MURRAY DOWNS MEN
JAMES McLean has taken out the 2021 Murray Downs Golf & Country Club’s Men’s Championship. McLean, a former Club Champion, who previously won the title in 2015, recorded scores of 77, 76, 78 & 76 for a final four-round tally of 307. These scores are very commendable, as the weather conditions over the four days were quite horrendous, particularly during the final round. Runner-up in the scratch section was last year’s B grade winner Daniel Cruickshank, who finished on 327.
Brian White won the B grade competition with a score of 335, with Andrew Petersen runner-up on 340. C grade went to Rick Rundell-Gordon, who scored 358, from John Tripodi on 377 and D grade was taken out by Kain Domaille with a final score of 393, with Leighton Dullard close behind on 399. The nett winners in each grade were Daniel Cruickshank with 303 in A grade, Justin Toomey in B grade with 289, Roger Walker in C grade with 304, Riley Daniels in D grade with 302 and Craig Burrell took out the Senior Champion’s title with scores of 78, 80, 83 and 88 for a final score of 329, with Ken Gregory next on 339. The first round of the championships commenced with 125 players taking part, but as a result of the atrocious weather last Sunday, when the final round took place, only 44 players completed the four rounds.
In the daily competitions, last Saturday saw 97 players partake in the 3rd round of the championships, where David Bourne (24) recorded the day’s best score of nett 69 to win 3rd division from Cayle McLean (25) on 72 nett. Wil Hawkins (19) was the best in division 2, with a nett 70, from Corey Daniels (15) with nett 71, whilst in division 1, Andrew Gilchrist (12) came out on top with nett 70, from Andrew Petersen (11) on nett 72. Other players required at least a nett 75 to be in the ball rundown, with the nearest the pins going to Scott Mathiske on the 2nd, Andrew Petersen on the 5th, George Sidorow on the 11th and Dale Pearce on the 15th.
On Sunday, another good-sized field of 89 hardy golfers turned up in the, as previously mentioned, very difficult conditions. Trent Hawkins (20) performed the best with a nett 70 score and, in doing so, took out division 2 from Justin Thompson (14) at nett 73. James McLean (3) got the nod for division 1 honours, over Ash Free (6), with both players also finishing with nett 73. David Bourne (23) continued on with his good form from the previous day, by taking out division 3 with a nett 73 score, from Greg Armsden (22) at nett 74, with nett 76 being the benchmark to be in the ball rundown. Brenton Cruickshank had his eye in on the par 3 holes, taking out the NTPs on holes 2 and 15. Graham McLellan was the closest on the 5th, while Brian White did likewise on the 11th.
Thursday last week saw a stableford competition being the order of the day, with 70 players taking part. Some excellent scores were recorded, but there were none better than the 45 points scored by Greg Daniels (23). With this excellent score, Daniels took out the 2nd division and also the major prize on offer. Runner-up in this division was Rob O’Brien (23), also with a very good score of 40 points. Andrew Ferguson (25) just got pipped for the day’s major prize with his 44 points, but took out the 3rd division from David Wilkins (34) with 39 points. The good scores continued in division 1, where Colin Mewburn (12) was the best with 40 and Dave Hogan (11) next best with an average score of 36 points. Good scores, to as low as 35 points, were required to be in the ball rundown, where the unlucky Ken Veale led the pack with 40 points. Ray Holdsworth shot 39 points and both Gary Slater and Rob West each scored 38 points, to win a ball. Frank Violi, Peter Amezdroz, Gerard Mackay and Rob O’Brien collected the nearest the pins on the par three holes.
On Tuesday, a small field of golfers took part in the daily stableford competition, where Peter Amezdroz (31) recorded his best score since returning to Murray Downs, with 40 points. His score was four shots better than next the best, which was recorded by Ron Munro (17) with 36 points. He also hit a lucky shot into the 15th green to claim the NTP on offer there. Ian Runciman was another who had a good shot into the 11th, to grab the NTP. Rob O’Brien (36), Chris Hodgson (35), Caleb Beggs (34), Ross Hastings (32) and Gary Hughes (32) all got a ball for their efforts.
In the Swan Hill Windows and Kitchens 9-hole summer competition, David Bourne had the best score for the week with 24 points. He was closely followed by Wil Hawkins with 22, Julie Overall with 21 and Roseanne Kava, Rob West, Tyrone Parkinson and Charlie King all with 20 points. The best team score for the week was recorded by the “Golf Busters” with 63 points. The next best team score was shared by the “Golden Oldies” and “The Girls” with 56 points each, closely followed by the “Murray Chicks” on 55 points.
Next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club is hosting the Murray Open, which is a qualifying event for the NSW Open. Some quite notable Australian golfers, who normally play on the European tour, have shown interest in playing here, as they must qualify to get into the NSW Open. The three-day tournament commences on Wednesday with the Pro Am, which will be played as an Irish Fourball format in teams of four. Each team will consist of a professional and three amateurs. This event will conclude with a two-course dinner at Murray Downs on Wednesday evening and will then be followed by the 36-hole qualifying event, the Murray Open, on Thursday and Friday. Spectators are permitted onto the course during play to watch these players go through their paces, albeit at a safe distance.
The Annual General Meeting of the men’s golf committee was held on Monday, November 8. Only a very small crowd of interested and concerned members bothered to attend, which goes without saying, that all members must be happy with how the current committee is operating and how the course is being managed. Three new members were elected onto the committee for a two-year term and as such, we welcome Graeme Cox, Rick Rundell-Gordon and Luke Merritt. They will be joining Mick Kiley, who was re-elected captain for another
two-year term, along with Rob Merrett as handicap manager for two years, Ken Gregory as secretary for one year and ongoing committee members Tony Ford (vice-captain), Rob West and Brian White.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
THE annual meeting of the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club ladies golf was held on Wednesday, with Mag Kiley commencing her second term as captain, and Pam Austerberry as vice captain. The remaining committee members are Clare Nalder-Martin, Anne Webb, Jill McIndoe, Colleen Roberts, Barb Clark, Maralyn Morrison and Suzanne Napier.
Club president Col Hedwards welcomed members to the meeting and started proceedings with a tribute to Nona Wilson, who passed away recently. Nona commenced her golf at the Swan Hill City Golf Club and became a valued member at Murray Downs when that club closed. She had been on the committee for the past four years. Nona’s down-to-earth attitude and cheerful company will certainly be missed by her playing companions. A stableford event on the “Downs” course preceded the meeting.
Bev Kelly started golf about five years ago and has only recently joined in on a Wednesday to play 18 holes, but after a personal best score of 43 points from her 44 handicap, this is sure to be a regular occurrence. Her score was the best of the day and won C grade from Maryann Mathiske (26) on 39 points. Jenice Krahnert (20) put together the next best score, with 40 points to win division 2 from Anne Webb (21) on 39 points.
In division 1, Pam Austerberry (19) with 37 points and Mag Kiley (16) on 36 points were successful. Ball pool leaders were Barb Clark and Neeta Hutchins, both with 38 points and Laurel Dewhurst, Barb Upton, Deryn Pinney and Flo Henson, all on 37 points.
Jude Simmonds, Marilyn Dickinson, Laurel Dewhurst and Barb Clark were rewarded for good shots on the par threes with the nearest the pins.
On Saturday, Claris Bourne (23) found the windy conditions to her liking, scoring 37 points, to win from junior Audrey Domaille (52) with 36 points. Dione Heppell and Claris were the NTP winners. Claris then continued her winning streak with 35 points on Sunday, with Phasinee Chaiyasit on 35 points and Melita Sartori with 32 points collecting balls.
On top of this, two major yearly events were completed recently. Val Hedwards won the Donnington Cup, after defeating Shelley Wilkins in a close tussle, while the Fourball Knockout champions are Carolyn Zambelli and Georgina Douglas, after another close match with Robyn Bett and Julie Overall.
LAKE ALBERT
ON Sunday, November 14, the Club held its Annual General Meeting, followed by an end-of-season dinner and presentation of club awards. The awards commenced with Charlie Kingwill receiving his 2020 NDGA Medal, as it was not available at the end of the 2020 season. The 2021 Brian Curthoys Trophy for the best junior golfer was awarded to Caitlyn McKissack, while the Robyn Meehan Cup went to Dakota Meehan in the juniors, James Meehan Senior in the men’s and Karen McKissack in the ladies.
The Gladys Meehan Memorial Trophy was awarded to Robyn Meehan, with Maree Kingwill runner-up, while the John Curthoys Memorial Trophy was awarded to Scott Worner, with Charlie Kingwill runner-up.
VETERAN GOLFERS
THIRTY-TWO veteran golfers entered the stableford event at the Tooleybuc Golf Club on Tuesday, November 16, where the course was in great condition – the best it’s looked in ten years, according to the captain. Thanks to the course green keepers and a special thanks to ‘Trakka’ for her assistance. The ladies winner, with 35 points, was Betty Thompson and runner-up was Ruth McAlister, on 32 points. The men’s winner was Mark O’Shea, who scored 37 points, while the runner-up was Rob Forster (new member) with 32 points, on a count back from Garry Thorne. Nearest the pins went to Sue Davis, Lorraine Bray, Eilleen Willox, Meryl Cameron, Mark O’Shea, Fred O’Bryan and Gary Thorne. The Ball Pool was won by Lorraine Bray, Marg Learmonth, Jean Bibby, Lorraine Howard, Gary Thorne, Fred O’Bryan, David Wilkinson and Greg Gin. That was the last veterans event for this year and let’s hope that 2022 is a far better year for everyone.
The first event in 2022 is at the Barham Golf Club, on Tuesday, February 15.
Finally, veteran golfers were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of popular member Nona Wilson and would like to extend our sincere condolences to Tony and his family.
