BATHURST Golf Club is reaching the critical stages of the Leeholme Cup, as semi-finals loom in the matchplay tournament.
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One of those semi-final matchups is already set, with Kel Cooke set to play Grant Bowman, while Daniel Stibbard awaits the winner of the quarter-final between Mick Locke and Tony Pryce.
Cooke and Bowman were originally the ninth and 12th seeds of the event and the latter scored the upset win over fifth seed Casey White in the second round to earn his passage through the competition.
The recent rain has made the cup a great test of how well players have adapted to the longer greens and slower conditions.
Bathurst Golf Club manager Brad Constable said the remaining matchups should be exciting.
"Kel Cooke is a very good hockey player who has transitioned into the golfing world quite easily, and Grant Bowman is one of our sponsors who really loves his golf and has been playing great," he said.
"Daniel Stibbard looks like a bit of a wildcard and then you've got Mick Locke and Tony Pryce who are two worldly veterans who have been around forever and part of our club for a long time. There's a lot of experience there between those two guys. That should be the key matchup.
"Form leading into this event is handy but matchplay is just one of those animals where anything can happen on the day."
The bottom half of the draw threw up a couple of surprises.
Locke entered the event as the 19th seed and Price went into the tournament as number 27, and they'll play off for the chance to play Stibbard - who beat number two Matt Lester.
Locke caused an upset himself in the second round by beating number three seed James Chapple.
Bowman's win over White means that Cooke is now the highest remaining seed in the competition, proving that the matchplay format always has the ability to spring a few surprises.
Locke and Pryce could play their match this Wednesday.
The semi-finals will be played before September 6 while the final will be played no later than September 29.