TIMBOON’S golfers are celebrating a rare double in Corangamite and District Golf Association’s division one men’s pennant competition.
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The club’s side is one of two undefeated teams in the competition after upsetting defending premier Colac four matches to three at Warrnambool on Sunday.
The victory, sealed on the 18th hole by Horsham-based Rodney Gillin with a one-up win over Colac’s Andrew Parker, had Timboon stalwart Alistair Gillin scurrying for the record books.
Timboon defeated the other 2013 grand finalist, Warrnambool, in the opening round two weeks ago.
“This is the first year I can remember Timboon having beaten both Warrnambool and Colac in the same pennant season,” Alistair Gillin said.
“When we have managed to beat one of them, we’ve been knocked off by the other.” To put Timboon’s start in perspective, Gillin has been playing pennant for the club since 1986 and never in its history has it won the division one title.
Gillin has been part of four losing grand final teams in his 28-year career, losing to Warrnambool and Colac twice.
With Warrnambool and Colac having won the competition all but twice in the past 30 years, according to Gillin, he hopes his side is poised for a good year in the five-round competition.
Timboon sits narrowly behind top side Port Fairy on the ladder after the win over Colac, which included wins to Alistair Gillin, five up with four holes to play (5&4), Neil Gowland (3&2) and Wes Hollick (2&1). Colac and Warrnambool are third and fourth with 1-1 records after two rounds.
Gillin is predicting Sunday’s third round will be critical in deciding which sides finish in the top two.
Port Fairy and Timboon clash at Terang, while powerhouses Colac and Warrnambool meet in what looms as a virtual elimination final two weeks early. “You only need to get four games each week but it’s never easy to get those four games,” Gillin said.
“If we get over the line this Sunday, we would be fairly confident we would get at least one win in the last two rounds. Four wins is usually enough to get in the final.”
In a boost for Timboon, several players have opted for golf on Sunday instead of playing football.
Port Fairy inflicted Camperdown’s second consecutive 6-1 loss, with Horsham-based member Scott Boschen recording the biggest victory 5&4.
With a settled side, Troy Richardson, Nelson Williams, Chris Dunn, Shane Gurnett and Craig Bramley all won their matches for Port Fairy, while Camperdown’s Don Skene was its only victor.
Warrnambool, without its leader Chris White, defeated Terang 6-1, to set up the crucial clash with Colac.
“It’s good to get up and going and get back in the mix,” White said.