MURRAY DOWNS MEN
THE final round of the WRDGA winter pennant was played at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club last Sunday between Murray Downs, Deniliquin, Rich River and Barham golf clubs, with Murray Downs up against Deniliquin and Rich River playing against Barham in all three divisions.
In Division 1, Murray Downs defeated Deniliquin 4 & 1, while Rich River had a clean sweep over Barham 5 & 0.
In Division 2, Murray Downs overcame Deniliquin 3 & 2, as did Rich River over Barham, and in Division 3 it was Murray Downs 4.5 to Deniliquin 0.5 and Rich River defeating Barham 4 & 1.
One of the many highlights for Murray Downs was the performance of 11-year-old Lucas Free, who defeated his opponent 5 & 4 after conceding 12 shots.
The semi-finals of the winter pennant will be held at Rich River on Sunday, August 6, with Murray Downs taking on Barham and Rich River up against Deniliquin across all three divisions, with the winners of each semi-final going through to the grand final, to be played at Deniliquin on Sunday, August 13.
Last Saturday’s competition was against par and played in three divisions, with the best score of the day recorded by a visitor from Halls Gap in Caleb Bretherton (8), who playing in Division 1, registered a score of 7 up.
Runner-up in this division was also a visitor from SGA in Andy Llyod (13) with a score of 2 up.
Mitchell Croft (14) got the nod in Division 2 over Bob Burns (14) when both players finished at 2 up, while in Division 3, it was taken out by Anthony Croft (26) from Wallaloo with 6 up, ahead of Michael Pickert (24) who was square with the card.
Other players required scores of at least 1 down and better to be eligible for a ball, with the nearest the pins being claimed by Neville Brady on holes 2 and 11 and the captain Mick Kiley on hole 15.
Sunday’s competition was a stableford event, where 39 points was the best score in both divisions. Ben Sartori (30) came out on top in Division 2, ahead of Malcolm Devereux (31), with Luke Rodgers (11) doing likewise in Division 1, ahead of Jason Baird (9) on 36 points.
Others required at least 34 points to get a ball, while the nearest the pins went to Harry Simpson on the 2nd, Mitchell Croft on the 11th and Ben Smith on the 15th.
Last Thursday competition was also a stableford event, held over two divisions, with Matthew Quaife (7) recording the best score of 39 points and taking out Division 1 from Malcolm Talbot (16) with 36 points.
In Division 2, it was Andrew Ferguson (30) on top with 37 points, just ahead of Geoff Hinton (24) on 36 points.
The ball rundown went to scores of 34 points, while Geoff Frame, Sam Rovere and Mark Warren picked up the nearest the pins on holes 2, 11 and 15 respectively.
On Tuesday of this week, a small field took part in the daily competition against par, with Paul Bethune (14) recording the day’s best score of 1 up, with the next best scores coming from John Tripodi (18), Ian Gammon (25) and Murray Conn (30) all at 1 down.
This Saturday see’s the all-important final round of the Swan Hill Wholesalers Premier League competition, which will have the ladder leading Royal Goat Trackers up against sixth placed Quo Vadis Gladiators, with the Goats predicted to win.
Third placed Wannabees will take on the eighth placed Birdies, who are also predicted to have a good win and maintain their position in the top four.
The match between second placed Royal Capri and seventh placed Bushrangers is predicted to go the way of Capri, with the last two matches between Mavericks’ and the Presidents Cup and the Mallee Bulls versing Sticky Bandits to determine who makes up the final four.
Mavericks, who are currently in fifth position on 16 points and the Presidents mob in second last position are on 12 points, but have a very good chance of climbing into fourth position, which is currently held by the Bulls, also on 16 points, who are up against the early season premiership favourites Sticky Bandits.
The Mavericks have been a bit hot and cold, but if all their players turn up with their A game, they could score enough points to sneak into fourth.
The match between the Bulls and Bandits is predicted to be very tight, especially if the Bandits play as well as they did in the previous two rounds, but if the Bulls get all their players on to the park, they can be more than capable of holding their position in the top four.
Time will tell, when all results are calculated at 6:00pm Saturday.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
FORTY-nine women teed off in frosty conditions at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday, but winter sunshine soon made way for perfect scoring conditions.
Kathy Parkinson had the best score of the day, totalling 39 stableford points from her 16 handicap. Kathy had a stroke score of 85, made up of 46 on the front nine and a very creditable 3 over par 39 on the back nine.
The runner up in Division 1 was Judy McMahon (29) with 38 points, while Jill Bath (31) on 36 points and Lyn Billing (36) on 35 points were the Division 2 winners.
Maralyn Morrison, Maree Thurwood and Mary-Anne Davis all scored 37 points to lead the ball pool.
Maree Thurwood scooped the balls in the 12th birdies nest, with Mary-Anne Davis collecting the jackpot for her accurate shot on the par 3, 11th hole.
Paula Pickert almost holed out on the 2nd and also collected the nearest the pin on the 5th, with Kathy Parkinson successful on the 15th.
New golfer Deb Quin scored 2 up from her 46 handicap to win Saturday’s event, ahead of Marg Moore (21) on 1 up.
Jill Bath (32) square, was the next best, with Jenny Lynas and Shelley Wilkins collecting the nearest the pin prizes.
LALBERT
ON Sunday a Stableford event was held, with numbers down due to some members attending NDGA Sandscrape Championship and others away.
It was the Juniors that led the way again, with Dakota Meehan scoring 41 points, ahead of Max Parsons on 40 points and Carly Shepherd on 39 points.
The clubs 2023 Annual Tournament will commence on Friday, July 21 with a three Person Ambrose in 6’s, any combination – cost is $45 per team, with an 11.30am assembly for a 12.00pm start, with a BBQ lunch available.
On Sunday, July 23, an 18-Hole Stroke Event for both men and ladies will be held, at a cost of $25 per player, with an 11.30am assembly for a 12.00pm start, with a BBQ lunch.
LAKESIDE LADIES
PERFECT conditions were enjoyed at Royal Lakeside on Wednesday once the frost melted and gobblers were the order of the day.
Sue Notting (26) with 36 points won on a countback from Mandy Ackland (26), while Jean Youl (21) led the ball pool with 35 points ahead of Mandy Male (7) with 31 points, on a countback from Deanne Free (29).
The nearest the pins went the way of Deanne Free on the Lake Boga Café third, Mandy Male on the Lake Boga Marine seventh, Mandy Ackland on the Heil’s 12th and Ruth McAlister on the 18th won Joan’s ball.
Jean and Mandy had gobblers on the second, Sue had gobblers on the 12th and 15th and a birdie on the 12th, while Joan Foster and Mandy had gobblers on the 18th.
A few special visitors joined us afterwards for afternoon tea and plans are underway for our 30th Linen and Lace in August.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
WEDNESDAY – July Monthly Medal
Winner – Narelle Fraser 84/66
Runner up – Jill Coburn 105/70
Balls down the line – Lisa Zanker
Ros Jennings on count back to Betty Hackett
Nearest the pin 1/10 – Janet Brauer
Nearest the Pin 7/16 – Janet Brauer
Least putts – Narelle Fraser 29 putts
Nutrien – Narelle Fraser
VETERANS
THIRTY-one veteran golfers entered the sandscrape championships at Lakeside on Tuesday, July 18, with the course in fantastic condition and the hospitality first class as usual – thank you Deanne and your helpers and also our sponsor for the day Fury Engines & Automotive.
The ladies’ champion was Mandy Male with 79, while the Net winner was Meryl Cameron on 74.
The men’s champion and A grade winner was Darryl Domaille with 86, on a count back from Ian Dodd.
The Net winner was Casey Gillen with 75, while the B grade winner was Mark O’Shea with 93 and Net winner was Lindsay Hogg with 74.
The ball pool was won by Jean Youl, Joyce Boyd, Ken Jones, Marg Moore, Marg Learmonth, Rosie Laughlin and Ray Henshall, while the nearest the pins were won by Mandy Male, Jean Youl, Meryl Cameron, Joan Foster, David Wilkinson, Ian Dodd and Ray Henshall.
The next veterans event is to be held at Murrabit on Tuesday, August 22, with a 9am assembly for a 9.30am start, with everyone asked to come along and support Murrabit.
