ZAVIER ZEROES IN ON ANOTHER TITLE

Fifteen-year-old Zavier Button is quickly making a name for himself as a player for the big occasion after he claimed the B Grade division of the 2022 Penrith Golf Club Match Play Championship on Saturday.”

Button has been playing golf for just 18 months but has already lowered his handicap to 11, won the Junior Championship, the Captain’s Knockout and now a Match Play title.

In heavy conditions on Saturday, Button prevailed 3 and 1 over Jarrad Smith in a hard-fought contest with several lead changes.

Button gained the early ascendancy by winning the first two holes before Smith found his feet and by the turn had taken a 1-up lead.

The front nine was one of continual ebb and flow with not one hole halved and Smith maintained his advantage through 11 holes before Button made a match-winning charge by claiming the 12th, 13^th and 14^th holes.

For Smith a lost ball on the 13^th hole was a body blow and he was unable to reel in Button, who closed out the match with a winning par on the 17^th hole.

Button will be hitting the road over the next fortnight as he contests major junior tournament in Bathurst and Wagga.

The B Grade final was the first decided in the rain-interrupted Match Play Championships, which has seen a clash of dates resulting scheduling issues.

This Saturday, the A Grade and A Reserve finals will be played, while the C Grade final will be played on April 9.

The A Grade final will be played over 36 holes, where reigning champion Dale Turner faces Major Pennant representative Michael Organ in what shapes as a great contest.

Turner has shown a steely resolve in his preliminary matches and his rock solid game presents a hurdle for Organ, who, for his part, has been equally impressive after bedding in swing changes that have taken his game to a new level.

In the A Reserve final, Anthony Swinfield will also be defending his title when he takes on the ultra consistent Craig Coulter.

The C Grade final will see Blake Messenger face Nathan Byrnes.