MURRAY DOWNS MENS
The renowned Murray Downs course has been inundated with golfers over the past week, with golfers from all over the country visiting our region.
Last Thursday saw a strong field of players take part in the stableford competition, where Dale Rogers (15) eclipsed the field with a career best score of 42 points to take out the major prize and division two honours, with Chris Hodgson (15) was runner-up with 36 points.
Division one was taken out by Graeme Mathiske (14) with 36 points, with Matthew Loats (9) following on 35 points, while division three was taken out by a visitor Phillip Mitcham (26) from Warrnambool with 37 points, ahead of Murray Conn (29) on 36 points. To get a ball, other players required at least 33 points, whilst the nearest the pins were shot by Tori Ficarra on the 2nd, Ian Read on the 5th, Doug Grant on the 11th and Caleb Beggs on the 15th.
Another strong field of players turned out for Saturday’s stableford competition, which saw division three player Martin Hughes (19) come in with a brilliant score of 46 points. He comfortably took out the division from Ben Guminski (23) from the Northern Golf Club, who finished with 39 points. Division two was a little closer, with Tim Kay (18) of the Jubilee GC the best with 37 points from Graeme Mathiske (12) on 36. Division one was taken out by Dion Carmichael (11) on 39 points over Sean Baumgurtel (4) on 36. Brenton Halligan hit it to 20cm on the 11th to take the jackpot, with Ben Sheridan closest on the 15th, Rob Smith on the 5th and Neville Brady on the 2nd.
Sunday’s competition was again a stableford event, with Brad Cockfield (17) taking out division one on 39 points, while Matt Harrop (28) was the best in division two. Mark Bowd took home the NTP’s on holes 2 and 15, while Tyrone Parkinson and Dean Scott did likewise on holes 5 and 11.
On Monday, a smallish field of golfers played in a medley stableford competition, where Daniel Cruickshank was the stand out player shooting a two under par round of 70, to accumulate 43 stableford points from his handicap of five. Tyrone Parkinson’s (20) score of 40 points was equally as impressive, but he had to settle for the runners-up prize.
There has been a mix up with the draw, which has now been rectified, in the Swan Hill Wholesalers “Premier League” competition, with only one round to go before the finals. Last Saturday, President’s Cup (128), defeated Power On (118), while The Dukes (118) went down to the MD Mavericks (123) and The Sticky Bandits (132) had a comfortable win over the Royal Goat Trackers (119). Currently the ladder sees the Bandits (16) on top, followed by The Dukes (12), Goat Trackers (8) and the Mavericks, President’s Cup and Power On all on four points apiece.
All is in readiness for the annual Golden Putter tournament, which will held over the next week. The Men’s tournament gets under way on Friday June 24, with Golden Shoe to be followed by the 55th Golden Putter over the weekend.
All days are at capacity participation, with a big list of players on the waiting list to get into the events. Hopefully the weather gods will be kind, as we are well aware that daylight is a major concern for the event organizers. Early morning starts are a must in these events, to ensure that every player can complete their round in daylight, hence the pace of play is also very important. Assembly is at 12pm on Friday, with each day over the weekend being a 6.45am assembly, for the morning field and a 12pm assembly for the afternoon field.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
Twelve-year-old Olive Spitty, who is the reigning club champion at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club, continues to amaze fellow members – and especially her playing partners.
On Sunday, Olive shot 77 off the stick, which equated to 35 stableford points from her handicap of four, to win the daily competition – then on Wednesday followed up with 71 (5 up) to win Division 1 from Michelle Holt (25) 3 up.
Olive and her sister Mabel head off to the US next week, where they will compete in several tournaments. First up will be the World Stars of Junior Golf Championship in Las Vegas on June 27-30, then tournaments in California and North Carolina, before finishing up at the famous Pinehurst Club in early August.
Other results from Wednesday include octogenarian Marie Cruickshank (30) 3 up and Jenny Monahan (31) square who won Division 2. Maralyn Morrison, Rosie Ficarra and Neeta Hutchins led the ball rundown, while nearest the pins went to Mag Kiley, Paula Pickert, Melita Sartori and Kathy Parkinson.
Melita Sartori (41) 39 points was the Saturday competition winner, with the Runner-Up’s prize going to Clare Nalder-Martin (28) on 38 points – while Claris Bourne, Lynne Bishop, Barb Clark and Kristy Gordon hit the most accurate shots to the par 3’s.
Full fields will tee off in next week’s Silver & Golden putter events. This year will be the 49th running of the Golden Putter, which started at Donnington Golf Club.
LALBERT
On Sunday, June 12, the Second Round of the Club Championships was held, with the best three of four rounds deciding the Champions. The inclement weather last week deterred some players from starting, while some pulled out part way through, whilst a few saw the day out.
In the A Grade Men’s, Dave Doolan took out the Scratch competition with 80, from Charlie Kingwill and Danny Shepherd on 81. Danny took out the Handicap event with a Nett 72 score on a countback from Charlie and Dave. In B Grade, Maurice Meehan was a clear winner and took home the Scratch event with a fine 79, with the Handicap competition going to Stuart McGregor on Nett 80.
In the Ladies, Karen McKissack took out Scratch with 97 from Jess Worner on 98, while the Handicap event went to Danika Meehan with Nett 73 score, on a countback from Jess Worner. In the 9 Hole Juniors, Dakota Meehan took out Scratch with a 52 score, with Blake Shepherd winning the Handicap event with Nett 35. The Nearest The Pin went to Dakota Meehan.
VETERANS GOLF
Veteran golfers may have been suffering from a long weekend hangover, because only nineteen players turned out for the Grass Green Championships at the Kerang Golf Club on Tuesday. Lady Champion, with a scratch score of 79, was Michelle Dillon, while Jean Youl had a nett score of 70. Sweet swinging Don Ross is the Men’s Champion, with a scratch score of 83, while Ray Henshall had a nett score of 73. NTP winners were Carol Letheby, Ruth McAlister, Michelle Dillon, Ian Dodd, Hank van de Veen and Graeme Bray – while the ball pool was won by Carol Letheby, Marg Learmonth, Graham Wyte and new member Jack Hewitt.
The next veterans event is at the Lakeside Golf Course on Tuesday, July 19th, with a 9.00am assembly for a 9.30am start. The report is that the course is in great condition and a Special Meeting will be held afterwards to discuss the increase in cost of green fees and lunches.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
Par Event
Winner – Narelle Fraser – 3
Runner Up – Ros Jennings – 5
Nutrien Award – Narelle Fraser
Trophy Donor – Marg Lauer
