After a long drive to Aboyne Golf Club all players were well in need of some early
morning sustenance which was duly provided in the shape of the welcoming baps
of the cook. Keen to put a point on the board Team North paired their top two
players Mutch and Watt. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when Team South
announced their pairings for morning once again teaming up the seemingly unbeatable
Booth and Donald and the no less formidable McGregor and Gibson. Amid audible
groans and hushed mutterings from Watt which lip-readers interpreted to be “Booth,
every fu*king round, Booth” play commenced.
Things appeared to be on the up for Team North as a fine par from Watt allowed
for the first “N1” to be recorded on the card. The joy was to be short-lived
however as a clearly riled Donald and Booth rattled three straight pars of their
own to move to 2 up. Two more holes went the way of the Southerners before a fine
birdie 2 from Mutch left the score at the turn three up for Team South. Despite
the best efforts of Watt carding four straight pars after the turn Team South’s
“dream team” stepped up through the gears and moved to dormie 4 after
hole 14. Victory was confirmed by a margin of 4&3 at the next hole despite
pars from both Mutch and Watt.
Pictures from Aboyne, click to enlarge.
Further back a titanic tussle was developing as Grant and MacLachlan combined
well to win the second after losing the first. There followed a remarkable run
of nine straight halved holes despite numerous chances for Team North to move
into the lead, most notably at the 11th as both players missed very makeable
par putts. It proved costly as the deadlock was finally broken at the next after
MacLachlan’s promising tee shot took a wicked bounce to end in the greenside
bunker. Much angry hacking followed to leave Gibson the chance to wrap up the
hole with a fine par. Team North were rattled with two poor tee shots left both
struggling to card eights and once again Gibson pounced to seal a 2 hole lead.
Looking to bounce back immediately MacLachlan looked to capitalise on two wayward
tee shots from Team South to plant his in the middle of the green on the 14th.
With Gibson struggling McGregor stepped up with an excellent pitch onto the
green followed by a lengthy putt for an unlikely par to half the hole. Team
North were clearly rattled and swiftly lost the next two holes to lose 4&2
win leaving Team South 6-0 ahead and needing only a half point to retain the
trophy.
Booth and Donald 4&3 win over Mutch and Watt
McGregor and Gibson 4&2 win over MacLachlan and Grant
After a quick break for soup and stale sandwiches the players returned to the
fray for the highly anticipated scramble. Mutterings on the tee between Team
North members surrounded the growing concern of a whitewash with the seemingly
unstoppable Team South juggernaut careering towards a comfortable retention
of the trophy. Inspired by victory last year Team North set about Aboyne with
fresh vigour notching four birdies in the front nine thanks to some inspired
putting from Grant. Casting their eyes backwards and seeing shots peppering
the greens from Team South caused concern among the Northerners that their efforts
were going to be to no avail but some costly missed putts allowed Team North
to lead 2up at the turn with both teams posting flawless front nines. The back
nine proved a sterner test for Team North with only one birdie achieved at the
12th and their fears that would be costly were being realised as behind Team
South found the on switch for the McGregor putting machine as they reeled off
three birdies in the first five holes to square the matchplay. It was at this
point that both teams were faced with tactical dilemmas with a number of players
to register their required numbers of drives. Renowned bottler MacLachlan was
quick to whine to his teammates that he was due two drives with only four holes
to go. The 15th presented a real decision as Watt nailed a drive over the water
and squarely into the centre of the fairway about 70 yards further on from a
very solid Grant drive. Fearing a situation where there was no room for error
debate raged as to whether the better ball should be favoured over the safe
Grant drive. After some grumbling the majority decision voted to take Watt’s
drive for the better chance of a birdie, however the decision failed to come
off as the approach shots were poor and only a par was returned. This left three
holes remaining with three drives needed between Grant and MacLachlan. With
Mutch and Watt now spectators on the tee Grant stepped up to attempt to relieve
the pressure on MacLachlan before promptly sending his tee shot far far into
the treeline and out of bounds. With the look of a man who had never hit a golf
ball before MacLachlan stepped up and sliced his drive into the rough behind
the big tree on the right. Three attempts later no-one had put the ball back
into play but the cool head on Mutch’s shoulders played the sensible lay
up onto the fairway and a crisp chip from Watt allowed a single putt to save
the par. At the next the team were presented with a difficult decision once
again. This time both Grant and MacLachlan played excellent drives with either
offering a great chance to threaten the pin with the approach. Fully aware that
there would be no room for error on the long par 3 last it was a decision as
to who had the stones for the task. Grant was confident whereas MacLachlan cowered
and in a fine show of cajones Grant accepted the last hole challenge. Missed
putts followed to blow the chance of the birdie at the 17th green before Grant
stepped up on the 18th – the unpredictable driver in hand – knowing
the team’s fortunes rested on his broad shoulders. The drive whistled
away towards the green but the relief soon turned to despair as the greedy greenside
bunker swallowed the ball up. A dejected Team North trudged up to the bunker
knowing that two of them have yet to escape from a bunker in a single shot in
their entire golfing careers. Little did they know that salvation lay in the
shape of a little white line – not the type frequented by uber-skank Amy
Winehouse but a faint marking surrounding the bunker signifying ground under
repair. The ball was swiftly retrieved and dropped before a chip and putt secured
an unlikely par and a total score of five under 63.
More pictures from Aboyne, click to enlarge.
Uncertain of whether their unspectacular back nine would be enough to prevent
a second day conclusion Team North gathered on the balcony to watch the Southerners
finish off. Entirely unaware that Team South had faced a similar difficulty
with their drive allocation Team North watched as all four competitors teed
off – making the assumption that all four balls could be selected. Booth
and Donald placed their respective shots on the green and Team North assumed
the worst. The committee of Gibson and Donald sped up to the green and carefully
studied the respective putts while Booth and McGregor trudged up behind them.
Looking to all concerned that they were simply going to collect the ball of
McGregor the con was revealed when the two balls on the green were picked up
and all four players headed to the rough just shy to the right of the green.
Chips were made to the green and a testing 12 foot putt downhill was left for
par. Team North watched on as all four putts slipped by and only a bogie posted
leaving them to wonder whether they had done enough to prevent the half point
heading to Team South and with it the trophy.
The players gathered in the clubhouse and after hungrily munching on the cook’s
pie the scores and rounds were recounted to the hushed bar. Team North were delighted
to hear that chances they assumed had been made were missed to afford them a two
shot lead at the turn before the joy was shattered as the phenomenal start to
the back nine from the Southerners quickly striped them of their lead. Scores
were matched through the 15th to 17th and it became clear to all that the first
bogey to be posted in the scramble event over either year had spared Team North
and afforded them a chance of an unlikely comeback going into the weekend.
Team North 63 vs Team South 64 – Team North win by 1 hole.
The evening afforded competitors of both teams a chance to gather at Watt Manors
to partake in a drink-fuelled poker session. Not to allow any chink in their competitive
armour to be revealed Gibson and Donald cleaned up and quickly deprived the Northerners
of their hard-earned cash. Not even the site of some naked flesh in the nightly
freeviews was enough to keep MacLachlan awake and one can only wonder if he was
merrily dreaming of the kind of form which would snatch victory from the ever
widening jaws of defeat.
Day 2 Score:
After everyone else got some form of shut-eye, the coastal delight of Balnagask
was the municipal-offering for the Saturday foursomes.
Would Team North be able to extend the competition past Day
3?
