Littman narrowly wins Spring Valley Woodlands Cup

 

Congratulations to Laurie Littman (L), winner of the Spring Valley Woodlands Cup, narrowly taking the title from Blake Sorensen (R). Both played very well today and a testament to their game that it took the 20th hole with a birdie to finish the match. Well done Laurie!

The following detailed description of the match was kindly provided by Geoff Arthur. Thanks Geoff! (and very extensive details too!)

 

Match between Laurie and Blake

 

Laurie won the coin toss & struck the first blow with a drive just landing into the short rough on the left of the fairway.

Blake’s drive was further forward & it was Laurie to play first.  A tentative shot by Laurie left him about 80 metres out & when Blake played he pulled his second shot into the bunker.

Laurie played a steady shot into the green to 5 metres.

Blake played a great shot from the bunker and was able to keep the ball on the green.

Both players two putted & the hole was halved.

On the second, Laurie drove towards the bunker line and ended up past the bunker but blocked by the trees. 

Blake struck an awesome drive leaving him only a lob wedge in. Laurie could only punch out & could not get it close enough to put pressure on Blake who two putted for par and went one up.

On three, Blake hit left of the green & Laurie was able to knock a nice shot into the middle of the green.  Blake’s chip came up short & Laurie hit a firm putt into the middle of the hole for birdie.

The match was back to square.

Laurie had a shot from Blake on 4 and played conservatively.  Both golfers hit good drives and Blake struck his second shot solidly but flew the left bunker leaving him with a difficult chip.

Laurie was short of the green for two but played a good chip & was able to win the hole going to one up.

On five, Laurie struck a solid shot onto the green.  Blake’s tee shot flew the left bunker and ended up with a difficult lie in the thick rough.  He blasted the ball out but flew the green and ended up with a chip back onto the green for three.  Laurie two putted & he went to the sixth tee two up.

The sixth was halved in fives.  On to the seventh.

Two good drives on seven but Laurie pulled his second shot left of the fairway just past the bunker.

Blake in good position, and hitting into a strong northerly, pulled his shot into the trees on the left.  A provisional ball also suffered the same fate and after trying to find the ball, the hole was conceded to Laurie.  Laurie was now three up.

Eight was halved.

On nine, Laurie struck his drive left into the rough just near the fairway bunker and Blake ripped a drive 50 metres past the fairway bunker. 

Laurie punched out but Blake was on for two and made four.

Laurie now two up.

 

On ten both players made good threes. Hole halved.

On eleven Blake hit a great drive over the left bunker & Laurie’s drive found the far right bunker.  Laurie played a good shot short of the green however was not able to get up & down & Blake two putted for a win.

Both players hit good drives on twelve, with Blake a considerable distance ahead of Laurie.  Laurie hit a solid wood left of the fairway but no trouble leaving him 100 metres.

It was obvious that Blake was going to attempt to smack one onto the green but unfortunately blocked it right into the water.

 Laurie played his third safely onto the middle of the green.  Blake now playing four adjacent to the water hit a superb chip which hit the pin & almost went in but finished gimme distance away.

All Laurie needed to do was two putt which he did and he was back to two up.

Thirteen was halved in fours.  Great shots by both players.

Laurie had the honour on fourteen and hit a fine wood just off the back of the green.  Blake played an excellent shot onto the front of the green and was to putt first.

Blake left his first putt quite short which in theory gave Laurie the advantage, however when Laurie’s putt went three metres past the pin, the match was starting to tighten up.

Blake holed his putt for 3, over to you Laurie.  Laurie’s putt didn’t break as expected and the match was now back to Laurie one up heading to the fifteenth tee.

Both players hit solid drives.  Laurie played first and left himself 35 metres out.  Blake went left into the semi-rough.

It was a sucker pin, middle left & Laurie hit a lovely chip to two metres.  Blake also played a nice chip from the rough.

Both players had two putts, and we were now off to sixteen with Laurie just with his head in front, one up.

Blake had the honour & pushed his drive right but way down past the bunkers on the tree line.  Laurie hit a nice drive left of the bunker.

With a strong wind behind, Laurie hit a medium range iron which found its way into the right greenside bunker.

Blake punched out from under the trees then hit a lovely approach shot into the centre of the green.

Laurie didn’t have a great lie & the ball came out skinny flying the green, back on for four but Blake holed a great putt for four so the match was square heading to seventeen.

Two good drives.  Laurie played first and hit a solid wood which finished just on the right rough short of the bunker.

Blake’s shot found the fairway bunker & when Laurie played his third on the front edge of the green it was advantage Laurie.

Blake’s third shot came up short leaving him a difficult chip.

Laurie two putted from a considerable distance & Blake was unable to hole a putt for the half.

Laurie now one up hit his drive & found the furthest right bunker.  Very average lie.

Blake hit a nice drive down the centre.  Laurie could only blast a wedge out twenty metres and his third shot came up short.

Blake played a great shot onto the green for two.

 

Match getting very interesting.

Laurie played an excellent chip and finished on the green three metres from the pin.

Over to Blake now.

A ten metre downhill putt just failed to take off finishing two metres from the hole.

Laurie lined up and holed his putt for five.

Over to Blake.  Blake struck a good putt and it just held its line to hit the bottom of the cup.

A great four.  Match square now.

 

The nineteenth hole beckons.

Blake with the honour, smashed a drive down the left of the fairway.  Laurie’s drive had a fade and went right towards the trees.

Laurie punched his second shot out leaving him 100 metres out from the pin.

Blake hit a solid second finding the back of the green.  Laurie under pressure, struck a nice iron to the centre of the green.

Blake to putt first, a tricky downhill putt which broke considerably leaving him just over a metre for par.

Laurie five metres away, struck the putt and it went in for four.

All of a sudden Blake’s putt seemed a bit longer, but he was up to the task & made it comfortably.

 

On to hole twenty.

Blake hit a great drive, flying the bunkers with ease.  Laurie’s drive was also excellent and was on the fairway but a considerable distance from Blake.

Laurie pulled out the wedge & after a few practice swings hit a beautiful shot to a metre.

Blake then played and hit the front of the green but rolled back into the swale.

Blake putted up the rise but left it four metres short, however he gritted his teeth and knocked it in for four.

Over to Laurie.

Laurie performed his usual aim-point & with a smooth stroke the ball went in for three. 

 

Match over with Laurie winning one up.

A great match played in fantastic Spring Valley spirit.

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