First Match of 2015
The Encourage Shield is a team handicap match play event for emerging players. Its aim is to provide these players with match play experience in preparation for higher levels such as Junior Pennants, Eric Apperley Shield and Major Pennants. Involvement and encouragement of new players and higher handicapped players, both boys and girls, are important factors in this event. The overall aim is to develop these players and to grow our sport by increasing the numbers of participants and teams at this level of golf. Experienced players are not precluded from the event, but preference is given to emerging players.
The Far South Coast has five teams engaged in the event for 2015. They will compete for the title of District Encourage Shield Champions. The winner of this event will then go on to play the winning Encourage Shield team from the Illawarra District. In 2014 Moruya were crowned with this title and were able to make it all the way to the state championships held in Newcastle. Moruya again this year have entered a very strong team who will once again be very competitive. The other four clubs who have entered teams into the 2015 competition are: Bega, Catalina, Pambula-Merimbula and Mollymook.
The competition got underway on Sunday 1st February. The results from the first match were Bega defeating Catalina 4/1, Pambula-Merimbula defeating Mollymook 3/2 in a close tussle that went down to the last group on the last hole, while defending champions Moruya had the bye. The event will run through until April 26th where the champion team will be crowned Far South Coast Encourage Shield Champions for 2015.
Good luck to all of the clubs and players entered in this year’s competition.
