Murray Downs Men
Sean Ewart takes out the October Monthly Medal.
Ewart, a relatively new player on to the golfing scene, came in with a handicap breaking score of nett 69, last Saturday, to take out the October monthly medal.
Playing off his daily handicap of 32, he claimed the much sort after medal, from a host of players who finished one shot in arrears.
His score consisted of, 5 pars, a few 7s and a couple of higher numbers, for a total of 101 off the beater.
Well, done Sean, with this type of performance, you will continue to lower your handicap.
Runner-up to Ewart in division 3, was a visitor from Future golf, in James Murfett (28) with nett 70.
The count-back system got a good working over, as it came into play to separate the winners in the 2 higher divisions.
Dominic Violi (16) got the nod over Jordan Weekley (15), for division 2 honors, with both players finishing with a score of nett 71, whilst in division 1, Jonathon Hirst (13) came out on top, from a visitor from the Deniliquin GC, in Noel Swainger (9) when both players finished with scores of nett 70.
Tony Miceli & Anthony Carol lead the ball run-down with nett 70, with a host of other players on nett 71 & 72. Ross Hastings, Craig Burrell, Sean Baumgurtel & Craig Fletcher had the lucky shots on the par 3 holes.
A very good sized filed, of 78 players, partook in last Thursday’s stableford competition, were Tori Ficarra (24), carried on with his recent good form, to score the day’s best score of 39 points and in doing so, took out the 3rd divisions major prize, from Paul O’Loughlin (26) who finished with 37 points.
Gary Wilkes (14) the best in division 2 with 38 points, with Corey Frost (16) runner-up on 37 points and in division 1, Colin Mewburn (13) got the nod over Mark Warren (10), with both players coming in with a score of 35 points.
Other players required 33 points or more to eligible for a ball. Vice-Captain, Tony Ford, had his lucky stick performing as it should, to claim the NTPs on holes 5 & 11, Andrew McLean hit closest on the 2nd as did Peter Amezdroz on the 15th.
On Sunday, a medley stableford teams’ event, was played, with the teams’ best three scores counting on each hole.
The winning team, by a margin of 10 points, consisted of Adam Mangiameli (36), Damian Mangiameli (25), Stefan Mangiameli (25) and the outsider Jim DeGregorio (35), with a total of 129 points.
The runner-up team, of Matthew Loats (7), Dale Smith (18), Lindsay Watts (0) and David McClelland (12), finished with 119 points, closely followed by Tim Free (17), Scott Worner (19), Mark Free (12) and Adam Kelly (23) on 116.
The nearest the pins went to Mark Free on the 2nd, Tim Free on the 11th and Mark Bowd on the 15th.Chris Mahon blitzed the field in Tuesday’s stableford competition.
Mahon had an outstanding day, recording 5 pars and an out, for 43 points from his daily handicap of 31.
This would have to be the first golfing prize he has received at Murray downs and will certainly, not be his last if he continues to have these types of scores.
Runner-up in this division, was another new member to Murray Downs Golf & Country Club, in Geoff Bett (31), who also recorded a good score of 37.
In division 1, Paul Bethune (13) led the way with 39 points, from Ross Hastings (8) on 37 points.
Other players required 35 points and better to be in the ball-rundown, whilst the NTPs were taken out by Ross Hastings on the 2nd, Howard Rosewarne on the 5th, Paul O’Loughlin on the 11th and Gary Wilkes on the 15th.
This Saturday, in conjunction with the daily stableford competition, will be the Grand Final of the Swan Hill Wholesalers “Premier League” competition, which will have the all-conquering “Royal Goat Trackers” up against “Presidents Cup”.
The “Goats” have taken out the last three premierships of the premier league competition and have been on or near the top of ladder during this current competition.
They will have some very stiff opposition in the “Presidents” mob, as they too have been in the four all season and have scored the most points “for” over the season.
The final draw has been submitted, with two players from each team playing together, for a little extra pressure, which will come down to a match play type of event.
The captain of the “Goats”, Tony Ford, hasn’t been in the best of form, but he is a renowned big occasion player.
George Sidorow has been in relatively good form, as have Ray Power and Brenton Gurnett.
Graeme Mathiske and Kain Domaille are very steady players and with Tony Wilson and Geoff Frame there for support, they are a quite formidable outfit.
The “Presidents” mob, also have some players in reasonably good form, Ken Gregory wasn’t far from the winners last Saturday, the “Pres” Col Hedwards, likes the added pressure of a big occasion as does Gary Bailey, Chris Merritt and Alan Mason and then you have Rob Merrett, Mal Woolhouse and Mick Kiley, who are all capable of big scores on any given day.
The match will go right down to the wire, BUT, the “Pres” mob have been the highest scoring team for the season, so I will have to go with them to get over the line by a very slender margin and I’m sure, that when the dust settles, there will be a couple of underperforming players sent to into the preseason draft. (Watch this space).
At the conclusion of the day’s competition, a BBQ and presentations will be held in the John Mayer’s Gazebo, commencing around 5:30pm.
The Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens “Summer 9 Hole” competition will commence on Monday October 18.
Teams of 4 players can be entered via the Pro Shop.
Murray Downs Ladies
Eighty one ladies teed off in ideal conditions at MDG&CC on Wednesday.
Competitors played stableford and it was also the final round of the Holt’s Spring Brooch but the winner of this prestigious event will not be announced until the presentation of yearly trophies in November.
Lyn Merrett has seen her handicap slip out a few notches lately but she put a stop to the hemorrhaging with a spectacular 41 points to win the main prize of the day.
Playing off a handicap of 22, her score included six pars and nine 3 pointers.
The runner up in A grade was Maree Thurwood (14) 37 points.
In B grade, Sheila Beard (25) 37 points won from Jill Bath (28) 36 pts and in C grade, Lois Tippett (37) 37 points and Eileen Morath (35) 36 points were the winners.
Mag Kiley, 37 points and Jan Butcher, Mary-Anne Davis, Nona Wilson, Di Martin and Kerry Gammon all 36 points led the ball pool.
Lynne Bishop hit her ball to 170 cm from the pin on the 11th to win the jackpot and other nearest the pin winners were.
Barb Cadd, Mary-Anne Davis and Jill McIndoe.
The Medal of Medalist’s will be played in conjunction with the October Monthly Medal next Wednesday and the contenders are Paula Pickert, Barb Upton, Marie Cruickshank, Jude Simmonds, Di Atkin, Col Roberts, Bev Holt, Maree Thurwood, Di Plant and Jenny Lynas.
Thirty eight ladies took out cards on Saturday.
The winners of the two divisions were Mag Kiley (18) 34 points and her daughter , Janelle Hogan (26) 36 pts.
Runners-up were Kristy Gordon (21) 33 pts and Joan Foster (32) 32 points. Sarah Clarke and Kerry Gammon, both 32 points led the ball pool and Dione Heppell, Kristy Gordon and Jenny Ford hit the most accurate shots to the par 3’s.
