MURRAY DOWNS MENS
THE 2021 Murray Downs Men’s Club Championships have commenced.
After the first two rounds last weekend, former Club Champion James McLean has got away to a great start, even though by his normal standards, it’s not spectacular.
His first two round scores of 77 & 76 (153) have him in a very strong position, which is five shots clear of Craig Burrell (78/80), with Daniel Cruickshank (78/83) three shots further adrift.
If McLean continues on with his form next round, the 2021 Murray Downs Club Champion will be his.
In B Grade, Ollie Rohde (75/82) 157, has a commanding lead over Brian White (82/83), who is another five shots ahead of Andrew Petersen (85/85).
Andrew Gilchrist and Brenton Gurnett are one shot behind Petersen.
Unfortunately, Ollie has advised that he won’t be available this Saturday.
In C Grade, one of our new committee members in Rick Rundell-Gordon, is in a strong position, after scores of (89/88) 177.
He is four shots ahead of Jason Perry, with Geoff Frame a further three shots back, while in D Grade, only four shots separate the top five players, with Kain Domaille having his head in front after scores of 102/96 (198).
He is closely followed by Leighton Dullard (199), Riley Daniels (200) and Paul O’Loughlin (201).
In the net side for each grade, A Grade is being led by Ken Gregory with 146 (72/74), Brian White in B Grade with 143 (71/72), Rick Rundell-Gordon in C Grade with 143 (72/71) and Riley Daniels in D Grade with 146 (72/74).
Players are reminded, that the “local mercy” rule of a maximum of 10 shots, does NOT apply in the Club Championships.
Players MUST hole out at all times.
It was great to see a large gathering of golfers complete the first two rounds, with 125 on Saturday and 92 players turning out, again, for the second round on Sunday.
If these numbers continue, this year could become one of our most successful championships.
At the conclusion of the final round next Sunday, a BBQ and presentations will be held in the Mayer’s Gazebo, from approximately 6pm.
In the normal Saturday competition, which was also the November monthly medal round, Ollie Rohde took it all before him, with a magnificent round of 75 off the beater for a net 63 score.
With scores similar to this, Rohde, who is currently playing off a handicap of 12, won’t take very long to get back to his former handicap of five.
With this score, Rohde was the best in Division 1, from Brian White (11) who finished at net 71. Barry Ingram (15) took out Division 2 with a net 68, from the unlucky Graeme Mathiske (15) on net 69.
In Division 3, Arnold Kirby (23) shot a net 67, to take out this division from Anthony Carroll (22) on net 71.
In the ball run-down, scores of 73 and better were required.
The nearest the pins were claimed by Craig Burrell on the 2nd, John Webb on the 5th, Ollie Rohde on the 11th and Chris Grant hit a very good shot into the 15th of 31cm.
On Sunday, being the second round of the championships, Paul ‘Babba’ O’Loughlin (26) recorded the best score of the day, with a net 69 and took out Division 3 honours.
Runner-Up in this division was Stephen Cameron (27) with a net 70.
Justin Toomey (15) was the best of the Division 2 players, with a net 70, from the in-form Rick Rundell-Gordon (17) at net 71, whilst in Division 1, the count-back system came into play to separate Grant Ford (9) and Stuart Holt (13) when both players finished with scores of net 71, with Ford coming out in front.
Other players required a score of net 73 and better to get a ball and the NTP’s went to Corey Daniels on holes 5 and 15 and Chris Merritt on hole 11.
Thursday last week saw 82 players partake in a stableford competition, were Barry Caccianiga (34) recorded the day’s best score and his first golfing prize at Murray Downs, with 39 points, to take out Division 3, from Rob O’Brien (23) on 34 points.
Gerard Mackay (17) was the best in Division 2, with 38 points, from our handicapper Rob Merritt (19) on 37 points, while in Division 1, once again, the count-back system came into play, when Colin Mewburn (12) and Sean Baumgurtel (5) came in with the same score of 37, with the nod going Medburn’s way.
In the ball run-down, scores of at least 35 points were required to get a ball.
Tony Ford had one of his best shots, for a very long time, to claim the NTP of the 15th, while Neville Brady hit it to just outside the magical meter on the 11th, Sean Baumgurtel had a good shot into the 5th and Ian Johansen did likewise on the 2nd.
On Tuesday this week, a visitor from the Spring Valley Golf Club, in Paul Higgins (13) recorded the day’s best score of 41 points, to take out Division 1, from Ron Munro (18), who finished with 39 points.
In Division 2, again the count-back system got a work out, to separate Shane Kelly (23) and Stephen Matthews (28), when both players finished with 35 points each, with Kelly coming out on top. Chris Mahon, Peter Amezdroz, Greg Weybury & Wayne Wisby took off the NTP’s on the par three holes.
Finally, after the third week of the Swan Hill Window & Kitchens 9-Hole Summer Competition, the team of the “Young Guns”, Charlie King, Will Hawkins, Mitch Uhlhorn & Hugh Thompson, are leading the way with 183 points, but are closely followed by the “Currawong Courters” on 176, with “Young & Restless” on 171 and “Murray Chicks” and “The Golf Busters” on 170 each.
In the weekly individual scores, Hugh Thompson, again had a very good score of 24 points, but he was outdone by the Men’s Captain Mick Kiley, who recorded 25 points, in his first nine holes in Saturday’s Championship Round – unfortunately, he capitulated over the back nine.
Other good scores were submitted by Charlie King (22), Sue Davis (21) and Bev West, Tyrone Parkinson and Mark Burns, all with 20 points.
With the Murray Open “Pro Am” set for Wednesday, November 24, be aware there are still spots available for in this field, with the format being a team’s “Irish Four Ball” event.
Furthermore, if any player with a lower handicap (under five), wishes to play in the 36-Hole Murray Open, on Thursday November 25 and Friday November 26 with a possibility of qualifying for the NSW Open, please contact the Pro Shop, as there are positions available.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
LISA Brady topped the leader board in the stableford event at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.
Competing in a field of 71 players, Lisa (28) won the B Grade voucher from Barb Clark (28) on 36 points.
The next best score was in C Grade, where Mary Johnson matched her score of 39 points to her handicap, while the Runner-Up was Marj Elston (32) on 37 points.
Captain Mag Kiley (17) with 37 points won A Grade on a count back from Jude Simmonds (22).
The ball pool was led by Val Hedwards and Glenda Coulter, both with 36 points, with Suzanne McLellan, Jenny Ford, Jill McIndoe and Shelley Wilkins executing the lucky shots on the par 3’s.
Forty three ladies teed off in the Saturday event. Jo Watts (11) has made an auspicious return to golf after an injury hiatus and has featured in the prize list over the past few weeks and her score of 39 points will see her handicap reduce further. Mag Kiley (17) scored 37 points, which was a precursor to Wednesday’s good score.
In Division 2, Bev Boys (30) with 38 points won from Ruth McAlister (30) on 36 points.
Jenny Ford and Dione Heppell also scored 36 points, but had to be satisfied to lead the ball winners.
Jo Watts added a nearest the pin to her bounty, with the others going to Gaye Legudi, Michelle Holt and Lynne Bishop.
Sue Davis (22) with 37 points and Melita Sartori (50) with 35 points led a field of 19 players on Sunday.
Sue is a seasoned golfer, but Melita has just taken up this challenging game and this is her best score to date.
Olive Spitty (8) with 35 points and Dione Heppell (11) led the ball pool with Claris Bourne and Dione taking out the allocated NTP prizes.
A shotgun start will signal play on the shorter Downs course next Wednesday, with a 7.45am assembly time.
This will be followed by the Ladies Annual meeting.
