Senior Teams Challenge Series

30 Jul Senior Teams Challenge Series

The Maroochy River Senior Teams Challenge team at Nudgee on 20 July, 2023.
Back row, L – R: Keith McDermott (Capt), Darryl White, David Burton, John Grimshaw, Neale Turner (Vice Capt), David Dickson.  Front: Michael Beavis, Craig Agnew.

UPDATE:

After the slight stumble during June, a win at home against Indooroopilly at the end of June set the Maroochy River team up for a major swing in fortunes during July. Only the top two teams from each Group progress to the final series, so wins were essential. Wins at home against Virginia and Royal Queensland saw the team draw level with 2nd place Nudgee heading into the final match of the home and away season.

That match was coincidentally against Nudgee at their home track on 20 July. A true do or die pressure match for both teams. The Nudgee team was far too strong though on the Qld PGA Championship layout and took out the match to progress to the final series.

The Maroochy River team finished 3rd out of the seven (7) teams in Group One; the club’s best result to date in what is proving to be a very competitive series.

The final series will be contested between Redcliffe and Nudgee from Group One and Gailes and Brisbane GC from Group 2.

While a finals berth would have been a great outcome, team captain Keith McDermott was very pleased with the way the team performed over the 3 month long series. There was a very high standard of match play golf contested in a competitive environment but also in a great spirit. Well done to the squad.

The squad was also very well supported by MRGC and special thanks go to A/GM Ben Dobson, Club Captain Andy Meldrum, Professional Sean Seymore and his team along with the bar and kitchen staff. Visiting teams all left Maroochy River with a very positive impression of the Club.

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After the great start to this year’s Senior Teams Challenge series, the month of June was not overly kind to the MRGC team with losses to Nudgee, Bribie Island and Redcliffe.  However, a much need win against Indooroopilly on 29 June gets the team back on track.

While the great start reported last month gave the team a bit of a buffer, that was eroded somewhat and a strong finish to the series during July will be essential to make the semi finals.

While on paper the three losses were not great, the results were extremely close and a good break here and there could well have reversed the outcome.  Such is the world of match play; expect the unexpected.  Playing at away courses also brings the home track advantage into play.  Despite that, the MRGC team took many of the away matches to the 18^th hole, with others ending at the 17^th, so the team has certainly put up a good battle with some exceptional golf played over the series so far.

July sees home matches against Royal Queensland and Virginia with the final match of the home and away component at Nudgee on 20 July.  The top two teams from the two divisions then move onto the semi finals at the end of July.

Photo below: Shane Gesch putting at Bribie IslandPhoto below: Michael Beavis teeing off at Bribie Island