DUNTRYLEAGUE skipper Robert Payne believes his side will have to earn its place in the final of the 2013 Central Western District Golf Association division one pennants, despite being drawn what is essentially a home semi-final.
Finishing on top of Group A, Duntryleague will take on defending champions Bathurst at Orange Ex-Services Country Club on Sunday.
It’s a course many of the five-man Duntryleague side is very familiar with.
Rob Parfett won last year’s Ex-Services Open and Payne, a nine-time Open champion at Country Club, has had no trouble finding the cup on the small course in the past.
But winning, especially against Bathurst, isn’t an open and shut case.
“You’ve still got to think you’re way around the course,” Payne said.
“You can’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s easy. You’ve still got to hit the ball in the right places.”
Along with the division one semi-final between Bathurst and Duntryleague, Parkes and Bathurst (division two), Duntryleague and Bathurst (division three) and the Duntryleague and Forbes (division four) semi-finals will be at Ex-Services.
The other 2013 semi finals are also in Orange.
Set to tee off at 8am at Duntryleague, Wellington tackles Parkes (division one), Mudgee plays Forbes (division two), Mudgee meets Dubbo (division three) and Parkes faces off against Bathurst (division four).
CWDGA secretary Peter Mitchell said the penultimate matches of the season are being staged in Orange because of one simple reason.
“It just came down to which clubs were available,” Mitchell said.
Payne wasn’t surprised by the semi-final draw.
“I think some of the other courses were unavailable with greens being cored,” he said.
“It’s a whole new ball game now. We’re looking forward to it. We’ll see what Sunday brings, it’s nearly a home match for us.”
The winners from each semi-final will move into the finals to be played on March 17.
Mitchell predicted a Duntryleague-Wellington division one final.
“I think Duntry should get over the top of Bathurst without any trouble and Wellington should do the same with Parkes,” he said.