Lion in The Meadow

So, the lads re-united for a Middleton Cup tiebreaker at the home course, on a very windy September monthly medal (Ed Note: We started on the back nine this time around). North America had talked themselves into a better showing on the commute out to the course, but unfortunately for them, they picked up right where they left off – giving away the first three holes. Foltz, in particular got off to a strong start (um, ‘strong’ as in odour). And just like last time, the candyman and his putter were on their game, making some nice putts on the first 10^th, 11^th, and 13^thholes. Byrne was marginally steady and quiet, but besmirched by his new course hdcp of 18 (that makes the math easier for Matt, a good thing as he’s typically confused by your more complex numbers).

Anyway, north america didn’t totally cave (as predicted by a certain very long-hitting, five-putting kiwi) as they picked up wins on the 14^th (both foltz and christie had birdie putts mysteriously not fall – we demand a recount!) and the 15^th (where byrne drains a long putt off the green for a win – a recurring theme it turns out). A couple of swapped holes on the 16^th and 17^th along with a half on the 18^th, gives the world have a 2-hole lead at the turn. Both North Americans are, miraculously, on a triple digit pace again. Oy!

Christie and the candyman take the first two holes on the back side (sounds dirty?) to go 4-up, while Foltz mutters to himself about an early ride home and Byrne quietly asks the boys from the world team if he can import a new partner for the next match. Things look grim for an even remotely interesting finish.

However, just when all drama seems lost, NA take the 3^rd, the 4^th and halve the next three (thanks to a couple of missed shortish putts on 6 and 7 – some call it surprising, others call it sporting) to set up a semi-dramatic finish. The North Americans are now down two with two to play but get a shot on both the penultimate and finishing hole. Could a dramatic comeback to halve the match and keep the MC tied be in the works?

Round of the match: Roger shot an 87 for a net 73 on very trying conditions from the back tees. This man will not be denied his middleton prize!

Um, no. As if on cue, a spanner in the works! Ward drains a one-armed 70 footer for birdie from off the green on #8 to seal another victory for the world: 3 & 1. Honestly, it was only fitting that North America would go down on a drained putt from the candyman.

Next up: Unknown – First weekend in October if Matt is around – otherwise, after club champs and top dog? Or perhaps we’ll all flame out early in the match play and play then. Or, gulp, not qualify!

Good luck in club champs. Kate is expecting us to do the cup proud.

One Way Traffic

Well, the return of the Middleton Cup took place on the splendid grounds of Royal Auckland on a lovely, crisp, sunny and breezy day.

Unfortunately, the competition lacked the drama of the surrounds as team North America sputtered out of the gate and never achieved any sort of rhythm or form to make the match interesting. The front nine was a total rollover (and that was before The Candyman's putter got hot!).

However, this did allow us to catch up on everything that had been happening during the 2 month hiatus. The World must feel invincible (what with their new and possibly illegal -? - clubs) after such a whitewash, however North America will have a couple weeks to talk strategy and return to the familiar ground of the home club for the next match.

Some Round 4 highlights:

• Graeme's long put on the 11th for an improbable bogey that produced a half. A miss there would have given the North Americans two holes on the trot and some (probably short lived) ammunition for trash chatter.
• Roger's putter was really on fire as by the end of the match just about anything under 12 feet was conceded by North America.
• North America highlights: Um, next match?
• Final nagging note from the match: Which of Graeme's 15 clubs did he nominate as inactive again?

Next up: Round 5, September Monthly Medal at Muriwai.

Honour, Glory, & Sacrifice

Blustery and windy conditions dominated the links as the Middleton Cup resumed for round three. And the play suffered accordingly. The general theme for the group was four-putts, duffs, mishits, and the occasional moment of brilliance. Good times! Lee Westwood would have been proud.

But despite the uneven play, the match was surprisingly competitive. Due to their recently-discovered philanthropic streak, the world gifted 2 of the first 3 holes but a good showing on the 4th brought them back (great par by christie here). On the fifth, the world succumbed to the wind as our they finished a combined, ahem, nine over. Showing their resolve (and short memories!) they quickly grabbed the next two to square the match heading into the par 3 eighth. Some crafty play from, foltz (the classic driver-putter birdie hole - suggested by Byrne) saw North America back in the lead. They also took the 9th and a 2 hole lead into the back.

After swapping wins on the 10th and 11th, (solid play by Byrne in this stretch) G-mac managed a great birdie (nearly holing out for eagle from off the green) on the 12th. Not only did he contribute with his magnificent play (sadly this was a rare pick-up for Ward as he found some trouble in the gardens) -but he also found a way to added two points to his squad's total on that hole by pointing out some odd rule about holding the flag and putting that nobody had ever heard of. A somewhat dubious and un-Middleton-esque half. But the North Americans soldiered on. Surely, the golf gods would remember this bit of karma.

And they did! They made G-Mac continue putting!

Another half on the 13th (very clutch putt by Ward here to keep the World alive). But a par by Foltz on the 14th and put the Americans 3-up again.

A nice win on the 15th for the world gave them hope, but more solid play from Byrne on the 16th (not Huapai solid mind you, but then again, if we know one thing about Byrne it's that he prefers muddy conditions!) and the North Americans had secured a 2-1 test lead heading into another long hiatus.

Byrne 27

Foltz 27

G-Mac 27

Bubba 26

(all scores approximate-ish)

North America Byrnes The World

Well, the Middleton Test moved to a different venue for round two as the lads teed it up at the remote and hilly fairways of South Head. From the beginning it looked like a repeat of round one, as it was all one way traffic with the North Americans still apparently asleep at the onset (Foltz didn't score a single point on the first two holes) and the World took a quick 2 hole lead. Such was the autopilot mode that The World gave one back when G-Mac unexpectedly conjured up a four putt double bogey on the 5th hole. Still the North Americans charity would not be deterred as Byrne continually duffed and scuffled his way to 8s and the world held a 2 hole lead at the turn.

Even though Byrne started to pick his game up on the back nine, things looked bleak for the North Americans after another 3-putt double for Foltz on the 11th gave the World a 3 hole lead. With Byrne seemingly more interested in learning how to hit a draw on the fly than winning the match, it looked like capitulation mode was locked and loaded. However, almost without warning the North Americans started making a charge with wins on 12, 13, and 16. Suddenly the match was all square. Nobody is sure what transpired during these holes, but there was a lot of Lee Westwood chatter (and some ridiculous wagers involving The Open) which may have flummoxed the normally mind-mannered internationals.

Despite another short missed putt from Foltz, North America managed to win the 17th and only needed a half on the last. The pressure was too much for Christie who after a mini-adventure in the pines, could not manage to score a point. Bubba's near birdie miss wasn't enough and the North Americans managed to square the test.

The next match appears almost unwinnable for the North Americans as, on top of his usual hangover, Byrne is bound to be jet-lagged.

Stay tuned.

Match Summary:

Front Nine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Turn
North America	1	3	4	3	5	3	2	1	2
The World	3	4	3	2	3	4	3	6	2	2-up
Back Nine	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Final
North America	5	4	3	2	5	4	6	4	5	2-up
The World	5	5	2	1	5	4	4	3	3

Individual scores (sub-par efforts all around - lets do better next time gents!):

The CEO: 32

Bubba: 32

Strick: 31

G-Mac: 30
Foltz

Middleton Cup Round One

The inaugural Middleton Cup Match Play Series got underway last Saturday between North America and The World. The result was a decisive 4 & 3 victory for the World pairing.

The match was all square through the 6th hole with two wins for each team and two halves, but two consectuve wins for the World pair through 7 and 8, and a halved 9th hole, gave the England/NZ combination a 2 Up lead by the start of the second nine. The Canadian / U.S. duo fought back to 1 Down at the 10th, with their combined 5 points (Par for Matt) v The World's 2 points from Graeme's Par and Rodge's thinned lob wedge lost ball disaster!! Never mind....press on.

From that point, the World combo could not be stopped - with wins at the 11th, 13th (including 2 amazing recoveries for Birdie from Graeme - and Par for RW!) - and then the 15th - the Match was over - 4 & 3 to the World!

No doubt the North American team will come back fighting at South Head Saturday week, and know that they will need to bring their 'A' game with them to halt the 'tails-up' World confidence!

Here's a photo of the inspiration for the internationals!