AN undefeated start to their pennant golf title defence without their full-strength side has given a confidence boost to Coomealla.
Wins over Riverside and Red Cliffs saw the NSW side on top of the ladder to start the 2023 Murray Darling Golf Association series, even after losing guns Justin McPhee and Cam Stewart to different clubs since last year’s victory.
Pennant winner James Daly will return for Sunday’s important clash with Mildura at Red Cliffs Golf Club, while Garth Doherty is likely to return for round 4.
Captain Jacob Slimmon said it has been a positive start.
“We can’t be unhappy with an undefeated start when we haven’t had our full-strength side available,” Slimmon said.
“Garth is still missing this week but will be back next week and we get Jim back on Sunday, while Ben Doherty came in for his first game last week and got a half.
“Last week Red Cliffs were missing Justin and Dom Vartuli so we probably got them at the ideal time but we still managed to play pretty well.”
Slimmon said his side would gain extra confidence about making the Division 1 men’s final if they could defeat second-placed Mildura.
“We obviously face a very good Mildura side this week led by Ash Whitehouse and Cam Stewart, and there’s still another two rounds to go, so we’ll know more about where we sit after this week,” he said.
“I think if we can get one over them we’ll take a lot of confidence and it probably puts us in a good position for a potential final match-up.”
Tee-off for pennant round 3 begins at 8am on Sunday before the Division 1 men begin at 11.30am and the Division 1 women at 12.30pm.
