GOOD golf weather and a beautifully presented course contributed to two great days of golf for the Ladies Golden and Silver Putter events last Wednesday and Thursday.
The Silver Putter has grown in stature over the last couple of years, and this year saw 50 pairs take out cards in the stableford event.
The Commonwealth Golf Club pairing of Thea Linley (25) and Sue Hocking (21) scored 43 points to win from locals Samme Williamson (31) and Faye Palmer (28) who managed 42.
Rosanna Golf Club visitor Judy Stephen (14) and Val Hedwards (11) have been long time partners in this event and have had success on three occasions but this time had to be satisfied with third position which they won on a count-back from Tina King (24) and Jenny Lynas (21) on 40 points.
The Golden Putter is the most keenly sought after trophy on the Murray Downs calendar and this year was the 40th anniversary of the event which was started at Donnington Park.
The first winners were Charlotte Zaetta and Megan Chantler with five-up on a count-back from Brenda Monk and Jenny Tozer.
Marg Lauer won the event with her sister Rita Page in 1981 and had the honour of cutting the anniversary cake in front of an assembly of past winners who are still competing.
An excellent field of 59 pairs competed and the title holders for 2013 are Emily Smith (5) and Janelle Free (27) who had a score of eight-up.
Studying a sports degree at Deakin University, Emily, 18, travels from Birchip regularly to play at Murray Downs. She is also a member of Huntingdale’s victorious division two pennant team.
Emily contributed five wins which included three birdies to the winning score.
Janelle has just returned to golf and has now got one-up on her well known golfing husband, Dallas and was a last minute pairing with Emily after her original partner withdrew.
Regular visitors from the Gisborne and Woodend golf clubs, Kath Keating and Kathy Keating (not related) on handicaps of 22 and 27 respectively, were the runners-up with seven-up. Third placegetters were Wednesday’s winners from Commonwealth Golf Club, Sue Hocking (20) and Thea Linley (25) six-up on a three way count-back from locals Lynne Bishop (13) and Shelley Wilkins (14) and Sheila Beard (22) and Beryl Smith (24).
Mag Kiley won the July monthly medal with a liking for the faster greens also enabling her to win the putting competition.
B grade winners were Beth Robins (33), 77, and Sheila Oxley (25), 78.
For men’s Golden Putter results see Friday’s edition of The Guardian (July 5, 2013).
