MURRAY DOWNS MEN
LUKE Merritt and Andy Graham have taken out the 36-hole two-person Ambrose scratch event held at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club last weekend. Merritt and Graham, playing off a combined handicap of one, shot scores of 62 and 68 for a total of 130, ahead of James McLean and Craig Fletcher (three), who recorded 63 and 68 for a total of 131.
These two pairs were drawn to go around with each other on the final day, which turned into a shootout to determine the winner of the tournament. Merritt and Graham started the final day one shot ahead, but after a bogey four on the 2nd hole, which was followed by another bogey four on the short par-three 11th, McLean and Fletcher then held sway by a single shot.
From then, the round was neck and neck, until Merritt and Graham pulled away over the last couple of holes.
It was all not lost for McLean and Fletcher, who took out the 36-hole net event with scores of 61 and 64 for a total of 125. Runners-up were the fast-finishing Leighton Dullard and Spencer McKenzie, who finished only half a shot behind at 125.5 net.
Coming in third position was the pairing of Stuart and Cayle McLean, who were a further two shots back at 127.5, closely followed by Gerard Moloney and Rob Merrett on 128.5 and Bobby and Dennis Kelly on 129.5. Saturday’s net winners were Ross Kenyon and Andrew Petersen with net 61, ahead of Lleyton McLean and Tyler Aitkin at 62.5. Sunday’s net winners were Matthew Sposato and Stephen Aquilina from Melton Valley, with 62.25, ahead of Jordan Edelesten and Darren Sinapius on 63.5.
In the women’s section, the overall 36-hole scratch winners were Janette Tucker and Susan Napier with 159. The net section was decided by countback to separate the pairings of Marg Moore and Eileen Willox and Kerry Gammon and Phasinee Chaiyasit after both pairs finished at 136.5, with Moore and Willox coming out on top.
A pair of visitors from Trentham had the best net score on Saturday with 69, while Anne Webb and Shelley Wilkins were the next best with 69.75. On Sunday, Northern Golf Club visitors Joy Ryan and Barb Culakovski, came out on top with a net score of 69, with Susan Davis and Kristy Gordon the next best with 69.75.
It was a great weekend, with 160 players taking part, of which half were visitors, mainly from southern clubs struggling with very wet conditions on their home tracks. As this is only the second time Murray Downs has held this event since it was first introduced in 2019, it is anticipated that these numbers will grow over the coming years.
Last Thursday two divisions of players took part in a Stableford competition, where Division 1 player Brad Cockfield (15) recorded the day’s best score of 37 points to take home the major prize. Runner-up was Andrew Cameron (15) with 36 points. Division 2 was decided by the countback system, with brothers-in-law Peter Roberts (26) and Rick Austerberry (24) fighting it out. When both finished with 36 points each, Roberts got the nod. Other players required at least 34 points to be eligible for a ball, while the nearest-the-pins were claimed by Doug Grant on the 2nd, Rod Prockter on the 5th and Ian Gammon on the 11th.
On Tuesday, Darryl Domaille (23) came out on top in the Stableford event with 34 points from Gary Wilkes (15), who finished with 33 points. Ron Munro, Graeme Mathiske and Haydn Downes each received a ball for their efforts, while the NTPs went to Greg Weybury and Anthony Carroll on the 2nd and 11th.
On Monday is our pro am, with 25 professionals committing to take part, with three amateurs in an Irish four-ball competition, followed by a two-course dinner at Murray Downs on Monday evening. On Tuesday and Wednesday, about 80 professional golfers will take part in the Regional Murray Open, with the winner advancing onto the NSW Open. Spectators are invited to follow and watch these golfers showcase their skills as they work their way around the challenging Murray Downs layout.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
FIFTY-four women competed in the Stableford event at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday. Numbers are steadily increasing with the return of “grey nomads” and the inclusion of graduates from beginner groups.
Kathy Parkinson took advantage of her 18 handicap with a meritorious 41 points, with her score including 11 pars winning her the main prize of the day. The runner-up in Division 1 was Lisa Brady (27) on 38 points.
In Division 2, Maryann Mathiske (35) with 36 points and Carolyn Zambelli (29) with 34 points were successful. Rosie Ficarra (38 points), Judi Benbow and Lynne Bishop (37 points) and Marg Moore (36 points) led the ball pool. Marg Moore, Mag Kiley, Judi Lonergan and Shelley Wilkins collected the nearest-the-pin prizes.
The club knockouts are all down to the finals. The four-ball competition will be contested bb Bev Holt and Lois Coady and Fay Rush and Joy Sheldrick. Sue Davis and Jenny Lynas will play off in the singles and in the Donnington Cup Lynne Bishop and Barb Cadd will do battle.
