An intriguing showdown between Royal Perth and Royal Fremantle will decide the fate of the Division 1 Men’s Pennant at Cottesloe GC this Sunday.
Both clubs are hoping to put lengthy waits for the top flight title behind them, with Royal Perth last winning Division 1 in 2015 and Royal Fremantle’s drought extending back to 1995.
Royal Perth marched into the final on the back of an unbeaten season that has seen them rack up five wins and two halves from their seven matches.
Their Fremantle rivals have lost just once, to Cottesloe in Round 2, earning three wins and three halves – including their washed-out Round 7 match against Joondalup last weekend.
The inclement weather also saw Lake Karrinyup’s potentially decisive match against The Vines called off, leaving the LKCC, the 2023 champions, third in the table.
While Royal Perth may go into Sunday’s showdown as slight favourites, Royal Fremantle will be no pushover – as evidenced by the tied match between the two teams in Round 6. Both teams will also be missing a talismanic presence, adding to the uncertainty.
Royal Fremantle’s Zach Capelli had won all five of his individual matches prior to heading off to the UK to support his best mate Min Woo Lee at The Open Championship. He will not be back in time for the Pennants final.
Similarly, Royal Peth will be without young Spencer Harrison, absent due to a summer of golf in the United States. Jordan Jung, however, has ably stepped into his shoes to win two and half one of his three matches in the number one spot.
With the top three divisions’ finals all consisting of 36-hole individual matches, players’ mental and physical resolve will be thoroughly put to the test. It ought to be a fascinating tussle.
Seven more flags up for grabs
The Division 2 and 3 titles will also be decided at Cottesloe GC, with Bunbury and Gosnells going head-to-head for promotion to Division 1 in what should be a close encounter.
Each amassed 12 points from their seven matches, with Bunbury edging their rivals 4-3 in their Round 4 clash.
Wanneroo take on Lakelands in the Division 3 final, with Wanneroo favourites on paper having won the Round 1 match between the teams 4.5-2.5.
Elsewhere, Melville Glades GC and Lake Karrinyup Country Club will host the Men’s Pennants finals for Divisions 4-8 on Sunday, with North vs South bragging rights on the line.
GolfWA Men’s Pennants finals at a glance
Division 1 = Royal Perth vs Royal Fremantle
Division 2 = Bunbury vs Gosnells
Division 3 = Wanneroo vs Lakelands
Division 4 = Joondalup vs Hartfield
Division 5 = WAGC vs Melville Glades
Division 6 North = Lakelands vs WAGC
Division 6 South = Kwinana vs Sea View
Division 7 = Wanneroo vs Kwinana 2
Division 8 = The Vines vs Hartfield
You can view the season’s results to date here.
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