Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort GC

Friday,  November 6, 2009

Our club’s playoff season has now come to the final match with our two finalist:  Bret Herman vs.Dan Anderson…who will take home the 2009 Seacoast Cup?. 

Also a big welcome to Dan Hutchison and Prashant Patel,  who joined us for the first time today to help fill out the field for today.

Remembers 2009 SCGA Membership Dues are due by December 15, 2009. 

The 2009 Seacoast Cup Championship Match 

Pre Match Notes:  The weather was cool and brisk as the players  checked into the pro shop and got their tokens for range balls .  Both Dan Anderson and Bret Herman arrived early to warm up their swings and loosen up.  Each of them had the serious look of concentration as they both tried to get a feel for the greens.  Both players elected not to give any pre match comments as they were both so focused on what was at hand.  Two imbedded golf reporters will be playing today with this first group, Mike Nelson and Michael Gibbs who have graciously accepted the position as “on sight field reporters” to give us firsthand account of the match today.

Bret Herman vs. Dan Anderson – Bret has been all business throughout the playoffs.  Ever since he made his great comeback win against Geoff Baynes in the quarter finals rounds (last September) he has never been down in his matches..  He hopes to take this streak into today’s final championship match.  Bret has gained confidence in his long driving ability and his short game is very sharp.  Today he must not let Dan gain any momentum as Dan has proven to be strong in match play.  Bret will find success today if he sticks to his game plan.    Dan has been very steady in his match play during the past 2 rounds.  He has not allowed his opponents to gain big leads.  In earlier playoff matches, he decisively knock out Bill Grow.  In last months semi-finals match, he successfully dismantled last year's 2008 Seacoast Champion (Curtis Chan) in a hard fought battle that went the full 18 holes.  He has great ability to match his opponent stroke for stroke and he patiently waits for his opponent to make the big mistakes.  Today, Dan must focus on his own game.  He will sacrifice length off the tee, but will capitalize with his accurate short game.  Dan will be successful today as long as he plays within himself.

Championship Finals Match Play Score Card – note for match play,  both players almost have identical monthly indices and will play straight up with no stoke allotments.  Play will be from the black, championship tee box at 6631 yards.

Final Match Play Results:

Hole 1 - (par 4 / 347 yards)  Both players held high heads as they greeted each other.  It was determined that Bret Herman would take honors and be first to tee off.  The pressure and nervousness of today's finals match manifested itself in Bret's first shot off the tee as he uncharacteristically sprayed his ball off the tee box which never got airborne and settled just 135 yards off the tee.  Bret's face was full of bewilderment has Dan saw his first opening.  Dan calmly placed his drive down the middle as it finally settled across the drainage ditch next to the fairway bunker.  Both players had difficulty getting to the green and found themselves trying to save bogey.  Bret missed his putt and had a disappointing "6" for the scorecard.  Rather than conceding the hole with this big score, Bret saw a sight opening when forced Dan to make prove he could save bogey and win the opening hole.  Dan struggle and miss the "knee-knocker" 2 foot putt that would have given him the early 1Up lead, but by missing the putt, Bret had a big sigh of relief as the match remained All Square.

Hole 2 - (par 3 / 205 yards) Dan couldn't believe he missed the easy putt, and quickly went to work by  sinking his par putt on the par 3 hole.  Bret still feeling shaky from the first hole, missed the green and wasn't able to get up and down and realized that Dan was on a mission to take the early lead.  Dan was now 1up.

Hole 3 - (par 5/ 497 yards) Both players now realized that the "game was on" and that any mistakes by either player would be a door opening to loosing the hole.  Both players got decent drives off the tee, but failed to make the green in regulation.  Dan chipped his 4th shot to the green leaving him a lengthy par saving putt.  Bret wasn't able to get his ball close with his chip and it was a putting contest to see who would save par.  Both players missed their putts and Dan remained 1Up after the third hole.

Hole 4 -  (par 3/ 208 yard) Sensing the pressure of putting a long iron shot onto the green from 208 yards, both players were unable to execute decent shots missed the green. Bret made an amazing chip to within 2 feet.  Dan struggled to get up and down and had to settle for a double bogey.  Bret tapped in for a par to win the hole.  The match was now All Square.

Hole 5 – (par 4/ 381 yards) Bret had a drive that went right leaving him a tough shot to the green. Dan placed his drive perfectly but missed his approach shot  to the green.  His chip shot was short but did give him a chance for par. Bret took the tough risk reward  between 2 trees to get to the green and made the shot.  Dan had a 5 footer for par but missed the putt.  Bret was able to get up and down to save par and was able to take a 1 up lead.

Hole 6 – (par 4/ 385 yards) Momentum now was in Bret’s game.  He hit a beautiful long drive that left him only 100 yds out.  Bret then needled a tight shot to the green that left him only 2 feet to the cup.  Dan’s drive was good, but his approach shot missed the green to the right.  This forced Dan to make an up and down, but his putt missed.  Bret again wins another hole with his birdie taken the match to a 2 up lead.

Hole 7 -  (par 4/ 451 yards) Bret was now settling into his game, but both players hit shaky drives off the tee…Dan being under the gun, hit his drive left into the O.B.,  and had to tee up a second ball.  Bret’s drive ended up in the fairway bunker and hit his second shot into the greenside bunker.  Both players were scrambling to turn their blunders into a decent score, but in the end, Bret was able to salvage a double bogey, while Dan came up on the short side with a "triple."  Bret now had a 3 up lead.

Hole 8 – (par 5 / 503 yards) Dan now realized that he had to make move.  Being down 3 was like climbing into a deep hole.  Dan saw that  Bret didn’t play the last hole very well, and if only Dan had played the hole the way he should have done, he would have won the hole.  Dan calmed his emotions and told himself..."just get back to game plan and play within myelf."  With that Dan hit a great drive down the middle of the fairway.  Bret’s drive was a bit off line but being a par 5 both players were able to get the green in regulation.  The two of them missed their birdie opportunites, and tapped in for par.  Dan felt at least he was matching Bret’s shots, but he need to get the momentum back in his game.

Hole 9 – (par 4/ 306 yards) Both players again got their drives on the fairway.  Bret used a 5 iron, Dan used his patented driver off the tee.  Both had great approach shots to the green.  Dan left himself an 8 footer to the hole.  Bret’s approach left him a lengthy birdie putt from about 40 feet away, but came up 3 feet short.  Dan tapped in for par, and Bret missed his 3 foot putt to tie, giving Dan a win and cutting Brett’s 3 up lead down to 2up.  Dan now found that Bret was giving in and there was now hope to continue winning holes to put this match in his favor.

Hole 10 – (par 4/ 409 yards) The match was now down to nine holes left, and Bret felt he had some control of the match.  He knew Dan had not been playing to his full potential, and that perhaps Dan's game was going to wake up on the back nine. With this, Bret reminded himself that he had to stick to his game plan..."fairways and greens."  With that Bret flawlessly got up and down and walked away with a par.  Dan found himself scrambling and was not able to make the par putt drop.  His short game was not on track and now again he was down 3. 

Hole 11 – (par 3/ 178 yards) Dan’s tee shot went high faded to the pin to 10 feet from the cup.  Bret pulled his tee shot to the left and missed the green but had chance to get his ball close from the fringe .  Bret’s chip came out short and missed his putt.  Dan missed the birdie opportunity but tapped out for par to win the hole.  Dan told himself .."one hole at a time," and I'll be back in the match.

Hole 12 -  (par 5 / 505 yards)  Dan hit his drive to the right side of the fairway but it was unclear if the ball stayed up , the creek on the right side appeared be inviting any drive that when right.  Bret’s drive went left into the trees left, but his ball was safe.  After searching for Dan’s ball, it was discovered that his drive ended up in the hazard in the creek, so Dan had to take a drop .  Bret now again had the momentum and was able to get to the green in regulation.  Dan unfortunately paid the price with his errant drive and had to settle for a bogey which didn’t match Bret’s solid par.  Bret now took again a 3 up lead.

Hole 13 – (par 3 / 141 yards)  Bret put his short iron just 7 feet from the cup. Dan realizing his need to produced equaled Bret’s close shot.  Both players missed their birdie putts and settled for par and pushed the hole to continue the match to #14.  Bret still had the lead at 3 up.

Hole 14 -  (par 4 / 438 yards) Bret hit his drive right into the creek.  Dan also put his shot into the creek.  Both players played their 3^rd shot to the green from where they went in and came up shot.  Dan’s 4^th shot chipped up nicely to within 2 feet of the pin.  Bret’s chipped came out short 12 feet to the cup.  Bret feeling the pressure that he had to make his putt, didn't get it all the way and missed his bogey opportunity.  Dan easily tapped in for his bogey  for the win.  The match now was again within grasp.  Dan was now only 2 down to Bret with the momentum back in his corner.

Hole 15 – (par 4 /438 yards) – Dan tee’s shot hit a tree just left of the tee box and was knocked down and settled down only going about 100 yards.  Bret’s drive with a 3 wood flew straight about 200 yards.  Both player’s missed the green with their second shots.  Dan then chipped within 5 feet, and made sank his bogey putt.  Bret carefully navigated his third shot chip to 10 feet, but missed his par saving putt  and tapped in to tie Dan’s bogey.  No damage done and Bret maintained his 2 up lead with 3 holes to play.

Hole 16 -  Dan now realized that only a few holes were left to make his move…2 down with 3 holes left.  Dan, despite feeling more pressure,  hit his tee shot down the middle... but his fade took over and the ball ended up on the right side in the creek.  Bret squared up his tee shot and hit one of his longest drives of the day down the middle to leave himself 120 to the hole.  Dan was able to get his 3^rd shot near the hole, but still had to chip, which got him 12 feet above the hole for a bogey attempt.  Bret chunked his approach shot, but still was able to chip his 3^rd shot to within 8 feet leaving him 2 strokes to make bogey.  Dan now had to make his putt, but he was unable to make the putt to extend the match...and Dan took off his hat and congratulated Bret for his steady play and not letting him get back into the match.  Bret was overjoyed....he just won the 2009 Seacoast Cup Championship. Bret wins 3 and 2.

In the post match interview room Dan Anderson said,  “This just wasn’t my day.  All day I found myself scrambling just to keep pace with Bret.  My driving off the tee let me down during my match.  It’s a good thing my short game was intact but it proved to be not enough to match Bret’s play today.  I commend Bret for being steady and when he did make a blunder, he quickly recovered and hardly let the momentum move in my direction.  He has really done well all year in our Seacoast league and he proved today to be the rightful Champion of the Seacoast Cup.  My hat goes off to him.  I’ll have to chalk this day up to experience and I’ll be back again next year.

Bret had a big smile on his face and the look of relief as we asked him how he felt after winning today.  “ I really am so relieved at my win today.  I knew Dan had all the potential to taking me down today. He took down Curtis Chan a few weeks ago and I knew he had his sights on doing the same  to me today.  When I was on the practice green before our match I tried to make eye contact with him, but he had his game face on and he was so focused.  I felt a cloud of pressure on me especially on the first hole and it showed as I barely got my ball off the tee box.  Boy was I glad that we both ended up with tie scoring double bogey…what a break I got…I thought that my day was collapsing when  I began my round.  But somehow, I regained my composure and was able to settle in by the 4^th hole.  It’s a good thing I was able to get a lead on him.  Dan really kept scrambling all day and I knew that he had all the potential to get back into the match.  Fortunately, I was able to keep enough pressure on him today to keep my lead and Dan just ran out of holes.  I’m thrilled to win the Seacoast Championship !

 Note:  A big thanks goes to our onsite field reporters, Mike Nelson and Michael Gibbs, who filed "real time" analysis and reports (via the G4 phone web)after each hole to the Seacoast Christian Golf Club media center.  The above account of this match was solely made due to their hard work and efforts in their most accurate and colorful reporting.

Congratulations to Bret Herman !  You are our 2009 Seacoast Cup Winner !!

Note:  Players who played from the back tees were given a +4 stroke adjustment to have “ equitable stroke play” with the rest of the field who played form the white tees.

Contratulations to Mike Nelson for going low in both gross and low scoring and show casing his golf course management skills at RB Inn.

Skins Game - In our regular skins report here are the following players who won skins for this round.  To win a skin you must have the sole lowest net score amongst the field of players.