EVEN with the damp, cooler weather conditions over the past week, good fields of golfers have still been taking part in the daily competitions at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
This was no more evident than last Saturday, when three divisions of players took part in a Stableford event, where recently returned grey nomad Rob Merrett was the standout player. Merrett recorded 38 points from his handicap of 22 and took out the major prize on offer, as well as Division 3 honours, from Tony Miceli (20), who finished runner-up in this division.
Division 2 was won by Dale Smith (14) by way of the countback system, ahead of Lyonel O’Shannassy (12), with both players finishing with 34 points each. In Division 1, the countback system was again used to separate Ken Gregory (8) and James O’Mara (9) from the Traralgon Golf Club, when both players came in with 36 points, Gregory getting the nod.
Other golfers required at least 33 points to be in the ball rundown, while the nearest-the-pins were taken out by Sam Rovere on the 2nd, Mark Warren on the 5th, and Bobby Kelly on the 15th. Colin Mewburn took out the jackpot on the 11th.
One of our up-and-coming juniors, Koby McMillan, had a day out in Sunday’s par competition. Playing off his handicap of 31, McMillan recorded a handicap-breaking score of five up, to take out Division 2 and the major prize on offer, ahead of Ian Gammon (23) who finished two up. Dale Smith (13) continued his good form from the previous day, taking out Division 1 with two up, with Shane Ingram (8) finishing runner-up at one up. Scores of two down and better were required to get a ball, while Dean Scott had his eye in on the par-three holes, claiming the NTPs on holes 2 and 5, with Brad Cockfield closest on the 11th and Ken Gregory on the 15th.
Friday’s nine-hole competition was taken out by Barry Ingram (14) with 18 points, while in last Thursday’s Stableford event Tony Wilson (24) was best with 38 points ahead of Ian Read (16) on 36 points to take out Division 2. Ken Gregory (8) showed glimpses of his best form, recording 37 points to take out Division 1, with Doug Grant (7) finishing runner-up with 36 points.
The nearest-the-pins went to Darryl Domaille on the 2nd, Justin Thompson on the 5th, Gordon Fleming on the 11th and Dean Scott on the 15th. Scores of 33 points and better were required to be eligible for a ball and, from Tuesday of this week, Paul Bethune (15) led the way with 37 points, ahead of Mark Warren (12), who finished with 36 points. The NTPs went to Graeme Mathiske on the 2nd and Ross Hastings on the 11th.
This weekend the club will host the two-day, 36-hole, two-person Ambrose tournament. Unfortunately, this event has had to be cancelled over the past two years. Ambrose events are proving to be a very popular format of competition and this is no more evident than the near-capacity field entered for this year’s event. Prizes on offer include a 36-hole scratch event for both men and women, 36-hole net events and daily net events.
Coming up is the Regional Murray Open Pro-Am on Monday, September 5, followed by the Murray Open on September 6 and 7. This event is a qualifying round for the NSW Open, which will be held in early 2023.
A couple of other events that are coming up very quickly include one on Thursday, September 15, which will be a day organised by trainee professional Cameron Bell as part of his traineeship. The day will include a sausage sizzle and drink for those that enter. Also on the horizon (Sunday, September 18) is the DoingitforJarrod charity day to support the Jarrod Lyle foundation, while Friday, September 23, will bring the annual Murray Downs Fire Brigade day.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
GOLF is a game for all ages and this adage has been borne out at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club over the past few months. Our reigning club champion is 13-year-old Olive Spitty and on Wednesday octogenarians Marie Cruickshank and Sheila Beard took out the annual Cameron’s Jewellers Gold Links tournament.
Sheila and Marie scored four down in the aggregate par event, but only won after surviving a three-way countback. Judi Benbow and Jenny Lynas are the current Golden Putter champions and teamed up again take out second place, with Bev Holt and Marg Moore finishing in third.
Mary-Anne Davis and Noni Domaille were next best with five down, followed by Barb Upton, Jenny White and Jill McIndoe on six down.
Jude Simmonds, Judi Benbow, Janette Tucker and Marg Moore hit the most accurate shots to the par threes to take home the nearest-the-pins.
On Saturday, Barb Cadd took advantage of her generous handicap of 29 to score 39 points and win ahead Kristy Gordon (15) on 36 points. Jill Bath, Janette Tucker and Jan McEwan collected balls and Jill McIndoe featured with two NTPs.
LALBERT
ON Sunday, August 21, the club held a Stableford event. For the ladies, Karen McKissack had a solid round, winning with 37 points, ahead of Sarah Young on 34 points. For the men, Charlie Kingwill also had a good round, winning with 38 points from James Meehan Sr on 34 points. In the nine-hole junior competition, Dakota Meehan took out the scratch event with a score of 55 on a countback from Carly Shepherd. Blake Shepherd won the handicap event with a net 37 score, from Carly and Bo Brown on net 38. They were followed on net 39 by Dakota, who took out the Nearest the Pin. The club was represented at Lakeside’s Annual Tournament. On Sunday, September 4, the club will hold the North West Ag-Delta Ag Day two-person Ambrose event.
