MURRAY DOWNS MEN
SPRING is in the air and is attracting large numbers of golfers to have a go at the challenging Murray Downs layout.
This has been evident over the past week as large groups of visitors have joined members in the daily competitions.
Sunday’s competition was a medley two-person ambrose event.
A field of 98 players took part in this popular format.
The winning pair, with an excellent score of 61.75 nett, was Luke Merritt and Cayle McLean, the next best being Jonathon Hirst and Daniel Cruickshank with a 63.25 nett score, and Darko Dobrovsak and Daniel Salpirtro, from Gisborne, with a nett score of 64.5.
They finished 0.25 ahead of Sean Baumgurtel and John Tripodi who led the ball run-down, which went to scores of 66.5 and better.
The closest shots on the par-three holes were hit by John Tripodi on the 2nd, Rob O’Brien on the 5th, Brad McManus (Coomealla Golf Club) on the 11th and Ash Free on the 15th.
Saturday’s competition was a stableford event played from the gold tee markers across three divisions, 39 points being the best score recorded for the day, achieved by Colin Mewburn (12) in Division 2 and Rob Smith (21) in Division 3.
The runner-up in each of these divisions were Casey Summerfield (17) from Gisborne in Division 2 and Sebastian Peregian (27) in Division 3.
The winner of Division 1 was decided by the countback system when Stuart Holt (10) and Jorgen Leschke (7) finished with 38 points apiece, Holt eventually getting the nod.
Other players required at least 34 points to get a ball, while the nearest the pins went to Ross Kenyon on the 2nd, Rob Merrett on the 5th, Stuart Holt on the 15th and Brian Hinton on the 11th, who won with a shot to 12cm.
Hinton didn’t enter the jackpot, which was taken out by Garry Steinmann (60cm) and Jorgen Leschke (62cm), each player receiving $90 for their efforts.
Last Thursday week’s competition was a stroke event from the gold tee markers, the best score of the day being a 66 nett recorded by David Bourne (24).
Bourne took out Division 3 ahead of David Wilkins (31), who finished at 70 nett, while Terry McEwan (19) was the best in Division 2 with a nett 70, ahead of Michael Burns (20) on 72 nett.
Division 1 went to Colin Mewburn (12), who found some good form with nett 67, ahead of Andrew Rix (11), from Coomealla with a 70 nett.
Other players required a score of 73 nett and better to be eligible for a ball, while Colin Mewburn topped off a good day by winning the nearest the pin on the 2nd.
Sean Baumgurtel on the 5th, Fred Fletcher on the 11th and Tony Ford on the 15th claimed the other nearest-the-pin prizes.
Stableford was the competition of the day on Tuesday.
Mitchell Croft (12) recorded the day’s best score of 39 points to take out Division 1 ahead of Luke Melisi (6) from Kooringal Golf Club, who finished with 38 points.
Roger Walker was the best in Division 2, with 37 points, ahead of Michael Corridan (26) with 34 points.
Dave Young from Mornington led the ball run-down with 36 points, which went down to scores of 34 points, while the nearest the pins were won by Damian Mangiameli on the 2nd, Ross Hastings on the 5th, Glenn Palmer (Vic Police Golf Club) on the 11th and Greg Weybury on the 15th.
Members are reminded of the club’s annual general meetings for both the men’s and women’s golf committees, which will be held in October, the men on Monday, October 16, at 7.30pm in the balcony room and the women on Wednesday, October 18, at 2pm.
The Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens/TASCO Petroleum nine-hole summer competition commences on Monday, October 16, and runs through until Sunday, December 16.
The competition is a teams’ event, consisting of four players each.
Each team’s three best scores will be recorded as its score for each week.
The best individual score from each week will receive a $50 TASCO Petroleum voucher.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
Sixty-six women competed in the stableford competition at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
The event was also the final round of the Holt’s Spring Brooch, the winner of which will be announced at the annual presentation of trophies on Wednesday, October 18.
Robyn Bett (26) was the star of the day as her score of 43 points saw her finish five points clear of Suzanne Napier (26) in Division 1.
In Division 2, Colleen Roberts, who has featured in the winner’s list over the past three weeks, accumulated 37 points from her 30 handicap to win on a countback from Hay Golf Club visitor Cassandra Barnett (30).
Laurel Dewhurst (36) is back at Murray Downs after the winter season at Lakeside and has quickly found form on the grass greens, scoring 37 points, to finish ahead of Lois Coady (40) on 36 points.
Lois Carnie, Shelley Wilkins, Mag Kiley and Carolyn Zambelli all scored 36 points to lead the ball pool.
Lynne Bishop carded four on the par-five 12th hole to collect the birdie’s nest, while Mary-Anne Davis hit her tee shot within two metres of the flag on the 11th to collect the jackpot.
The remaining nearest the pin prizes went the way of Kathy Parkinson and Chris Warburton.
Lynne Bishop has been steadily pruning shots off her handicap and on Saturday reduced her 13 handicap by one, with a commendable 37 points.
Sheila Beard (26) was runner-up with 36 points, Belinda Gardner (30) on 35 points being the next best.
Lynne Bishop and Jill Bath hit the lucky shots to the 5th and 11th holes to take home the nearest-the-pin prizes.
The 28th annual classic tournament commences next Wednesday.
Visitors from all over Victoria and interstate will tee off over the three days.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
LADIES’ tournament results – Thursday, September 21:
Morning results: first – Marg Learmonth and Lorraine Bray, second – Narelle Fraser and Kristy Gordon, third – Jill Coburn and Ros Jennings, straightest drive – Kristy Gordon and Narelle Fraser, best Tooleybuc Club member – Narelle Fraser.
Afternoon results: first – Janet Brauer and Sheena Gadsden, second – Bev Beasy and Thelma Watson, third – Lois Jordan and Kerry Gammon, straightest drive – Dianne Plant and Lisa Zanker, best Tooleybuc Club member – Janet Brauer.
A wonderful day was had by everyone, the course was in great condition and the weather was kind.
Thank you to the Tooleybuc Sporting Club for their sponsorship and the ground staff for the amazing condition of the course, which was very challenging.
We hope to see you all here next year.
Wednesday, September 27 – stableford event: winner – Lisa Zanker 38 points (26), runner-up – Narelle Fraser 37 points (17), ball winner – Bev Beasy, nearest the pin 1/10 – Lisa Zanker, nearest the pin 5/14 – Narelle Fraser, Nutrien Award – Lisa Zanker.
Next week – 9am assembly for a 9.30am tee off.
