TIMBOON captain Alistair Gillin says overcoming Port Fairy’s depth will be its biggest test in the Corangamite District Golf Association grand final on Sunday.
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Gillin said he expected the division one decider — the final CDGA one in its current format before a restructure next season — to go down to the wire at Camperdown.
“Port Fairy won 4/3. Two matches went to the 19th and we won one and they won one,” he said.
“It was very close. It’s going to be tough because on handicap they have a very strong top five or six so we are going to have to play really well to match them.
“But we did really well in the early rounds.”
Gillin said he was unsure who would line up on who in the decider.
Pennant golf pits the teams’ seven players against one another based on captain’s rankings from one to seven on the day.
“I played Chris Dunn at number one earlier this year and had a win this time but the previous time he got on top of me,” Gillin said.
“But there are no guarantees what position you’ll play. With the Port Fairy side any of their first four or five could play in any order.
“It’s good we have made the final and we are happy we’ve done that.”
Gillin, his brother Justin Gillin and Matt Anson played at Camperdown’s par 72 course on Monday in preparation for the grand final.
“Three of us went to Camperdown to have a hit and see what the course was like but the rest of them are doing what they have to do to keep themselves in check,” he said.
“It was in good nick and the rain we had will freshen it up a bit.”
Port Fairy captain Troy Richardson said Timboon was always a tough opponent.
“They have been pretty consistent all year,” he said.
“The last time we played them we won 4/3; there was not much between us, a flip of the coin.
“It’s going to be close. Chris Dunn is keen to take Al on.
“In round one it was our bloke’s first loss in three years so he is keen to take him on and get revenge.”
Port Fairy will be without promising golfer Xavier McCartney.
McCartney broke his leg playing football last month.
Steven Uebergang will come into the Port Fairy line-up.
“He played the first two rounds in division one and went back to division two and Xavier was back from Darwin so he came in but then he broke his leg,” Richardson said.
Shane Gurnett, Scott Boschen, Nelson Williams and Craig Bramley will join Richardson, Dunn and Uebergang in the Port Fairy line-up.
