MURRAY Downs has two teams in Sunday’s WRDGA winter pennant grand final at Deniliquin Golf Club. The Division 3 side drew their elimination final against Barham 2.5 points each, but advanced to the grand final by way of a better percentage.
Last Sunday, all matches were played at Rich River Golf Club inn Division 3, which is handicap match play. The 14-year-old Tynan Perry gave away 16 shots to his more experienced opponent but drew his match to help his team through to the major final.
In other matches in this division, Tyrone Parkinson gave away nine shots but unfortunately finished two down, Brad Cockfield had a good win at one up, Jason Perry went down by two and Craig Fletcher won four and three.
The Division 2 side missed out on the grand final after going down to Rich River 3.5 to 1.5. Dale Smith squared his match and Brian White finished one up, while Dale Rogers, Bobby Kelly and Jo Watts went down to their respective opponents.
The Division 1 side had a good win against Barham, four and one. Ash Free finished two down, while Lisa Jean had a great win, six and five, Dallas Free finished one up, Luke Merritt won three and two and James McLean also had a good win, four and three.
In the grand final matches, Murray Downs take on Rich River in Division 1, Deniliquin play Rich River in Division 2 and in Division 3 Murray Downs take on Rich River.
In the August monthly medal stroke event last Saturday, one of our newest board members Ian Read (18) took home the medal with a net 71, by way of the countback from Sam Rovere (16), who finished best in Division 2, with Johannes Engelbrecht (18) earning the runner-up prize.
Division 3 was won by Justin Condely (23) with net 72 ahead of Christopher Knee (32) on net 76. In Division 1, it was Laurie Shipsides (14) with the best score of net 72, ahead of the in-form Graeme Mathiske (13) on net 73. Other players required at least net 75 to be eligible for a ball, while Ken Gregory had the fewest of putts (29). The nearest the pins were won by Chris Smith on the second, Daniel Cruickshank on holes five and 15 and Alan Mason on the 11th.
In last Thursday’s competition against par, Division 2 player Joey Higgins (27) had a day out with five up, taking out the major prize from Ken Veale (27), who finished at one up. Division 1 was won by Rod Proctor (17) with two up, while Stuart Holt (13) was the next best in this division at one up. Other players required at least one down to be in the ball rundown, while Chris Merritt hit a good shot into the 11th green, as did Gary Slater on the 15th to claim the NTPs on offer.
Friday’s nine-hole competition was taken out by Riley Daniels (24) with 15 Stableford points. On Sunday, the competition was against par with Mark Grant (15) being the standout player with five up, to take out Division 1, with Matthew Loats (8) at four up the next best, while in Division 2 it was Keagan Grant (23) at four up the best, ahead of Joel Travaglia (27) on two up. Balls went to scores of square or better, while Matthew Loats topped off a good day by taking out the nearest the pins on holes 11 and 15, with Mark Grant doing likewise on the fifth.
After the frosty start on Tuesday, conditions turned out to be near perfect for golf, with a smallish field taking part in the par competition. Neil Bailey (23) got the chocolates ahead of Mark Warren and Paul O’Loughlin, when all three players finished square with the card.
The 36-hole two-person Ambrose tournament is fast approaching and is scheduled for the weekend of August 27 and 28. Entries are still being taken, but will close on August 19. To take part in this tournament, get your entry into the Pro Shop quickly.
Also coming up in the very near future, is the Murray Open and pro-am. The pro am, in Irish 4Ball format, will take place on September 5 and will be followed by the Murray Open on September 6 and 7. Entry forms are available online or through the pro shop.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
THE Mildura Health Fund sponsored the 4BBB Stableford event at Murray Downs on Wednesday, with 30 pairs teeing off in wintry conditions.
Lois Carnie and Kristy Gordon were cricket opponents when they were teenagers, but on this occasion they were on the same team and scored 44 points, to win on a countback from octogenarians Marie Cruickshank and Sheila Beard.
The teams of Judi Benbow and Tina King, Carolyn Zambelli and Paula Pickert and Georgina Douglas and Virginia Allen scored 42 points, with Sue Davis and Gaye Legudi on 41 points taking out the minor placings.
Marg Moore and Bev Holt hit the most accurate shots on the 11th hole to share the jackpot, with the other nearest the pins going to Robyn Bett, Maree Thurwood and Kristy Gordon. Lynne Bishop birdied the par-five 12th hole to collect a nest of 20 balls.
Janette Tucker has gone from the Saturday star to the weekend wonder with wins on both days. Playing off a handicap of 24, her Saturday score of 69 net was five clear of runner-up Joan Foster (35).
Melita Sartori and Sheila Beard scored 76 net to lead the ball pool, with Janette and Marg Moore collecting nearest-the- pin prizes.
A small field contested Sunday’s par event and Janette’s score was four up from her newly amended handicap of 23.
Next Wednesday’s event is the fourth round of the Stableford aggregate, run over the golf season with competitors’ individual scores recorded. The best three scores of the four rounds are taken into account and trophies are presented to the best scores in each grade.
LALBERT
ON Sunday, owing to a number of members being away, a small field played a Stableford event. Damian Kelly was the winner, ahead of Maurice Meehan, while Dakota Meehan took out the nine-hole juniors, with no nearest-the-pin winners.
The club was represented at the Nyah West Golf Club’s annual tournament at the weekend, while the club had three 18-hole juniors travel to Bendigo to play in a representative team over the two days, accompanied by parents and club members.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
AUGUST 3 monthly medal
Winner: Leonie Lambert
Fewest putts: Narelle Fraser
Nutrien Award: Leonie Lambert
Nearest the pin: Narelle Fraser
Trophy donor: Tooleybuc Sporting Club
August 10
Winner: Leonie Lambert
1/10 nearest the pin: Leonie Lambert
7/16 nearest the pin: Narelle Fraser
Nutrien Award: Narelle Fraser
Trophy donor: Betty Hackett
