Indahouse has jumped out of the stalls and, inspired by the presence of his cousin Greg, scored an all-the-way win in perfect conditions at COD 2021-1 in Tocumwal.
The weather gods smiled as Codsters enjoyed cloudless 25 degree days for the duration of the tournament. Tocumwal Golf Club has two courses – Captain’s and President’s – and both were in championship condition.
Testing layouts with little rough make for a challenging test without losing golf balls. The greens are lightning quick and fringed by “sticky grass” that trips up the chip-and-run player – you have to throw it up and plop it on, or at least bounce it right at the end of the fringe.
Mike Sheahan, Hujakate and Dunnngo tried to get the drop on the de Heus brothers by arriving a day early and squeezing in a practice round on the Captain’s Course. Things soon descended into classic COD brinkmanship….
Day 1
The tournament teed off on the President’s Course with Codsters looking resplendent in their Hema Maps shirts. Soon De Huge had more Mulligans than the Irish phone book. It took him half a dozen holes to get going – here he is desperately unlucky.
Mike Sheahan’s driving had improved to the point that he was hitting bunkers at the doglegs of par 4 holes.
But the big guns were in the following group – Indahouse and Dunnngo played consistent golf to card 89 and 91 respectively. Hujakate charged home on the back nine with a 42 to also card 91 – a sizzling net 63.
Day 2
Cousin Greg of the de Heus clan from Kialla (the Paris end of Shepparton) joined us for Day 2. Greg is a voluble chap who knows his footy and is an excitement machine off the tee – his club head speed is something else. He paired with Indahouse and Inda rose to the occasion to shoot 86, one better than his cousin.
In the other group of four, Dunnngo saw yet another Green Jacket challenge go up in smoke as he racked up triple figures. Hujakate again played well to shoot 90 while Sheahan and De Huge were well off the pace.
With a six shot lead, it was Indahouse’s jacket to lose.
Day 3
The final round was a shoot out between Hujakate (the hunter) and Indahouse (the hunted). Could the overlord of trash talk get into the head of the man desperate to win his second Green Jacket? Mike Sheahan acted as umpire Des Foster.
Inda got himself in a spot of bother very early on.
Huja gets on the dance floor at the par 3 2nd.
Inda has a crack….
But it was Mike Sheahan who drilled one closest to grab the Nearest To Pin.
Revelling in not having to put up with Hujakate, Dunnngo finished the tournament strongly with a 44 on the back nine. Better days may await on the Gold Coast. Here he drains a nice putt….
But despite having half his six shot lead whittled away on the front nine, Indahouse steadied to take out the Green Jacket by four strokes. A great performance.
Hujakate’s good form was rewarded with victory in the Auld Mug. He’ll certainly be starting off less than his original 28 handicap from this tournament.
Huge thanks to Indahouse for his superior bureaucratic skills in organising a seamless COD. Decent accommodation, good value meal vouchers and Tocumwal’s championship courses are ideal for the Mouth of Cod Invitational.
MOUTH OF COD INVITATIONAL 