DEFENDING champion Timboon faces a daunting prospect in its bid to qualify for a second consecutive Western District Golf Association men’s division one pennant grand final.
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In a 2014 grand final rematch, Timboon meets unbeaten Port Fairy on its home course this Sunday for a spot in the title decider.
Port Fairy sits on top of the eastern division ladder entering the final round a win ahead of Warrnambool and Timboon.
Warrnambool will start a hot favourite against fourth-placed Terang but it is the clash between Port Fairy and Timboon that will be in the spotlight.
Timboon’s leader Alistair Gillin and his teammates know the equation.
“First of all we have to win,” he said.
“If we win 4-3 we will finish level with Port Fairy on both games and individual wins and then it goes back to a countback. If we win 5-2 we would go ahead of Port Fairy.”
The countback system is complicated and Gillin would prefer his players decide their fate on the course.
“I know we missed out on the final years ago on a countback. We were level with Colac,” he said.
Gillin is sweating on the availability of Horsham-based player Rod Gillin, who missed Sunday’s crucial 5-2 win over Terang.
“We won’t know until Friday if he is available,” Alistair Gillin said.
Port Fairy’s home course advantage could be critical, he said.
While he recognised his opponents knew the course better, weather conditions could help narrow the gap.
He said unfavourable conditions could help his side.
Gillin said Timboon’s 6-1 loss to Warrnambool two rounds ago could haunt his team. Had it been able to conjure another win against Warrnambool, the equation this weekend might not have been so difficult.
Timboon set up the tense final-round meeting after narrowing the gap on Port Fairy in terms of individual match wins.
While its 5-2 win over Terang looked comfortable, Gillin said three matches were tight after he and Luke Smith had early, big wins. Darren Smith was one down with four holes to play but prevailed one up, while Justin Gillin and Neil Gowland claimed two and one victories.
Port Fairy maintained its unbeaten run over the winless Camperdown 4-3. Chris Dunn, Shane Gurnett and teenager Matt Cameron had comfortable wins for Port Fairy but Steve Uebergang’s one-up result was critical.
Warrnambool all but booked a grand final spot with a 7-0 win over Peterborough. It has now won more individual matches than any side, with its only loss to Port Fairy.
