Sport
18 November, 2024
Atherton swings for glory
Atherton Golf Club recently claimed victory over Gordonvale in a tournament that came down to an intense three-hole playoff.
Played in “perfect conditions” at the Mareeba Golf Club, the Far North Queensland B Grade pennant season ended in a tense grand final between the Atherton and Gordonvale Golf Clubs.
The Atherton team was superbly led by their captain Hadyn “Hollywood” Flynn who got the team off to a strong start, winning his match 3 and 2, while youngster Robert Close also closed out his match 3 and 2 against wily Gordonvale veteran Chook Hendrie.
The locals didn’t have it all their way though, with Gordonvale fighting back to win the next two matches.
It all swung on the final match as Atherton young gun Mason Blaney took on Gordonvale star Ben Groves.
After some back-and-forth competition, the pair were tied after 18 holes and were forced to play three extra holes.
With a large gallery following and a trophy on the line, Blaney was able to hold his nerve and sink a putt to hand Atheron the win.
“This was a win for all the Tablelands to enjoy. To take on the bigger coastal clubs and grind out a tough win is a real credit to the Atherton Golf Club,” Flynn said.
“These shields are very tough to win, but this one is very special. We just had the right mixture of youth and experience.
“The Grand Final was played in great spirit, and on behalf of Atherton I would like to thank Gordonvale for their sportsmanship,” he said.
