2018 World Club Championship

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Durban of South Africa and St. George's of Canada to play in World Club Championship Final on Friday

Results from Thursday's Second Round Qualifying and Semifinals, Friday's Final Schedule

May 23, 2013

The Second Round Qualifying Four Ball Stroke Play for the 2013 World Club Championship was played to advance four teams into the semifinals of match play based on the cumulative score from yesterday and today. Once again, close to the top of Mt. Halla on Jeju Island at Nine Bridges in South Korea, the weather was in the high 70's with a slight breeze for nearly perfect playing conditions.

Of the 22 teams, 12 were under par with the team of Murray Gilson and Graeme Inggs of Durban Country Club, South Africa and Portmarnock Golf Club, Ireland's team of John Greene and Stephen Walsh finishing tied for first place with a 131 minus 13.

Sunningdale Golf Club, England's team of Marcus Ferguson Jones and Stephen Ross came in third at 136 minus 8. St. George's Golf & Country Club's team Mark Elgner and Craig Sinclair was the fourth team to qualify for match play with a 137 minus 7.

Teams teed off No. 1 and No. 10 of the Creek course for 18 holes which lasted nearly five hours. Contenders close on the heels of the four qualifying teams were two USA teams. Rick Baird and James Wisniewski of Muirfield Village Golf Club and Rich Berglund and Steve Leone of Oakmont Country Club tied for 5th with a 138 minus 6.

A total of 83 birdies were posted and 4 eagles which were all scored on No. 18. Also there were 11 birdies on the Par 5 No. 18 while the Par 5 No. 12 had 10 birdies and Par 5 No. 9 had 7 birdies and Par 5 No. 3 had 8 birdies. The only hole without any birdies was the Par 3 No. 7.

Following an hour's break for lunch, the four semi-finalists took to the course on the No. 1 Creek Course for match play. The teams were playing for much more than bragging rights. Each team was playing for a chance to win the Jay H Lee trophy and carry it home to be displayed at their club for the next year.

The match between Durban and Sunningdale began all square until hole No. 4 when Sunningdale went 1 Up and 2 Up after No. 5. Durban won the next 3 holes to be 1 Up after No. 8. Sunningdale won No. 9 so it was an all squared match through No. 11. Durban won No. 12 and No. 13 to go 2 Up until No. 17 that was won by Sunningdale. The match concluded on No. 18 with a Durban win for a result of 2 Up.

Pormarnock and St. George's began with St. George's going 1 Up on No. 2 followed by Portmarnock winning No. 4 and 5 to move into 1 Up through No. 9. On No. 10 St. George's won, No. 11 won and No. 13 was won by St. George's. At this point, the match was all squared until St. George's won No. 16 to go 1 Up which is how the match ended.

Tomorrow is the Finals of the Match Play between Durban and St. George's who finished a close second to Seminole at Diamante last year. The 3rd and 4th Place teams of Portmarnock and Sunningdale will play for an automatic invitation in 2014. Also tomorrow, the remaining 18 teams will compete in the Chairman's Division and the winning team will receive an automatic invitation for 2014 as well.

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