Seacoast Christian GC , October 11, 2019
The Field – Twin Oaks GC, San Marcos CA
Today’s event is our Semi Finals – Top 4 Match Play event. Those players who won their quarter final’s match play event move on into today’s Semi Final 2019 Seacoast Championship Cup event. Players who don’t qualify for the Semi Finals Championship Bracket will still be able to compete in our post season play and compete in the “PLAYERS CUP” division.
Our current 2018 winner is
-Paul Deveau –
– 2018 Seacoast Cup Champion –
Here’e the line up of matches for Friday –
NOTE:
Today’s round allows players in the Championship Bracket to earn 750 points for a win and a ticket into the Championship Finals. All “Player’s Cup” matches are worth 400 points. “Tie Matches” will split the points (200 pts. each).
Now to the action:
Players came out early to Twin Oaks GC to warm up in the “cold” 50 degree morning sunrise . Unfortunately, those who came at the brink of dawn with only faint light , without the warm sun rays, players could’t feel their swings, but at least were able to see the ball fly off their clubs. The pressure and nervousness of “Championship Match Play” was in the air as our 4 finalist were about to showcase their games against their opponents.
Match 1 Mulligan vs. T. Abrell is the headline match as we have 2 higher handicap players who have played their best to continue on in the playoffs. Both players have played well in our post playoff season, and have taken advantage of openings during the playoffs to dispose of some of our favored playoff players from year’s pasts. Both are fairly new to our Seacoast Playoff post season play and are newbies to the championship semi-finals.
Match 2 Clinite vs. Thistle consists of two players who are very familiar with the playoff season. Ted Clinite has been a past champion (2015) and Rik Thistle has made it deep into the playoffs many times over the years. Both players are mentally tough in match play and have a good handle on their short game skills. It will come to who will find their momentum and keep any golf miscues to a minimum in their quest to make it to the Final Championship round.
Here are today’s match ups.
A fun day on the course today as the players gathered in the grill room to discuss today’s play. Players were quite outspoken as to the difficulty in getting a feel for the greens. Several players showcased their “A” games again, while others admitted they didn’t know they could have a “D” game in their swing. In the end, players all had a great time as the competition continues to heat up. Only 2 players now stand to move on into the Championship Finals. See details below.
Post season play involves points earned solely from LOW GROSS and LOW NET play as well of WINS or TIES in Match Play. Also our normal “NET SKINS” scoring is not available for post season play.
Below are the MATCH PLAY score cards. Winners earn 750 points.
Both players played well today, but in the end, Tom Abrell missed a few crucial putts to allow Richard Mulligan to get a lead. The match was tight all the way until the 13th hole when Tom scored a double bogey to give Richard a 2 Up lead. Richard also showcased his short game skills on numerous occasions to execute the necessary “up and down” shot to saving a par and to a few times to avoided the “blow up’ holes on his score card. By the time 9 holes were complete, the match remained close. But on hole #12, Abrell found the greenside bunker and couldn’t get up and down to save par. Then on the following hole 13, Tom again found difficulty matching shots with Mulligan, giving up the hole to allow Mulligan to get a 2 Up lead. The momentum was all in Mulligan’s favor and it was up to him to keep it that way. Tom tried his best to make a last push of effort to score well to win a hole, but Mulligan kept his cool and was able to hold on and by the time they finished hole #16 the match was over. In fact, as the official scoring was being tallied at the end, it was determined that Mulligan shot one of his best rounds of his life today as he posted a low gross 84 / net 62 which kept his post season playoff record alive and catapulted him into the winner circle today.
Final Score in the match was Mulligan def. Abrell 4 and 2.
This match actually was played one week earlier. Rik Thistle was able to petition the tournament committee to see if he could work out an agreement with his semi final opponent, Ted Clinite, and see if he could play on an alternate date. It turned out that Rik had a previous trip planned from one year ago to take his wife to Italy. Having to tell his wife that he needed to play a golf match, versus taking her on the planned Italian adventure was not what he wanted to do. The tournament committee, along with Ted, was accommodating to Rik’s request, and so the two of them met up and played their Semi Finals match at The Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort GC on Friday, October 5. Both players were eager and ready to go. But it was Rik who played composed from the beginning, allowing Ted to make some crucial miscues in his game. By the time 9 holes were complete, Rik maintained a 1Up lead. But soon at the 10th hole, Ted proved his toughness and was able to ALL Square the match. Seeing that Ted was not going to fold in any way, Rik took matters into his own hand and “birdied” the 11th hole par 3. But this short lived lead only got balanced out on hole #12 when Rik failed to play well and his triple bogey gave Ted the win to TIE the match once again. The match now took a new turn as the pressure of the back nine presented itself. Ted opened up the gates to Rik on #14 as a triple bogey on Ted’s score card gave Rik the win and a 1 Up lead. Heading into the next few holes this lead gave Rik a glimmer of hope for the match. With the tough 15th hole, Rik pulled his drive to find the fairway bunker leaving him 178 yards from the hole. He amazingly swung his utility club and perfectly executed a difficult shot to find himself putting for a 25 foot birdie opportunity. Ted was not as fortunate but was able to chip up but left a difficult 4th shot to save par. Rik kept his composure and safely two putted to seal his par (net birdie with his stroke) to Win the hole and take a 2 UP lead in the match. With each remaining hole, Rik was able to navigate and score well to match Ted’s desparation efforts to Tie the match. Ted needed a birdie to win the next hole #16, but Rik methodically played from tee to green without any miscues. Ted’s hard efforts to generate a birdie just didn’t happen and his par kept him 2 down in the match. Ted knew he had to score a birdie to turn things around, but Rik dug deep and held on with scoring pars to keep the match at 2 Up and closed out the win on #17. Both players congratulated each other.
Final score: Thistle def. Clinite 2 and 1
CONGRATULATIONS to our finalist who have survived 3 rounds of match play. You’re now ONE step close to holding the coveted Championship Trophy Cup. 
NEXT EVENT
The next competition is Friday, October 25, 2019. Our tour stop will be at the beautiful and competitive course at The Crossings at Carlsbad GC. Players who did not make it into the Championship Finals can still enjoy post season competition for the “PLAYERS Cup” division.
NOTE: The tournament committee has projected that the “Player’s Cup” champion can be anyone who is within the TOP 12 of the Player’s Bracket. It will be determined by total points earned. The next event can boost any player up to a possible 1200 points. With that any player in striking distance of our Player’s Cup leaders can become the Player’s Cup Champion. So get your spot in our next event and be ready to play your “A” game !!
