We’re back!!!!
For how long is anyone’s guess, but currently, our Victorian members and guests are permitted to play golf at Murray Downs, following the lifting of travel restrictions, for border residents, on Tuesday night.
All this means, that the final round of the “Swan Hill Wholesalers” Premier League, will now be played this Saturday, were we have the Sweatpeas taking on the President’s Cup and Country Club Chicks doing battle with the MD Mavericks for a place in the finals.
Currently the Presidents Cup mob who are in 3rd position and the Sweatpeas who are in 5th , both have 12 points, so it will be game on.
The Presidents mob, led by the Club’s President himself, Col Hedwards, with Vice-President Mal Woolhouse, Captain Mick Kiley, Secretary Ken Gregory (when he’s available), handicapper Rob Merrett, team physio Gerard Moloney and farmers Alan Mason and Gary Bailey, who are all in reasonable form, should be too good for the “Peas” with the big hearted Carol Wiseman leading the all Ladies team, consisting of Barb Clark, Elaine Brown, Sheila Beard, Eileen Farrer, Sarah Clark, Claris Bourne and Kerry Gammon.
The President’s mob shouldn’t underestimate the “Peas” as they are all very capable of recording big scores on any given day.The other match, to decide the make-up of the finals, is the match between the MD Mavericks & Country Club Chicks.
The Mavericks who are currently in 4th position on 12 points take on the Chicks in 6th on 10 points. In the last match that was played, prior to the lock-down, the Chicks almost upset the ladder leaders “Power On” when their scores couldn’t be separated, at 128 points each and the Mavericks only just got over the 7th placed, Sticky Bandits by a single point.
This match, again, will go right down to the line, as the Chicks have some real talent in their team.
With the 2021 Golden Putter winners, Lynne Bishop & Shelly Wilkins both in very good form, they will have good support from their teammates in Barb Cadd, Sue Davis (who is due for a big score), Kristy Gordon, Gaye Legudi, Anne Webb and Rebeca Humphries, whist the Mavericks, also have some very good players (on their day), with the likes of our CEO Greg Roberts leading the way, ably assisted by Ash Free, Ian Johansen, Mick Scott, former club champion James McLean, Premier League coordinator Brian White, Dale Smith and Alan Woolstencroft, all showing reasonable form, but I’ll stick my neck out and select the Chicks to make their way into the finals series, by a very narrow margin.
The other two matches, will be between the top of ladder Power On and bottom of the ladder Dukes. The “Dukes” are capable of causing a huge upset here, as they have a very talented team, but they haven’t fired up until this stage, but when you have a team that includes the likes of Neville Brady, Gene Brooks, John Tripodi, Ian Read, Daniel Pedretti, Greg Armsden, Russell Silvester and Eric Symons, a big team score is never very far away, but then again, the Power On team have been very impressive all through the home and away season, to be currently ladder leaders.
They have a very competitive team, consisting of Nona Wilson, Brian Elliott, Cath Lang, Maryanne Mathiske, Roger Walker, Jenny Ford, Geoff Brasser and Paul Sparks, when they combine well.
In the final match of the preliminary series, we have the Royal Goat Trackers, who are currently in 2nd position, up against the 7th placed team “The Sticky Bandits”.
It is possible the Royal Goats may finish up in 4th position, if the Bandits cause a major upset (which they are capable of) and other results go as predicted, but when you have a team full of “Royal Goat Trackers” they will be all out to avoid a dressing down from the “Royal Goat” himself, Tony Ford (even though he may be a out wounded).
Speedy Frame is always not far away from the top of the leader’s board, nor are his teammates, George Sidorow, Wayne Wisby, Graeme Mathiske, Brenton Gurnett[M1] , Kain Domaille and Ray Power, whilst the Bandits have a team full of young talented players in; Jorgaen Leschke, Daniel Cruickshank, Leighton Dullard, Justin Condely, Jackson Quirk, Brenton Cruickshank, Andrew Halligan and Johny Hirst.
This team has a huge amount of ability and were my pre-season prediction as premiers, but they have struggled to get a full team out onto the course each week.
The dates for final series matches are to be confirmed, so keep an eye on the Pro shop log in page for updates.Finally, the 2021 Western Riverina pennant series, has been cancelled, because of the travel restrictions, but hopefully, we will have a summer pennant competition organized at a date to be fixed.
Murray Downs LadiesThere was a palpable sense of relief and excitement amongst the ladies at MDG&CC on Wednesday, relief that lockdown had finished and excitement to catch-up with golfing friends.
A stableford 4BBB was on the agenda and again it was a case of two of the most senior members coming to the fore.
Marie Cruickshank and Flo Henson are both octogenarians, and although their handicaps have increased over the last few years, still had to combine well to take out the winner’s prizes with a score of 47 points.
Marie contributed 7 x3 pointers and Flo 5×3 pointers .
Kathy Parkinson, a renowned big hitter in the club, teamed with Judy McMahon to score 45 points to take out the runner-up prize from fellow big hitter Lynne Bishop and Jan Butcher 44 points.
Faye Palmer and Mary Johnson, 43 points led the ball rundown. Mary-Anne Davis, Glenda Coulter, Faye Palmer and Chris Warburton hit the lucky shots to the par 3’s.
Chris Warburton collected 12 golf balls from the birdies nest after scoring 4 on the par 5 12th hole.
Carol Wiseman also hit a memorable shot on the par 5 16th when her hybrid 5 wood shot found the hole from approximately 150 metres out.Nyah West
Thankfully golf courses have re-opened again which will enable those in the community, whether you are a club member or not, to get out and enjoy your recreational exercise again.
Please observe the restrictions still in place, in particular the QR Code or manual sign in, social distancing, and you must wear a mask at all times inside and outside and that includes whilst playing golf.
Our small band of volunteers is slowly getting over their frustration and anger at the senseless vandalism done to the course last Friday evening, when two local hoons decided to donut the course in their 4 WD vehicles.
So cowardly were they, they broke into the course through a boundary fence then hooned all over the course until they were in the back section of the course hidden from street view and did donuts on several fairways and damaged a sand green.
The club’s annual tournament which was scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled due to the COVID lockdown and the uncertainty of if or when the lockdown would be lifted and under what ongoing restrictions.
The postponed July general meeting of members will now be held next Monday in the clubhouse at 7.30pm.
The club is located at 202 Yarraby Road, Nyah West and is open again every day for members and visitors.
Lakeside LadiesA good turn up of ladies on Wednesday morning, happy to be out of lockdown & back on the course.
Mandy Ackland continued her good form & won the day with 33 points. Sue Notting was R/U with 30 points & Joan
Foster won the ball comp.
Mandy won both the Lake Boga Cafe coffee & cake on the 3rd & Joan’s ball on the 18th.
