FINALLY got to play the semi-final match. I played against a real gentlemanly OG who had three times been to the final and never won. We had a fantastic match that was decided on the 18th green.

I was getting a nice 6 shots from my opponent. Sadly I couldn't make the best use of them, saving my abysmal holes for the stroke holes. I won one and halved two of the six holes.

The good news was I played brilliantly on a lot of the other holes. I parred 5 of the 6 par 3's on the course, all of them one putts. I went 3 for 3 in sand saves, sank a bomb for an unlikely half on the 10th and generally did whatever I had to to stay in the match. We were never separated by more than one hole. Overall I made 9 pars which for a 19 handicapper is pretty good!

We went up the 18th all square (I lipped out on 16 for what would have put me 2 up, then left a putt for half on 17 an inch short). I was sizing up an uphill 8 footer for par when my opponent sank a 30 foot snake for birdie and the match.

So I'm gutted that I didn't make it through, but I gave it my very best. Penalties aside I can honestly say I only left one shot out there that might have influenced the result.