Steve Smith Defeats The Gopher
Steve Smith defeats the Gopher
Steve Smith has delivered the Gopher's first defeat for 2010 in a thrilling putting match at Devilbend Golf Club, which ran deep into overtime!
The Gopher was unable to compete over the full 3-hole course after a disagreement with his caddy left him stranded with no-one to carry the bag, so it was decided to make the match over 3 holes on the putting green instead.
Above Pic: Gopher presents Steve Smith from Devilbend Golf Club with his $500 prize for winning the Win a Game with the Gopher Promotion. The prize included Sevens golf Merchandise plus a $320 gift voucher to spend at the Devilbend Pro Shop.
Smith, playing off a handicap of 10, was always going to be difficult to beat with a home course advantage, but the Gopher gave him the first choice of hole to putt to, with a fairly straight uphill putt of about 25 feet the first choice.
Above Pic: Gopher takes the first putt, and with the adrenaline pumping in his first match of the year, rolls the ball 8 feet past the hole. Not a good start!
Above Pics: Steve Smith takes his first putt and also rolls it by the hole, leaving himself a short putt of 2 feet to clean up, which he does confidently.
Above Pic: Gopher, staring at the possibility of going one shot down on the first hole drains an amazing second putt to tie with a 2!
Above Pic: Steve, seeing that he is facing a stronger competitor than he had initially thought, chooses a longer, 30ft putt with a right to left break, very tricky! Steve rolls his putt down a few feet short of the hole while Gopher lines the putt up from behind to make sure he has the correct line.
Above Pics: Gopher takes the putter back on this long putt and...........BAM! Straight into the hole for 1! Gopher takes the lead by 1 stroke.
Above Pics: Gopher now with the lead, putts 30ft downhill with the hole precariously positioned on the edge of a slope, which Gopher proceeds to get caught out on, and leaves the ball 8 feet past the hole. Steve goes to school on the Gophers mistake but also putts past the hole. Gopher takes a second putt and misses, then Steve also misses with his second putt, leaving the Gopher to putt for the win!
Above Pics: Gopher, putting for the win from 3ft misses again! Gopher shows his frustration while Steve realises he now has a chance to stage a comeback in Sudden Death!
Above Pics: On the first hole of Sudden Death, Steve has the honour and leaves his putt just short of the hole. Gopher rolls his putt at the cup, but it trails across the left edge, just missing.
Above Pics: On the second hole of Sudden Death, the Gopher chooses to go across the green once again. Gopher putts first and leaves the ball hanging over the lip of the cup! Steve follows suit and putts close to the hole and taps in for a 2 to tie......so they go to a third Sudden Death Hole.
Above Pic: Steve picks the next Sudden Death hole which is back uphill and about 25 feet long. Steve hits a nice putt which stops about 4 feet from the hole.
Above Pic: Gopher carefully lines up this very important putt but leaves it 5 feet short.
Above Pic: With the Gophers nerves frayed and pressure mounting, he misses the second putt to give Steve a chance now to come from behind and win.
Above Pic: Gopher can't watch as Steve calmly strokes his 4 footer right into the heart of the cup to seal victory!
Above Pic: The two putting green warriors shake hands, the Gopher congratulating Steve on a wonderful come from behind victory.
