THE 19TH HOLEMURRAY DOWNS MENS
WITH the easing of Covid restrictions, large numbers of visitors have been flocking to the Murray Downs course over the past week to get their long-awaited golfing fix.
These visitors came from near and far – such as Portland, Warrnambool, the Bellarine and the Mornington Peninsulas – and from many towns along the Murray River.
Unfortunately, some of our members may have missed out on getting a game in their “normal” tee position as a result.
In the daily competitions, last Thursday saw a decent sized field of 72 golfers take part in the stableford competition across three divisions.
The best score of the day was 39 points, which was recorded by division 1 player Graeme Mathiske, from his handicap of 13.
Runner-Up in this division was Craig Fletcher (12) with 36 points.
Vice Captain Tony Ford (16), had one of his better rounds for a long time, taking out division 2 with 37 points.
He was closely followed by Dale Smith (16) with 36 points – while in division 3, David Wilkins (34) was the standout player with 38 points, with Gary Slater (26) next on 37 points.
Other players required scores of 34 points or more to be in the ball run-down, while the nearest the pin’s, were claimed by Ross Hastings on the 2nd, Mark Warren on the 5th, Craig Fletcher and Shane Kelly, both hit it inside the magical metre on the 11th to share the jackpot on offer and Craig Fletcher again hit another very good shot on the 15th as well.
Saturday’s competition was also played as a stableford event, following the last two weeks of stroke competitions (Club Championships) and were played in three divisions.
Some very good scores were recorded, but there were none better than the 42 points, achieved by Grant McNees from a handicap of 10.
With this score, he won Division 1, with Ken Gregory (6) finishing with a very respectable 39 points.
Vice Captain Tony Ford has hit a purple patch by recording 40 points from his new handicap of 15, to take out division2, from our handicapper Rob Merrett (19) on 37 points.
Division 3 went the way of Alan Mason (24) who scored 40 points, with another in form player in Gary Slater (25) finishing on 36 points, which happened to be the score required to be eligible for a golf ball.
Two morning players in Oliver Rhode and Arnold Kirby had their eye in on the par three holes by winning three of them, with Kirby on the 2nd and Rohde on holes 5 and 11 – while Mark Warren claimed the win on the 15th.
We then moved onto Sunday, where one of our visitors in Lyle McLeman (43) from Rossdale, recorded a brilliant 47 points, to claim the major prize on offer and Division 2 honours.
The next best score of the day was 40 points, was achieved by Christopher Knee (33), who finished Runner-Up in this division.
Division 1 scores were a little more realistic, with Ash Free (5) coming out on top with 35 points, from Rod Bishop (16) also on 35 points.
Other players required at least 34 points to earn a ball, whilst the two nearest the pins on offer were taken out by Robert Forster on the 5th and Steven Emberson on the 15th.
On Tuesday of this week, the competition was against par, were Shane Kelly (21) was the standout with an excellent score of 6 up.
He was closely followed by Tony McDonald (28) with 4 up and Dale Smith, who led the ball run-down, with 3 up.
Les McPhee had a very lucky shot into the 2nd, to claim that NTP, while Gary Hughes also had a career best shot into the 5th.
Wayne Wisby, did what ‘Wizza’ normally does and hit it closest on the 11th, while Mark Warren was the closest on the 15th.
In the Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens 9-hole Summer Competition (week 5) this week, Bev West was the stand out player, recording a very good score of 23 points.
She was closely followed by Pam Blohm with 22 and Geoff McDonald, Rosie Ficarra and Mick Kiley all on 21 points.
With her 23 points, Bev’s team “The Golden Oldies” scored the highest team score for the week, of 62 points.
She was ably assisted by Rob West (20), Maz Morrison (19) and Joe Morrison who had a respectable 18 points, but his score didn’t count.
This Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club will be hosting the “Murray Open”.
The three-day tournament will commence with the Murray Open-Pro Am on Wednesday, where three amateur golfers will be teamed up with a golfing professional in a “Texas Scramble” format.
This format is where every one drives and you select the best drive, with all players playing their second shot from this position.
They will then be holing out with their own ball to accumulate stableford points.
Each team’s two best scores are then recorded for the team score.
This event will be followed by the 36-hole Murray Open on Thursday and Friday, with over 100 professionals and quite a number of leading amateur golfers having entered.
They will all be attempting to qualify for the NSW Open, which will be played early next year.
Some very good golf should be played for the spectators to witness.
Among the notable players who will be in attendance will be current NSW Open Champion Bryden McPherson, who has been playing on the European Tour and highly ranked Matthew Griffin, who has recently returned from the Japanese circuit.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
TUESDAY was the new Wednesday at the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club this week, with the Murray Open Pro Am event taking over the course on the usual Ladies day.
Fifty five ladies competed in the stableford event, with the best scores coming from Division 1, where Eilleen Willox collated 41 points from her 25 handicap, to win from Kew Golf Club visitor Melissa Wilde (28) on 40 points.
In Division 2, Fay Rush (37) found form with 38 points, finishing ahead of new golfer Mandy Amezdroz (54) on 36 points.
Mandy started her golf this year under the guidance of Sue Davis and Carol Wiseman, who have been helping new golfers on a Monday morning for the last six years.
This was Mandy’s first competitive golf outing and as a result of this good score, her handicap has been reduced by five shots.
The nearest the pin prize on the 15th hole also added to Mandy’s bounty.
Octogenarian Marie Cruickshank led the ball pool with 38 points and the other NTP winners were Suzanne McLellan, Jenice Krahnert, Lynne Bishop and Eilleen Willox. Lynne and Eilleen’s shots were within two metres of the hole, which saw them share the jackpot on the 11th.
Thirty six ladies were on the course on Saturday and it was quiet achiever Jude Simmonds (22) who showed a clean pair of heels to runner-up Shelley Wilkins (20), who finished with 36 points in Division 1.
The Division 2 winners were Maralyn Morrison (26) on 37 points and Avis Shipsides (32) on 35 points.
Carol Wiseman with 36 points, Dione Heppell and Rhonda Barrow, both with 35 points, led the ball pool., while Kristy Gordon, Dione Heppell, Barb Clark and Lynne Bishop collected the nearest the pin prizes.
Junior golfer Tara Free is a regular Sunday golfer and on this occasion, was on top of the leader board.
Her 39 points will see her 50 handicap reduced next time she steps up to the 1st tee.
A nearest the pin on the par 3, 15th hole was also testament to her ability to hit accurate shots.
Thirty-eight marker, Mary Johnson was the next best with 37 points, while Kerry Gammon on 36 points and another new golfer, Melita Sartori, with 35 points led the ball rundown.
Kristy Gordon hit the most accurate shot to the 2nd hole.
