MURRAY DOWNS MENS
LAST Sunday’s stableford competition was played off the short “Downs” course, for a little bit of variety.
It’s a course that only gets used three or four times a year and is quite a challenge for all golfers.
Shorter it may be, but there are still a lot of challenges with all holes and handicaps are shortened.
Golfers have to rethink what clubs they will use on each tee block, as a number of the “par four” holes are reachable and thrown in with a number of very short par three holes, different strategies are required to manipulate your way around.
After the dust had settled, it was two Division 3 players who recorded the day’s best scores of 42 points apiece.
David Bourne (15) got the nod via the count-back system over Damien Mangiameli (16) for the $50 voucher.
The count-back system came into play again to separate Mick Scott (10) and Dale Smith (9) for Division 2 honors, with Scott coming out on top when both players finished on 39 points.
Robert Forster (2) took out Division 1 with 39 points from Leigh Brady (3) on 38 points.
Andrew Halligan, Quenten Graham and Greg Daniels led the ball rundown with their 39 points.
The nearest to the pins were awarded on the normal par three holes, where Mark Bowd and James McLean hit it to the same distance on the second hole, while Darryl Domaille was the closest on the fifth, as was Ken Gregory on the eleventh and Dale Smith claimed the win on the fifteenth.
Saturday’s competition was played in near perfect conditions, with Division 3 player Ashley Edwards recording the day’s best score of 42 points from his handicap of 31 and claimed the major prize on offer. Runner-up in this division was Joey Higgins (26) with 37 points.
The count-back system got a working over, as it came into play to separate the top two in the other divisions, when all players came in with 36 points each.
Graeme Cox (6) came out on top with Division 1 honors over Jesse Day (8) and Leigh Paynter (19) did likewise from Brent Daniels (14) in Division 2.
The ball rundown was red hot as players required at least 35 points to be in the running, whilst the nearest the pins were taken out by Aldo D’Amico on the second, John Tripodi on the fifth, Adam Mangiameli and Oscar Gale shared the jackpot on the eleventh and Mark Free on the fifteenth.
On Thursday last week, in the very blowy conditions and off the black markers, Brad ‘Chook’ Fowler (28) had the best score of the day of four up in the par competition and in doing so claimed Division 3 honors and the major prize available.
The in-form Glenn Violi (27) was next best in this division with one up.
Scores of square were the order of the day in Division 2, where Terry McEwan (21) came out on top, from Dale Smith (19), while in Division 1, Ross Hastings (10) was the best with one up from Ken Gregory (9), who finished square with the card.
To get a ball, other players required scores of two down and better.
Rob West played one of his best shots “ever” to 33cm from the pin on the eleventh green, to take the jackpot, Wayne Wisby was the closest on the second, Mark Warren on the fifth and Brian Elliott on the fifteenth took out the other NTPs.On the first Tuesday of November, Melbourne Cup Day, a strong field of 78 golfers took part in the daily stableford competition.
Regular Kerang visitor Andrew Spitty (1) took out the A Grade section, by way of the count-back system, from Chris Smith (11), with both players finishing on 35 points each.
James Downing (21) recorded the day’s best score of 39 points and won B Grade, from Charlie King (18) on 37 points, whilst in C Grade the count-back system again came in to play in order to separate Ashley Edwards (28) & Riley Daniels (26) when both players came in with 34 points, with Edwards coming out on top.
Dale Smith was a little unlucky, recording 37 points to lead the ball rundown, which went down to 34.
Sean Baumgurtel claimed the NTPs on holes two and 15, Ian Johansen was the closest on the second hole as was Tony Ford on the eleventh.We are now into the second week of the Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens 9-Hole Summer Competition and this week Claris Bourne recorded the weeks best score of 24 points to assist her team “The Golf Busters” in recording 61 points.
Joel Murphy had the next best score of 23 points, closely followed by Hugh Thompson, who recorded the best score last week, while Mick Kiley finished with 22 points.
In the teams’ event, as mentioned “the Golf Busters” recorded 61 points and were closely followed by the “Murray Chicks” and “The Pink Girls”, both with 59 points.
Just a reminder, the Men’s Club Championships commence this weekend, with rounds one and two, followed next weekend by rounds three and four.
In the final round, Sunday November 14, the top four players from each grade will be seeded to play together.
Also next Monday November 8 is the Annual General Meeting of the Men’s Golf Committee.
The meeting will be held in the club’s Balcony Room at 7:30pm with all members encouraged to attend.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
RAIN drastically reduced the number of competitors at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, with only 14 of the original 78 names on the timesheet competing in the November Monthly Medal.
Suzanne McLellan showed her liking for the inclement weather with a score of 72 nett from her 21 handicap to win the coveted medal, with the rain only stopping while Suzanne and her group played two holes, while Jo Williams (44) 75 nett was Runner-Up.
This is only Jo’s second golf season, but she is steadily improving. Mag Kiley and Lois Carnie both scored 76 nett to win golf balls.
Another improver, Rosanne Kava, collected the nearest the pin prize on the eleventh as well as winning the putting competition with 32 putts.
Other NTP winners were Lois Carnie, Marg Moore and medallist Suzanne.
On Saturday, Judi Benbow (25) 42 points won Division 1 from Jenny Ford (25) 39 points.
The Division 2 winners were Dianne Atkin (32) 40 points and Barb Cadd (27) 36 points.
Carol Wiseman and Jenice Krahnert both scored 37 points to lead the ball pool. Kristy Gordon, Jo Watts and Jenny Lynas were the most accurate on the Par 3’s.
The shorter Downs course was in play on Sunday, with Captain Mag Kiley (13) 41 points winning from Gaye Legudi (23) 40 pts.
Claris Bourne and Mary Johnson, both 39 points and Rhonda Barrow 38 points were next best.
There were 15 starters for the Cup Day event with Nona Wilson (25) and Sarah Clark (22) tied for first, with the former taking the honours after a count back. Maryann Mathiske (34) 33 points was next best.
Condolences are extended to the family of Margaret Cadd, who passed away on Wednesday.
Margaret started her golf at Nyah District and then in her later years continued at Murray Downs.
Although she hadn’t played for many years, her ability to hit the ball straight down the fairway is remembered by long time members of the club.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
Sponsor – Lois Jordan
Winner – Lisa Zanker (29) 37pts
R/U – Jill Coburn (30) 35pts
Nearest the pin – 1/10 Jill Coburn
Nearest the pin – 5/14 Roz Jennings
Nutrien – Lisa Zanker
Ball down the line – Narelle Fraser
Roz Jennings 4B Marg
