MURRAY DOWNS MENS
A NEW course record has been set at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
Last Thursday, with a field of 74 professional and 29 amateur golfers taking part in the NSW PGA-sanctioned ‘Murray Open’, Canberra golfing professional Matthew Millar set a new course record of 8 under (64), on the magnificent Murray Downs layout.
Millar bettered the previous record, set by Deyen Lawson in September 2016, by one shot.
Playing in the earlier Thursday time slot, Millar took full advantage of the calmer morning conditions to set the new course record.
His round consisted of four birdies on the front nine and a further two birdies on the back nine, along with an eagle on the par five 12th hole, for a pair of 32’s.
With his score of 64, he set himself up to take the title of Murray Open champion, which he completed on Friday, scoring a two under par round of 70, for an overall total of ten under par.
Runner-Up was Queenslander Charlie Dann, who finished at seven under.
Dann was closely followed at six under by leading amateur Daniel Gill from Victoria and Queenslander Elvis Smylie.
The majority of these players have now moved onto Dubbo for the second round of regional qualifying events.
There are six of these regional events to be played, with the top four players from each event qualifying for the NSW Open – which will be played in March 2022 in Sydney.
The three-day event got under way on Wednesday with the Murray Open Pro-Am, where 30 professional golfers were joined in a Texas Scramble teams’ format, each with three amateurs.
The format being all players teeing off and then each player playing their second shots from where the team’s best drive finished.
They then proceeded to play out their own ball from this position and accumulate stableford points, with the best two scores used as the teams’ score for each hole.
The team consisting of Gaye Legudi (30), Jo Watts (10), Jo Cash (31) and professional Cameron John put together a score of 105 points to take out the event, from the team of John Tripodi (16), Joe Higgins (26), Aldo D’Amico (10) and professional Hayden Webb on 104 points.
This team was greatly assisted by the hole-in-one scored by Webb on the par three 15th.
In third position, also finishing with 104 points, was the team of Lynne Bishop (15), Michelle Holt (24), Kerry Gammon (32) and Charlie Dann.
During and at the conclusion of the three days, NSW PGA officials and golfing professionals were all full of praise for the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
The course, the organisation and facilities are first class, with suggestions that more major events could and should be played here.
On Saturday, the annual ‘Christmas Turkey’ teams’ event was played, with the format being a team’s event of four players, with each team recording their three best stableford scores per hole.
Each member of the two best teams received a Christmas turkey.
The winning team, with a score of 126 points, consisted of Ross Kenon (10), Tyler Aitken (9), Graeme Bray (26) and Andrew Petersen (9).
Next best, with a score of 121 points, was Rob Merrett (18), Ian Read (13), Grant McNees (10) & Justin Thompson (11).
They were closely followed by Joel Travaglia (30), Mark Burns (14), Ricky Pickering (16) & Paul Livingston (2) with 118 points.
Nearest the pin’s went to captain Mick Kiley on the 2nd, Jason Perry on the 5th, Tynan Perry on the 11th and Royce Free on the 15th.
In the Ladies section, the winners, with a score of 120 points was the team of Mag Kiley, Kathy Parkinson, Janelle Hogan and Audrey Domaille.
Runner-Up, with a score of 117 points, was the team of Belinda Gardner, Eileen Willox, Marj Elston & Judi Simmonds.
NTP’s for the ladies went to Norma Everett on the 2nd, Mag Kiley on the 5th, Libby Gregory on the 11th and Kathy Parkinson on the 15th.
Then, on Sunday, topping off a very busy five days at Murray Downs, RTM Constructions sponsored a four person Ambrose competition, with another large number of golfers participating. The winning team, with a nett score of 53.625 (59 off the beater), was Daniel Cruickshank (5), Jonny Hirst (12), Tristan Ramage (19) and Luke Doolan (7). Next best, with a nett score of 55.25, was Andy Graham (4), Gene Brooks (9), Jayden Graham (14) & Mark Roberson (27). They finished a quarter of a shot ahead of Chris Smith, Tom O’Halloran, Jakob Butler & Tim Phillips (55.5).
Following Saturday’s competition, the presentation of the annual award winners was made, with the winners as following –LJ Hooker Summer Cup – Jackson Quirk
Anniversary Cup – Stuart Brumby
Singles Knock Out winner – Rob Merrett
Mixed KO winners- Jorgen Leschke & Sara Clarke
4BBB winners – Jorgen Leschke & Jackson Quirk
Putter of the Year – Ross Kenyon
Medal of Medallists – Glenn Wilkes
Golfer of the Year – Glenn WilkesWith so much golf being played over the past week, quite a number of players didn’t get the opportunity to hand in a card for the Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens 9-Hole Summer competition.
Of those that did hand in a card or two, Bev West and Ross Kenon had the highest scores of 22 points each.
With her score of 22, Bev’s team of “Golden Oldies” accumulated the highest team score for the week, with 60 points.
The next highest team score for the week went to the “Currawong Crusaders,” with 53 points.
As this is the second last week of this current 9-hole competition, players are reminded that a barbecue and presentations will take place on Sunday December 12 in the Mayers Gazebo, commencing at 4pm.
All cards are to be submitted before this time, so that the results can be completed.
On Tuesday of this week, with the annual renovations of the fairways taking place, the competition was restricted to playing the front nine holes twice.
Because of these necessary works taking place, only a small field of golfers took part in the stableford competition – which saw 3 players all finish with 36 points apiece.
In the end it was Graeme Mathiske (12) who got the nod in his favor, from Ron Munro and Shane Kelly.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
SIXTY two ladies braved the conditions on the first day of summer at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
The heat did not deter Jenny Ford, who topped the leaderboard with four up from her 24 handicap.
This score won the major trophy of the day, with Michelle Holt (24) the next best in A Grade with one up.
Lisa Brady (27) is showing the benefit of more golf outings, with a score of one up, to win B Grade from Judi Lonergan (29) on two down.
In C Grade, one up was also the winning score – on this occasion, it was Julie Overall (31) who won on a count back from Elaine Brown (30).
Gaye Legudi, Pam Blohm and Deb Kelly also scored one up, to lead the ball pool, which went to scores of two down.
The 11th hole jackpot was collected by Sue Davis, while the other lucky shots were executed by Jenice Krahnert, Judi Lonergan and Lyn Merrett.
Christmas lunch and the presentation of annual trophies will take place next Wednesday.
This will be preceded by an 18 hole event on the Downs Course, with a 7.45am shotgun start.
Please advise captain Mag Kiley on 0418 303 371 if you’re not requiring lunch, or of any dietary requirements.
Kris Kringle is still in isolation, but there will be novelty prizes and raffles, so turn up in your best Christmas clobber, while The Golden Girls Christmas Lunch is on December 10, with names to be in to Marie or Joan by December 6.
