MURRAY DOWNS MEN
TOM Power Horan has taken out the 2022 Regional Murray Open, which was played at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Power Horan, 29, shot two rounds of five under par 67, for a total of 10 under 134, to take out the tournament by one shot from 2021 winner Matthew Millar, with the pair followed by Josh Younger, James Marchesani, Josh Armstrong and Jay Mackenzie all a further shot back at 136.
The previous best win for Power Horan, who has a handicap as low as +8 and calls Royal Melbourne home, was at the Gippsland Super Sixes in 2019 and he has dreams of qualifying for the European and Asian tours. On Tuesday overnight leader Andre Lautee, of Melbourne, equalled the course record set last year by Matthew Millar, with an excellent eight-under-par round of 64.
Lautee had an overnight lead of two shots from Mackenzie at six under and James Gordon, Deyen Lawson, Armstrong and Power Horan one shot further back at five under, but couldn’t sustain the pressure and faltered for an eight-over par round of 80 to finish at equal par.
The Murray Open got under way on Monday with the 2022 pro-am, which was an Ambrose-Irish Stableford competition, with teams of four players consisting of one golfing professional and three amateur players. After the dust had settled it was the team consisting of Will Bayliss (pro), Josh Legudi, Tim Phillips and Chris Fordham who came out on top with 113 points.
They were closely followed by Peter Wilson (pro), Paul Nobes, Geoff Hinton and Neil Selleck in second with 112 points and the team of Daniel Gale (pro), Lynne Bishop, Michelle Holt and Kerry Gammon a further two points back third. The nearest-the-pins were taken out by Shelley Wilkins on the 2nd, Johnny Hirst on the 5th, Ian Read on the 11th and James McLean on the 15th.
Last Saturday was a stroke event for the September monthly medal, with Grant McNees (12) the leading player with a net 67 score, even with a nine thrown in on the 16th hole, followed by a double bogey six on the 17th hole. He was still three shots ahead of the next best players Laurie Shipsides (14) and Stephen Cameron (25), who both finished with net 70s and, in doing so, won Divisions 2 and 3.
Runner-up in Division 3 was Mark Read (23), with a net 74 and in Division 2 it was Ian Read (18) with a net 72. The winner of Division 1 was decided by the countback system, with Gene Brooks (9) and Fred Fletcher (13) both finishing with net 71s, Brooks coming out on top.
To get a ball in the run-down, other players required at least net 75 and, with the nearest-the-pins, Grant McNees topped off a good day by claiming the win on the 2nd. Brenton Cruickshank took out both the 5th and the 15th and Gene Brooks hit it within 27cm on the 11th to also pick up the jackpot.
Sunday’s competition was a medley Stableford event, with Mark Grant (14) recording the day’s best score of 42 points to claim the major prize and Division 1 honours from Sean Baumgurtel (5), who finished with 35 points. Chris Knee (30) took out Division 2 with 41 points from Stefan Mangiameli (20), who came in with 40 points.
The ball run-down was red hot, as scores of 37 points and better were required. Mark Grant topped his day off by claiming the NTPs on holes 11 and 15, Matthew Loats was the closest on the 2nd, Brenton Cruickshank closest on the 5th.
Last Thursday’s competition was a Stableford event, which was played in two divisions. Division 1 was decided by the countback system, with both Dale Smith (12) and Paul Bethune (13) each finishing on 41 points, Smith getting the nod in his favour.
In Division 2, it was Graeme Giddings (24) who finished on top with 39 points, ahead of Rob O’Brien (22) on 36 points. Other players required at least 35 points to be eligible for a golf ball, with the nearest-the-pins going to Mark Warren on the 2nd, Laurie Shipsides on the 11th and Colin Mewburn on the 5th and 15th.
LALBERT
ON Sunday the club held the North-West Ag Day, a two-person Ambrose event, with 42 players participating.
In the scratch competition, Glen McKissack and Adam Laughlin won with a score of 67, ahead of Dave and Luke Doolan on 70 and Maurice Meehan and Danny Shepherd and Peter Harley and Ben Smith on 72.
In the handicap event, Andrew and Kel Parsons won with a net 62.5 score, while runners-up were Peter Harley and Ben Smith on 65.25 net. Third went the way of Jean Youle and Graham Brierley on 66.25 net, while they were followed by Maurice Meehan and Danny Shepherd 67 net, Charlie Kingwill and Jacob O’Meara on 67.25 net and Dave and Luke Doolan on net 67.5.
The longest drive in A Grade was won by Fraser White, while in B Grade the prize was won by Adam Boys. Nearest the pin on the 6th in A Grade was Duane Scott and in B Grade Peter Harley was nearest. Nearest the pin on the 8th was Andrew Flanagan in A Grade, while in B Grade it was taken out by Alan Mason. Nearest the pin on the 9th (second shot) was won by Adam Laughlin in A Grade and Kel Parsons in B Grade. The event was well supported with nine pairs visiting. Thanks to the sponsors and the club’s ground crew for presenting the course in great condition.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
Wednesday Monthly Medal
Winner – Narelle Fraser handicap 82 gross, 65 net
Runner-up – Marg Lauer 91/67
Nearest the pin – Marg Lauer 1/10
Nearest the pin – Leonie Lambert 5/14
Nutrien Award – Marg Lauer
Fewest putts – Marg Lauer, 29 putts
Balls down the line – Leonie Lambert and Ros Jennings
