MURRAY DOWNS MEN
A LARGE number of golfers have flocked to Murray Downs over the holiday period.
Every day over the Christmas/New Year holiday period, the Murray Downs course has been inundated with both members and visitors, with some of them even braving the very hot days over the weekend.
Despite the influx of golfers, the course has stood up well thanks to the efforts put in by the ground staff to keep the greens in a manageable condition by watering them and not over mowing them during this busy period.
While there have been some very good scores posted, Archer Bethune from Victoria Golf Club stands out with his 48 points, which he recorded in last Thursday’s Stableford Competition.
Playing off his daily handicap of 19, he blitzed the rest of the field, with his 48 points usually being enough to be the winning score in a 4ball competition at Murray Downs.
President Col Hedwards (14) put up the second-best score in Division 2 with 40 points, while Andrew Spitty who is a regular visitor from Kerang, put in an impressive six under par 66 to record 42 points and take out Division 1 ahead of Justin Thompson (12) on 41 points.
Division 3 was taken out by Barry Caccianiga (35) who barely nudged out Mitchell Croft (29) with both players finishing on 41 points, while James McErvale from Midlands GC led the ball run-down with 40 points, which was reduced to 35 points.
Nearest the pins were taken out by Greg Weybury on the 2nd, Shane Ingram on the 5th, Mark Warren on the 11th and Archer Bethune on the 15th.
On Friday, the competition was a Medley Event against par, with Corey Daniels (12) taking out Division 1 with +5, with Wil Hawkins (17) the next best at +3.
Ashley Edwards (27) edged out Owen Harrop (23) in Division 2, with both players finishing up on +1, with the nearest the pins going to Hayden Hogan, Owen Harrop, Corey Daniels and Sarah Clark.
On Saturday the competition against par again across 3 divisions, with Dave Hogan (11) recording a +6 to take out Division 1 from Evan Papadopoulos (6) from Mt Derrimut GC who finished at +4.
Andrew Cameron (16) was the best in Division 2 with +5, ahead of Andrew Bethune from Victoria GC who finished on +3, while Mick Kiley (20) took out Division 3 on +5 ahead of Alan Mason (25) on +3.
Lucky shots on the par 3 holes were taken out by Graeme Cox on the 2nd, Geoff Frame on the 5th, Dale Rogers on the 11th while on the 15th Gene Brooks and Charlie King shared the spoils after both their shots were measured identical.
In Sunday’s Stableford event teeing off from the gold tee blocks, Joel Lieschke (23) recorded an excellent 43 points to pip captain Mick Kiley (18) who finished on 41 points.
Nearest the pins were taken out by Steven Emberson on the 2nd, Ian Gammon on the 5th, Mick Kiley on the 11th and Tristan Ramadge on the 15th.
On Monday there was another good-sized field who competed in the Medley Stableford Competition with the men playing off from the black tees.
John Tripodi (16) submitted his best score for a while and was the best score of the day to take out the major prize in Division 1 with 42 points, he finished ahead of Dale Rogers (14) who finished on 38 points.
Division 2 was taken out by Keegan Lannen (20) from Horsham who finished on 41 points from Mabel Spitty (37) from Kerang with 38 points.
Nearest the pins were taken out by Brent Daniels on the 5th, John Tripodi on the 11th and Sean Baumgurtel on the 15th.
Capping off a very busy period at Murray Downs was Tuesday’s Stableford event which saw 72 players taking part across three divisions with each divisional winner finishing on 40 points, while all runners-up finished on 39 points.
Division 1 was taken out by Garry Hilder (5) from Mollynook GC ahead of Neville Brady (3), while Steven Bulmer (16) edged out Leigh Paynter (17) in Division 2 and Glenn Violi narrowly beating Mitchell Croft (28) in Division 3.
Nearest the Pins going the way of Robbie Gray on the 2nd, Ian Read on the 5th, Neville Brady on the 11th and James Downing on the 15th.
The 2nd series of the Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens nine-hole summer competition is fast approaching with the competition starting on January 17 and concluding on March 20.
It is a teams event consisting of four players, with the teams’ three best weekly scores being recorded as the teams’ best score, with prizes allocated for the best three individual scores each week, plus prizes for the best individual and team scores at the end of the series.
Other upcoming events include the “Bailey Ag” 2 Person Ambrose Event on Australia Day January 26, the 2022 Reciprocal Tournament over the weekend of January 29 and 30 which is followed by the 2022 Seniors Tournament, being held on February 21 and 22.
Entries are coming in quick for all of these events, if you want to participate in any of these events please contact the Pro Shop as soon as possible. No entry will be accepted without the full payment of the applicable entry fee.
Good golfing.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
DIANE Martin’s golfing career has spanned over three decades and on Wednesday she added her second Monthly Medal to her trophy list which also includes a Club Championship.
Fifty-five ladies played in the event and Di’s score of 67 nett was four clear of the field.
Olive Spitty (7) followed up last week’s score of 40 points with a nett 71 to take the runner-up prize in Div 1.
Mabel Spitty plays off a handicap of 36 and equalled her sister’s nett score to win Div 2 from Marj Elston (30) 72.
Sue Davis and in-form Phasinee Chaiyasit both scored 71 nett to lead the ball pool and the most accurate shots to the par 3s were hit by Norma Everett, Barb Cadd, Marj Elston and Sue Davis, who also collected the prize for the least putts with 32 on a count back.
The hot weather at the weekend reduced the ladies’ fields considerably.
Saturday’s winners were Kerry Gammon (31) 3 down and Sarah Clarke (21) 4 down with Phasinee Chaiyasit (27) 39 points and Janelle Hogan (26) 38 points successful on Sunday.
