Sun 1st Nov
Two old Moretonians triumph in the 2003 and 2008 Rix-Hill Finals
At the end of October 2009, two finals of the Rix- Hill finals were played at Valderrama, courtesy of Charles Donald. The 2003 final saw Andrew Aylwin take on John Orchard and Mark Hatcher play Neil Scaife in the 2008 final. The weather for the finals was glorious with temperatures in the low 80’s. The first match to be played was Aylwin vs Orchard. Aylwin had to give two strokes to John Orchard. The game remained close with never more than one or two holes in it. Aylwin managed to get to the dreaded two up with five to play and then promptly lost two of the next three holes to go back to all square after 16. The par five 17th, with its water in front of the green, was always going to be pivotal. Unfortunately, John found the water and went to the 18th one down. The 18th is one of the toughest finishing holes in all of golf with an extremely tight drive. Both drives found the centre of the fairway. However, both the second shots found trees. After a number of nervy shots Aylwin was left with a nasty curly five foot putt to halve the hole and win the match by I up. Fortunately his nerve held and he won by the closest of margins, one up.
Two days later, Mark Hatcher played Neil Scaife in the 2008 final. Neil had to give Mark two shots as well. If the 2008 Final had been a boxing match it would have been a knockout in round one. Hatcher, the rugby playing brute versus the more subtle mercurial skills of Neil Scaife. Hatcher’s haymakers on the 1st were no match for Neil’s arrow straight drive, 9 iron and tap in birdie. Fortunately for Hatcher this was not the sign of things to come. The golf turned into a real scrap from there on in and Hatcher’s putter was white hot. Single putts on 2, 3, 4 and 5 fuelled by a couple of Gin and Tonics saw Hatcher 3 up at the turn. The back nine saw more of the same but Hatcher continued to boss the moss and he saw off his opponent 4 & 3 with the best shot of the day. Standing on the 200 yard par 3 15th 3 up (see picture of Neil, Mark and Charles Donald on the 15th hole), Hatcher bruised a 6 iron to 8 feet. Neil summoned the energy to hit a 3 iron to 25 feet but his three putts left Hatcher, the 2002 defeated finalist, with 2 putts from 8 foot to secure the 2008 Rix- Hill title. Hatcher lagged to 6 inches and the title was his.
As always, OHGS is grateful to Charles Donald for allowing the final to be played at Valderrama. Both finals were refereed by Charles who has been on the R & A Open Championships referee committee. This assignment was every bit as tough as was his refereeing at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, where he saw Steve Strickland score a 64 and the Walker Cup at Nairn.
