Murray Downs Men
Golf is continuing to be a very popular sport in the Swan Hill region.
Large fields of, fully vaccinated golfers, have continued to tackle the Murray Downs layout, over the past week.
With some slight alterations to time sheet, all those members who wish to partake in a round of golf, are being accommodated.
This being a rolling start, all off the first tee, from 7:00am through until late.
Time slots have been set aside for those who have received one or no doses of a COVID vaccination, who must play in twos and for those that are fully vaccinated, you can play in groups of four.
From Saturday’s competition, 156 players (109 men & 47 ladies), took part in the daily stableford event, even though the greens have had their annual coring and were a bit slow and sandy.
Some very good scores were achieved, the best being Matt Harrop, off his daily handicap of 29 with 41 points.
Hence, he took out the major prize and division 3 honors.
Runner-up in this division, also with a very good score, was Joey Higgins (27) with 39 points.
John Tripodi (16), has hit a purple patch over the past few weeks and continued on with his good form in taking out division 2 with 38 points, from Rick Rundell-Gordon (16) with 36 points.
Whilst in division 1, Oliver Rhode (11) was the best with 38 points from, our international dart player, in Justin Thompson (13) on 35 points.
Other players required a score of 33 points and better to get a ball and the nearest the pins were claimed by Daniel Cruickshank, Chris Grant, Graeme Cox and Sean Baumgurtel, on holes 2, 5, 11 & 15, in that order.
Another, very good field of golfers turned up again for Sunday’s stableford competition, which was played off the black tee markers and again some very good scores were recorded.
The best score of the day came out of division 2, with Steven Bulmer (21) recording an excellent 42 points, to claim the major prize.
Runner-up in this division, also with a very good score was Brady Hogan (19) with 39 points.
Timothy Free (17) was the best in division 1 with 40 points, from Robert Forster (11) on 39 points.
One of our very promising juniors, in Wil Hawkins (24) was the best in division 3 with 40 points, over Tony MacDonald (29) on 38 points.
The lucky shots of the par 3 holes were hit by Jonathon Hirst on the 2nd, Russell Pinney on the 5th, Brady Hogan on the 11th and Mark Bowd on the 15th.
The cooler – showery weather didn’t deter a field of 67 golfers turning up for last Thursday’s competition.
The morning starters may have got the better of the conditions, before the rain came in and Michael Pickert took full advantage of it, to record, possibly his best score ever, of 42 points from his handicap of 21.
In doing so, he was the best in division 2, with Peter Martin (16) hot on his heals with 38 points.
Division 1 scores were a little more realistic, with Jonathon Hirst (11) leading the way with 36 points, only just in front of Andrew Petersen (8) on 35 points.
Tom Wilkins (28) had his yearly good score, to take out division 3, with 39 points, from Stephen Matthews (28) on 35.
Other players required at least 34 points to be in the ball rundown.
The short par 3 11th, has been getting a hammering over the past two weeks, as players are honing in on the pin for a share of the jackpot on offer.
This week Michael Pickert had a career best shot by hitting it to 29cm, but he had to share the jackpot with Shane Kelly, who also had a career best shot, by coming within 75cm.
Other NTPs were taken out by Darryl Domaille on the 2nd, Jonathon Hirst on the 5th and Tony Ford on the 15th.
On Tuesday, of this week, another good field of mid-week golfers participated in a stableford competition, in 2 divisions, with Wayne Such (23) recording the day’s best score of 39 points, to take out the 2nd divisions main prize, closely followed by Riley Daniels (27) with 38 points.
Ever reliable, Neville Brady (4) was the best in division 1 with 38 points, with Ron Munro (18) the next best on 34 points, which was the score required to be in the ball rundown.
Ross Hastings took out the nearest the pin on the 5th hole, as did Donald Mills, a visitor from Howlong, on the 11th and John Tripodi on the 15th.Just a reminder to all golfers, the “Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens” 9-hole summer competition commenced this week.
If you haven’t entered a team, you have until Sunday to enter and be a part of this 8-week competition.
Also, it is imperative that ALL golfers, register with the Pro Shop and sign in with the “COVID – QR” before commencing play, be it competition or practice.Murray Downs LadiesRhonda Barrow was the outstanding golfer of the eighty one ladies in the stableford event at Murray Downs on Wednesday.
Playing off a 20 handicap, Rhonda collated 43 points to win A grade. Her score equated to a scratch score of 85 and included six pars with each one adding three points to the total. Runner-up in this grade was Lyn Merrett (22) 38 points who has featured in the prize list over the last couple of weeks.
In B grade, Jenice Krahnert (27) 35 points and Neeta Hutchins (30) 34 points were the winners and Joan Foster (32) 36 points won on a count back from ever improving Rosanne Kava (41).
Jan McLean, Kathy Parkinson and Di Atkin all scored 36 points to lead the ball countdown with the ntp prizes going to Michelle Holt, Jill Bath, Jenny Tom (Cobram Baroga) and Laurel Dewhurst. Maree Thurwood birdied the par 5 12th hole to collect the nest of balls.
Forty seven ladies competed on Saturday with Bev West (36) scoring 37 points to post the best score of the day. Runner up in Div 2 was Barb Cadd (28) 36 points.
Thirty six points was the winning score in Div 1 with Carol Wiseman (23) surviving a count back to win from Sue Davis (22).
Suzanne McLellan, Gaye Legudi and Lynne Bishop all scored 35 points to lead the ball pool and the most accurate shots on the par 3’s were executed by Kristy Gordon, Gaye Legudi, Nona Wilson and Lyn Merrett.
Three A graders came to the fore on Sunday.
14 marker, Lynne Bishop 39 points won from Dione Heppell and Jo Watts (12), both 37 points. Jo has recently returned to golf after a 12 month injury lay off and if present form persists, will soon be back to a single figure handicap.
