightly contested matches I've had the pleasure to enjoy here since matchplay began! Lots of credit to Stuffix for battling and matching shot for shot some good play and some not so good play by myself. Unfortunately he was not able to recover in a few more instances and in the end I would win it 2 &1. Here is the card..
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Highlights,
#1 Stuffix gets off to a rough start with the new driver and is in the 30/40 rough off the tee, I make a bird to move 1 up.
#2 Both of us leave less than desirable birdie putts from past the hole and both miss.
#3 Stuffix again in the rough (but short rough) and is able to recover nicely to 4 feet, I fly my approach 3yards right and miss the bender coming back. Stuffix takes the hole and back to AS
#4 A rare occurrence sees both players make birdie! Both putts from under 8 feet
#5 Stuffix is 10 yards long off the tee and chips back to 7 feet short, I have a 21 foot birdie putt that I miss and he makes the par. Still AS
#6 Stuffix gets a nice roll off the right mound and rolls back toward the pin to 10 feet. I get shorted with my 7Iron (yes it still happens) and missed the 30 foot birdie putt. Stuffix slides his putt just wide. Still AS
#7 Turning Point! After 2 good drives with a 5mph wind @ 2pm ish. Stuffix hits his 2nd shot which looks to be good to hold the green but just slides off the back. Then I step up with the new 3W and fly it from 260 to the center of the green where it checks up pin high and 11 feet left of the hole! Wow I like this club!! I was able to convert the double breaking eagle putt to restore the 1 up lead.
#8 Stuffix runs into trouble off the tee and is in the sand right of the green, after the pitch ends up 18 feet short the hole is conceded.
#9 My approach sticks 3 yards long from 164 yards, then Stuffix nearly rattles the pin with his approach that rolls 10 feet long. He then drops the bending birdie! Cuts the lead to 1up after I miss a very similar 9.6 foot bird.
#10 thru #13 are uneventful as we matched each other par, bird, par bird.
#14 Turning Point! Stuffix hits an awesome tee shot to about a foot almost holing out, and I hit it long and missed the 21 foot putt back for bird..... Back to AS!
#15 And another Turning Point... Stuffix pulls his tee shot way left into the 40/50 rough 170 yards out pretty much eliminating any chance for birdie. Then I hit my approach 7 yards short (yes that damn 7 Iron again.... you'd think I'd learn that by now)... After Stuffix knocks his third shot close I was able to drain the subtle triple breaking putt to go back up 1.
#16 Stuffix hits his 80 yard approach 3 yards short, and I stick my 76 yard approach 1 yard long. An unfortunate miss from 8 feet would see me take a 2 up lead.
#17 My tee shot is just a bit short hitting the mound and rolling off to the right 4 yards short, not great, but could be worse... Stuffix hits his 4 yards short as well but leaves himself a much better line. I was able to read the 13 foot bender off the side of the mound to win the match 2up and Stuffix was able to birdie the hole as well.
Thanks to Stuffix for the very entertaining round and I wish you some better luck in the next event.
Lee