Remedy return for Echo's Sunshine Challenge finalists (From Bournemouth Echo)

Remedy return for Echo's Sunshine Challenge finalists

7:00am Saturday 17th October 2009 in

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BATTLING Anthony Allen was involved in two titanic tussles at this year’s Daily Echo/Bill Goff Sunshine Challenge finals day at Remedy Oak, which leaves the championship crown still in the balance.

It took the plucky 14-handicapper three extra holes to knock out Steve Sidney in the morning semi-final before he went the distance with Peter Coburn in a gripping final that was brought to a premature end by bad light.

In fact, the two players played the 18th hole in near darkness as the sound of roosting birds filled the Horton air. With the green only visible thanks to the clubhouse lights, Allen and Coburn both found the target in regulation and two-putted for a pair of incredible par fours.

Both players return to the prestigious Remedy Oak course this weekend for a six-hole play-off to see who will represent the Daily Echo in the grand final in Portugal.

It is the first time in the competition’s 15-year history that another day’s play has been needed.

The main reason for running out of time was the epic contest between Allen and three-handicapper Sidney.

St Ives-based Allen, who is a member of Brokenhurst Manor, established a two-hole lead at the turn before his Queens Park opponent won the next two holes to draw level.

Sidney appeared to take control of the contest, winning the 13th, before he was pegged back by Allen at the very next hole.

Both players had a chance to stamp their authority on the match, but the deadlock carried on to the end. Sidney had his work cut out in sudden-death, having to concede a shot on each of the opening three holes, and Allen capitalised on them to halve the first two.

The key moment of the match came at the Remedy Oak signature hole. Sidney had hit two ‘career shots’ to set up an eight-foot eagle putt on the 524-yard second while Allen’s third went through the back of the green.

But amazingly, Allen managed to put his 20-yard chip to within a foot of the pin, while Sidney missed his eagle putt.

Allen eventually won the duel with a par at the third hole as Sidney failed to sink a 10-foot birdie putt.

“I couldn’t have played any better,” said Sidney. “The match was a bit scrappy to start with, but after the turn both us played some great golf.

“I was one under par for my final seven holes and you can’t do much better than that, especially around Remedy.”

Allen, who was Yeovil’s Hardy B League captain for eight years before changing clubs, drew on all his match-play experience.

“I lost it a bit midway in the match, but I normally manage to get my game back and thankfully that proved to be the case,” explained Allen.

Allen, however, lost the first hole of the final and was never up in the match, but chalked up four successive pars from the 12th hole to overturn a three-hole deficit.

Coburn, a 19-handicapper from Christchurch GC, regained the lead with a par at the 16th before Allen held a 15-foot putt to win the penultimate hole.

In the other semi-final, Coburn clinched a 4 and 2 win over Ferndown’s Tony Jackson.