The Chisholm Links side flexed its muscle nearing the midway part of the Metropolitan Senior A pennant series with a dominant display over the B52s at the Links on Saturday.
The win catapulted the side three points clear of the Bombers and Taieri Lakes after another weekend where two fixtures could not be split, meaning a refreshing look to the top of the table.
The Bombers have struggled to hit the ground running despite having a game in hand after some rescheduled games, and could only draw with St Clair on Saturday at home.
Saints No6 Jacob Bellamy landed the first blow dominating Duncan Croudis at the tail before Balmacewen greenkeeper Tyrone Ratahi hit back immediately over Matt Crawford. Callum Judkins and Ben Patston soon added two more wins for the home side and with the final two matches heading to the 18th, St Clair needed some cool heads.
Saints No3 Tony Giles made a welcome return to form beating Brandon Hodgson 2 up to set up a grandstand finish between young guns Will Young (Bombers) and Callum White (St Clair).
With the match all square and the visitors needing a win to earn the draw, both players found the green. White then tore up the script by holing his 8m birdie putt but it was not until Young’s birdie lipped out that St Clair could celebrate a hard fought 3-3 draw — a result that has thrown the competition wide open.
At Island Park, the defending champions have yet to win a game, halving their Saddle Hill battle with Taieri Lakes.
The home side was nearly forced to make two changes 24 hours out — Mike Wray was forced out with a back injury and Moxy Smith barely passed his own fitness test before tee off.
Taieri looked odds-on to inflict a second defeat on the home side leading into the back nine. Ryan Rosevear struck first for Taieri before Chris Snow enjoyed being out of the hot seat for a change, posting an early win for the Park.
Brent Butler and Michael Minty both came home strong to earn the home side three games but Lakes No1 Ken Shaw was always in command over Moxy Smith, cementing victory on the 17th and a third draw in four games for Island Park.
At Chisholm Links, the 4-2 margin arguably flattered the visitors with the Links just needing some icing for the cake.
The margins were big although the biggest came from the visiting side. B52s No6 Andrew Hobbs was first in the clubhouse, defeating Matt Heaton on the 12th hole.
But it was mostly one-way traffic for the home side as Mike Weastell, Kyle Geary, and Phil Bungard posted big wins before Mackenzie Gibson sealed the result on the 17th.
- Michael Minty
