J D Leech Memorial Trophy Final Decided
Published on 7th September 2018 in Guests News
Congratulations to Eman Chan on his impressive win today in the J D Leech Memorial Trophy. Eman played extremely well throughout the prestigious event and was able to carry that form into the final in which he defeated 2017 Club Champion Craig Dyer 6/5.
J D Leech 2019 handicap match play final- Match report Damian Willcox
The J D Leech Competition is a handicap individual match play contest between 32 qualifiers after two rounds of stroke play. It is named after our founding Captain Jack Leech.
It is a very good effort to reach the finals and this year Craig Dyer and Eman Chan played off in the final over 18 holes on September 1, 2018.
Craig off 1 had to give Eman off 10, 9 shots but had beaten players off higher handicaps in the match play rounds.
Both players got good drives away on the 1st hole and had good approaches. However, Craig’s approach came off the front edge and his chip to 3 ft still wasn’t close enough to ensure his par. Eman’s regulation par gave him a win on the 1st.
The second hole saw both players score bogeys but with a shot Eman went 2 up.
On the 3rd Eman got a par from granny’s corner while Craig got a regulation par.
Eman was using an iron off the tee on most holes but wasn’t far behind Craig’s drives.
On the 4th hole Craig got a good up and down out of the left trap however with a shot Eman ‘s regulation par was good enough to secure another hole.
The 5th hole was halved in bogeys after Craig missed another short putt. Eman was solid with his putts after pitching from the ladies 6th tee.
The 6th hole saw Eman in the trees left and came out on the fairway whilst Craig came out of the left rough to be just short. Eman got on the green for 3 but Craig putted in for birdie from the fringe to win a hole back. Eman 2 up
The 7th was halved in regulation 5s. Eman still 2 up
The 8th saw Eman again with an iron off the tee was on for 2. Craig was a bit left with his drive and his approach went left off the back. Craig got up and down with a good chip and putt but Eman with a stroke won to go 3 up.
The 9th had Eman flirting with the trees and bunker of the tee but got through to be in front of the fairway bunker. Meanwhile Craig had gone too far left and was hard up against a tree. Eman closed it out with a regulation par to go 4 up at the turn.
On the 10th hole Eman hit a low shot and went through the green and Craig was on 20 ft from the pin. Eman’s chip and 2 putt with a shot was enough to match Craig’s par.
On the 11th hole Craig clipped the trees left and had to recover from the top of the left hill next to the bunkers. He went in the left trap. Eman was wide and on the 18th fairway and came back into the right greenside trap. He took two shots in the bunker and got it to 5 ft. Craig came out of the bunker with the ball below his feet and rolled off the green at the front. It was halved in 5s. Eman still 4 up.
Craig was running out of holes.
On 12 Craig was hard right and in a bunker on the 17th fairway whilst Eman was in the right rough. Eman got on the regulation but Craig came up short of the right trap. His pitch was to 8 ft but could not match Eman’s regulation par. Eman 5 up.
On the 13th Eman used a driver one of the few times off the tee and did a huge slice down the fairway to within 80m of the green. Craig was too straight and went through the fairway. His approach caught the left trap. Craig came out a bit hot and slightly through the green. Craig got up and down for a 5 but Eman’s regulation 4 nett 3 was enough to win the match 6 and 5.