Fourball Better Ball shield final takes place at Lisburn Golf Club

The final of Lisburn Golf Club’s Fourball Better Ball Shield was played on 13th October in lovely autumn weather conditions. The players contesting the final were Derek Suffern (4) and Richard Wilson (16) playing in their first club final against Stephen Stewart (10) and Gavin Hawkins (13), previous winners of the Winter League matchplay in 2011.

Stephen Stewart, Gavin Hawkins, Derek Suffern and Richard Wilson.

The first two holes were halved in par. Gavin won the third hole with his shot giving him a net birdie. However, a four was not good enough for the Stewart/Hawkins pair at the fifth when Richard levelled the match with a birdie three (net eagle). The Suffern/Wilson partnership then slipped up at the 7th and 9th to be 2 down at the turn.

Big hitting Derek had to give strokes to both of his opponents at holes 10 and 11 proving difficult and his team left the 11th green, three down. Derek’s long game won him the 12th with a birdie 4 to reduce the deficit to two. Unfortunately his partner Richard missed an opportunity of reducing the deficit further with his shot at the 14th hole (index 9). The next 2 holes were halved leaving Stephen and Gavin 2 up with two to play. Stephen’s chip to less than one foot from the 17th hole gave him a 5, net 4, and a half at the hole to win the match 2 and 1.