Well, first I would like to say Well Done to Badaboom for keeping me on my toes for most of our match! You definitely had me worried for a good part of it! Here is the highlight package of how our match went down:
Right off AvatarLee starts off by missing an easy 11 foot bird putt on #1 giving Badaboom the early advantage after sinking an even easier putt for the bird. Bada then proceeds to play smart fairway and GIR golf as Lee finds himself in the right rough on an arrant layup. Unfortunately Bada is unable to capitalize barely missing a tough bending putt from right of the hole on #2, as Lee scrambles to save par. Hole #3 saw two routine birdies leading into one of the turning points of the match...
#4 starts out with two very similar drives and Lee hits a nice approach to within 20 feet behind the hole. Bada plays his approach well short into the front of the bunker. Unable to scramble out of the bunker on the first try, Bada ends up with a bogey as Lee rolls in a slippery birdie putt. 2 shot swing!
#5 starts out with Lee stopping a nice iron shot 6 feet short of (above) the hole and Bada ends up 26 feet past in an all too familiar place on that green. Bada then strokes an excellent putt and makes the bird! Lee ends up judging the break poorly and misses the bird. Back to all square!
#6 Saw two short approach shots, Bada to about 4 yards left and pin high and Lee was right at it but 5 yards short. Lee sinks the 16 footer for bird as Bada misses a difficult breaker and drops back to one stroke behind.
#7 Aside from both being in the rough after their approaches they were both able to make very similar subtle snakes for bird from the back of the green
#8 Both ended up short on this hole with Lee being further short and left. Two very hard putts for birdie were converted to pars.
#9 Again with very similar drives Bada hits his approach just short of the green to set up for a 9 yard chip and Lee is 40+ feet behind the hole. Bada puts out a valiant effort to tie up the match but ends just inches short of holing out! A very nice try indeed. They both go on to save par.
So the players make the turn with Bada trailing by just one stroke going into the back nine at Bethpage where anything can happen! But on #10 a short approach ends up in the bunker and Bada is unable to get up and down for par and Lee sinks one of a couple of clutch long range putts from the back fringe for a birdie to take a 3 shot lead.
#11 sees trouble for both players on the approach but Lee gets a generous bounce to direct the shot towards the pin. Bada playing from the rough between the bunker and green is able to scramble out the par as Lee 2 putts for par.
#12 sees a couple of long putts where Lee is not even close on the birdie attempt and Bada just lips out to get back in the match. On to #13 where again there were two routine birdies leading to another turning point!
#14 A sound from the gallery (a.k.a. lag) causes Lee to place his tee shot well short and right into the greenside bunker while Bada plays a beautiful shot to within 6 feet of the pin. Lee is unable to convert the sand save leading to another 2 shot swing when Bada sinks the birdie to get to within one shot going into the dreaded #15!
#15 Lee decides to gamble here and go for it in two, the shot looks really good bouncing in the rough just short of the green but squirts up and stays on the top shelf! Seeing this, Bada plays a short layup right to the end of the fairway for a very smart play. Unfortunately Bada puts a bit too much on the next shot and ends up on the top shelf as well. Both players went on to 3-putt the hole and Lee takes a 2 stroke lead with three holes left to play.
#16 Bada hits an arrant approach to the front right rough and is forced to scramble again while Lee strokes a 3w to the very front edge of the green. A good recovery sees Bada with a 8 footer for par when Lee steps up and hits another clutch 43 foot bender for birdie to drive a nail in the match. Bada ends up missing the par and the final two holes are non de-script pars.
Final Score: AvatarLee 32-34, Badaboom 33-37 but it was much closer through the match!
So that's it, sorry for being a bit long winded but I thought that this match deserved a thorough highlight as it was quite a challenge!
Bye for now and switching back to the first person....
AvatarLee