Sayer clinches third title

It had been 22 years between drinks when Lance Sayer won the Carterton Golf Club's open men's match play title last year.
Just once before, in 1988, had the 60-year-old Sayer taken out this prestigious competition and he still trails son Reon, a former national amateur representative, on the winner's list. He won the same championship three times while another son Glenn now has to play second fiddle to dad, having the one title beside his name.
The latest victory didn't come easily for Sayer senior. He had to play defending champion Jason Sadler in the semis and won a tight battle 2 and 1 , a result which took him into the final against the well-performed Fraser Smith who, Sayer is quick to point out, clearly had age on his side. He was just six when Sayer prevailed in the 1988 event!
The 36-hole final was a cracker with Smith being 1-up at the halfway point. Sayer then won six of the next nine holes to lead 5-up and increased that advantage to 6-up two holes later but Smith was not done with.
Helped by a birdie at the 12th hole and Sayer losing a ball at the 16th, he came roaring back into contention and with two holes still to play Sayer's lead had shrunk to 1-up.
A birdie putt from Smith lipped out at the 17th and Sayer was able to share the honours there when he holed a tricky putt for par.
And again on the 18th, Smith had the mortification of watching a birdie putt lip the hole while Sayer's own birdie attempt with a putt from just off the green finished close enough for Smith to concede the par, and with it the title.
"It was tough going, I was starting to think over the closing stages that it just might not be my day," Sayer said.
"He [Smith] never gave up, he fought hard right to the end.".