Paul is the new champion at Falmouth Golf Club (From Falmouth Packet)

Paul is the new champion at Falmouth Golf Club

10:20am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Sport By By Gabrielle Fagan

Last weekend was finals’ day at Falmouth, with all the knockout competitions, that have been running throughout the summer, coming to their conclusions. 

Most of the finals were played on the Saturday, with the 36-hole scratch final being scheduled for the Sunday. 

Saturday was kind to the competitors and although there was a strong breeze all day, it stayed dry, whereas Sunday was a completely different matter. 

Saturday was a long day for Micky Doust, who having won the Medal Match Play final in the morning against Peter Gaylard, was required to re-focus for his afternoon final in the Devenish, which was against finals’ day debutant, Paul Kneebone. 

In a very close match it was Paul who secured the title on the 17th green, by two-and-one. 

The juniors played for the Trevena Cup and it was Alex Nash who prevailed over the valiant Tom Lentern. 

The McLeod is the premier handicap knockout competition, and it was Peter Brierly who, having performed consistently well in the matchplay competitions throughout the year, defeated Dave Holland in the final on the 15th hole. 

The Spring Four-Ball was won by the pairing of Paul Huckle and Roger Weeks, who beat the pairing of Tom Hunt and Harry Perry one-up, with Paul securing a birdie on the 18th hole for the victory. 

The Battershill was won by Chris Pellow, who beat Shaun Ramsey also on the 18th green.  Robert Edwards made history by beating Andy McKnight three-and-two in the Frank Harris. 

This means that Robert has won the trophy for the last three years running, if it was the World Cup he would get to keep it.  The Daily Mail foursomes was won by the Martin twins, Gary and Paul, who won a hard-earned victory over Angus McArthur and Robert Tongue.

The main event was the scratch matchplay final, which is played over 36-holes for the title of Club Champion and took place on the Sunday. 
In the words of Dinah Washington, ‘What a difference a day makes,’ with heavy rain showers turning up and Saturday's stiff breeze being replaced by the remnants of hurricane Nadine. 

The final was contested between Simon Hirst and Paul Collins, it was certainly a war of attrition and ended up being amazingly close throughout.  The morning round was hard fought and with Paul one-up, Simon won the 17th and 18th holes to go into the lunch break with a one-hole lead. 

The weather only got worse in the afternoon and with the two of them being the only one’s mad enough to be out, the contest continued.  Paul managed to pull the hole back and after halving 10 and 11, they headed out onto the headland to brave the elements. 

There was no respite for them, as the rain continued, the wind got stronger and the fog began to come in. 

It was still nip and tuck and they couldn't be separated until the 36th hole, where Paul hit a magnificent drive, followed by a solid second to the front of the green. A chip to six feet and then a nerveless putt followed, for a great birdie in the conditions and victory by one-up.

Paul has had a good year and missed out on a couple of victories by a shot here and there and is undoubtedly well deserving of the title.