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The 19th Hole

MURRAY DOWNS MEN

ON Tuesday last week the club held a medley par competition, with the best score of the day belonging to A Grade winner John Tripodi, who finished with a great score of +4 from his 14 handicap. The runner-up in A Grade was Ross Hastings, who finished square, while Debra Watson took out the B Grade event with a steady round of +2. Adrian Walker finished second on square.

The nearest-the-pins were won by Bob Burns (2nd hole), Ross Hastings (5th), Paul Raudino (11th) and Graeme Mathiske (15th).

On Friday the annual men’s Golden Shoe event took place as a lead-in event to the Golden Putter, which was held over the weekend.

Scoring was tough on Friday for all who played, with wind and slippery greens having a strong outcome on the scoring.

James Faram took out A Grade event with 35 points from his handicap of six, while Greg Magor finished runner-up with 34 points.

The B Grade winner was Colin Hedwards who had a day out with 38 points from his handicap of 16, while Dale Rogers came home second with 36 points on a countback.

Edward Raymond claimed the honours in C Grade with 37 points from his handicap of 23, while Christopher Knee finished second with 36 points.

The nearest the pins were won by James Faram (2nd), David Baker (5th), Robert Gibbs (11th) and Colin Hedwards (15th).

More than 240 players took part in the weekend’s Golden Putter tournament, with visitors from far and wide to play in what has become one of the premier events on the Murray River.

The best scores on day one belonged to Horsham Golf Club visitors Damien Kilpatrick and Jason Skiller, who finished with a fantastic score of +9 in miserable conditions on Saturday afternoon.

The next best on Saturday was Billy Kemp and Oliver Kemp from Horsham, also with +6, while Colin Hedwards and Malcolm Williams came home third with +5.

The nearest the pins were won by Brock Foster (2nd), Chris Steel (5th), Andrew Peterson (11th) and Dennis Delac (15th).

The scoring heated up on Sunday despite the chilly conditions, with the best score of the day belonging to Peter Farren and Jorgen Leschke with a superb round of +11.

Bendigo Golf Club visitors Kenneth Gorrie and Peter Wyatt finished second for the day with +10, while Leigh and Jack Paynter finished third with +9.

The nearest the pins were won by Dion Carmichael (2nd), Neil Dyson (5th), Jesse Ramsey (11th) and Josh Burgess (15th).

The overall winners of this year’s Golden Putter were Tony Ford and Adrian Walker, with the pair finishing with a fantastic score of +16. Congratulations to both on some superb golfing.

Finishing in second place overall were Dale Smith and Colin Mewburn with +15, while Bacchus Marsh Golf Club visitors Daniel Wilkie and Adam Irons finished third with +14.

Thanks to all who made the effort to come and play and the club cannot wait to see everyone again next year.


MURRAY DOWNS LADIES

SUZANNE Napier won her third Monthly Medal for her golfing career at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club last week.

Played in wintry conditions on a course that hosted over 500 competitors over the five-day Golden Putter event, Suzanne (23) found the well drained fairways and fast greens to her liking to post a 73 net score, claiming victory only after surviving a countback with relatively new golfer and current D Grade champion Tamika Hogan (33).

The runners-up in the two divisions were Pam Austerberry (25) with 77 and Julie Overall (32) with 75.

Jenny Lynas (75) and Jenny Monahan (76) led the ball pool, while the nearest the pins went to Shelley Wilkins, Bev Holt, Deb Watson and Jenny Lynas. Rosie Ficarra excelled with the putter to win the putting competition with 29 putts.


LALBERT

ON Sunday, June 30, the final round of the club championships was held, with James Meehan Jr returning the day’s best score in the men’s scratch competition with 80, ahead of Doug Meehan on 81 and Dave Doolan 88.

In the handicap section, Chayse Worner came in with a fine net 70 score ahead of Stuart McGregor with net 73.

The ladies’ scratch event was won by Dakota Meehan, who finished with 109, ahead of sister Danika, who finished runner-up with 110 on a countback in front of Caitlin McKissack.

In the handicap section, Caitlin won with a net 73 score ahead of Danika Meehan and Robyn Meehan on net 84, while the nine-hole juniors was won by Kel Parsons on 59, in front of brother Max on 61.

The club championships are based on the best three rounds of the four rounds played. The winner of the men’s A Grade scratch club championship was Doug Meehan with 229, ahead of his son James on 231 and Dave Doolan on 254.

In the men’s handicap event, Doug was declared the winner with a net 214 score, ahead of Dave Doolan on net 218 and James Meehan Jr on net 219.

In the men’s B Grade scratch event, the club champion is Scott Worner, who finished on 264, ahead of Lee O’Meara on 270 and Stuart McGregor on 271, with the handicap winner being Scott Worner on net 219, in front of Stuart McGregor on net 223 and Chayse Worner on net 227.

In the ladies’ scratch event, the club champion is Karen McKissack, who finished on 266, ahead of Dakota Meehan on 298 and Danika Meehan on 310. The winner of the handicap event was Dakota Meehan on net 208, ahead of Karen McKissack on net 209 and Caitlin McKissack on net 225.

The 2024 club champion is Doug Meehan, while the 2024 Pat Jobling Memorial Award was won by Dakota Meehan. Dakota also took out the 2024 NDGA Medallion. Congratulations to all winners.

The Lalbert Golf Club Annual Tournament will be held on July 19 and 21, under a three-person Ambrose format on Friday and an 18-hole stroke event on Sunday.


NYAH WEST

On a chilly day last Sunday, a Stableford event was played at the Nyah West Golf Club, with Allister Pretty relishing the conditions to win with 38 points, ahead of John Manser on 35 points and Gary Farley on 33 points.

The nearest the pins went to Dennis Pretty on the Goodyear Autocare 2nd hole, Gary Farley, who won both the Nyah West Pharmacy 12th hole and the Nutrien Ag 15th hole and Allister Pretty who was closest on the Rutherford Street Tyres 16th hole, with the Country Tracks 4WD Swan Hill eagles nest gaining another egg.

A number of members will be absent this weekend while supporting the Murrabit Golf Clubs annual tournament, but the clubs junior golf development program will be held at 9.30am on Sunday again.


TOOLEYBUC LADIES

Wednesday, July 3 – Stroke event

Winner – Tracey Burge

Runner up – Mary Robinson

Balls down the line – Lois Jordan, Liza Zanker and Jill Coburn

Nearest the pin 1/10 – Tracey Burge

Nearest the pin 5/14 – Lisa Zanker

Least putts – Jill Coburn 34

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