MURRAY DOWNS MEN
KAIN Domaille absolutely blitzed the field in last Saturday’s stableford competition – compiling 45 points from his daily handicap of 21, to be a clear winner of the major prize on offer and Division 3 honours.
His score consisted of two four-point holes, one one-point hole and he even had a wipe on his last hole of the day, the 18th. A score of 45 points, would be normally well in hunt in a four-ball competition, while runner-up in this division was Joey Higgins (28) with 36 points. It’s of interest, that Joey’s driver “SR”, found out the hard way you shouldn’t drive through water, before at least checking the depth, in Thursday’s competition. Unfortunately, there was blow out in one of the irrigation pipes on the first hole overnight and a new lake, about a metre deep, developed in the middle of first fairway. This has since drained away.
In the other divisions, Allen Woolstencroft (16) got the chocolates over the vice-captain Tony Ford (16) 36 to 35 points – while in division 1, the count-back system came into play to separate Tyler Aitken (9) and Jonathon Hirst (9) when both players finished with 36 points each, with Aitkin coming out on top. Thirty-three points was the magic number required to be in the ball rundown – while Justin Toomey took the jackpot on hole 11, when he hit it to 88cm, while other nearest the pins went to Joey Higgins on the 2nd, Dale Rogers on the 5th and Ben Smith on the 15th.
The final round of the Swan Hill Wholesalers “Premier League” competition was also played on Saturday, where the top-of-the-ladder clash between “The Sticky Bandits” and “The Dukes” was a bit of white wash, with the Bandits proving that they are the team to beat, recording a solid win 135 to 104.
“The Royal Goat Trackers” had a solid win over “Power On” 143 to 135, while in the remaining match, “President’s Cup” snuck into the final four by defeating the shorthanded “MD Mavericks” 131 to 120. All this now equates to the elimination matches, which will be held on July 2, with the “Bandits” taking on the “Presidents” mob and the “Goats” up against the “Dukes” for a place in the grand final, which will be played on Saturday, July 9.
On Sunday we had the Choices Flooring 4ball event, with a very good field of golfers taking part in the rather cool conditions. The winning score of 49 points was submitted by the Captain Mick Kiley and his grandson Brayden Hogan, getting them the nod over Sebastian Parseghian and Howard Rosewarne by way of a count-back. In third position, with 48 points, was the pair of Rick Pickering and Gary Blencowe, who were followed closely by Greg Walker and Paul Livingston with 47. In the women’s section, our Club’s Professional, Lisa Jean teamed up with Paula Pickett, to compile 45 points, to only just get over the line from Maryann Mathiske and Jenny Ford, who finished with the same score.
Last Thursday was a competition against par in three divisions, with the best score of the day being submitted by Division 2 player Robert James (19) with +4, and Gerard Mackay (18) hot on his heals with +3. Paul Bethune (12) got the nod in Division 1 with +1 from Laurie Shipsides (12) on the same score, while in Division 3, Brett Farlie (24) was the best with +2 ahead of Geoff McDonald (37), who finished square with the card. Scores of -2 and better were required to be in the ball rundown, while the NTPs were taken out by Dale Smith on the 2nd, Sam Rovere on the 5th, Ross Kenyon on the 11th and Tony Ford on the 15th.
On Tuesday, of this week, a fair-sized field of mid-week golfers took part in a stableford competition, with Caleb Beggs (18) being the standout player on 38 points. He was closely followed by Paul McKee (21) with 36, while Riley Daniels, the in form Graeme Mathiske, Gary Wilkes and Chris Hodgson all got a golf ball for their efforts. Gary Wilkes (11th) and newly elected board member, Ian Read (15th) grabbing the nearest the pins on offer.
All is in readiness for the 55th Golden Putter and we have maximum fields entered for all three days. Following the past two years of COVID lockdowns, golfers from far and wide are transcending on Murray Downs this weekend, for this annual event, with 140 players taking part in Friday’s “Golden Shoe” and 248 for the Golden Putter, of which there are only 36 Murray Downs members entered.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
ONE-hundred-and-thirty-two ladies competed in the 2022 Silver Putter – the precursor to the Golden Putter – on Wednesday.
Two pairs returned scores of 46 points, with the coveted prizes going to Marg Crilly (38) and Virginia Allen (27) on a count back, from Lois Coady (35) and Bev Holt (25).
Marg is a former member of Murray Downs and now plays her golf at Midlands Golf Club.
Third place-getters were Meryle Findlay (24) and Robin McLachlan (19), who represented LaTrobe Golf Club and scored 45 points.
Kerang Golf Club visitors Jenny Waterson and Jan Harry were fourth with 44 points, while Tristan Warne (Heathcote), Jo Dempsey (Medway) Libby Lacey (Nhill) and Colleen Armstrong (Rich River) hit the most accurate shots to the par threes.
The teams’ event winners were Kristy Gordon, Gaye Legudi, Lois Carnie and Sherryn Pederson.
Melita Sartori continues to improve her golf and on Saturday scored 37 points from her 41 handicap to win from Kristy Gordon (16) 37 points, with Maralyn Morrison and Marg Moore taking out the NTPs
LALBERT GOLF CLUB
THE third round of the Club Championships was held on Sunday, with Doug Meehan taking out the A Grade Men’s Scratch on 77, on a countback to James McLean, and the handicap winner being Dave Doolan with a nett 73 score.
In B Grade, the scratch winner was Peter Harly with 89, from Maurice Meehan on 90, while the handicap event went to Stuart McGregor on nett 78.
In the ladies’, Karen McKissack led the way with a scratch score of 92, while the handicap winner was Maree Kingwill on nett 82.
The Nine Hole juniors scratch winner was Chayse Worner on 57 and the handicap winner was Carly Shepherd on 37, who won on a countback to Kel Parsons, and Craig Flethcer winning the nearest the pin.
Next Sunday is the final round to decide the 2022 club champions, with a casserole tea and presentations to follow at the end of the day.
