FOLLOWING the deluge of rain last Friday, players competing in Saturday’s pairs aggregate Stableford competition found the Murray Downs course more challenging than normal. Even with lots of fairways inundated and many bunkers full of water, the course was still playable. President Col Hedwards (15) and former captain Stuart McLean (5) found the conditions quite favourable by taking out the daily competition with a combined 72 points, with each recording 36 points.
In second position was the pairing of Paul Raudino (19) and Geoff Frame (17) on 70 points, followed by Luke Merritt (0) and Chris Wilson (25) on 67 points. Scores of 62 points and better were required to be eligible for a ball, while with the lucky shots on the par-three holes went to Paul Raudino, Brenton Cruickshank, Sebastian Parseghian and Sean Baumgurtel.
On Sunday, with the course drying out rather quickly, the competition was a singles Stableford event in two divisions. Division 1 was taken out by Oliver Rohde (9), with the day’s best score of 42 points, from Chris Smith (11), who finished with 40 points. Darryl Domaille (23) was the best in Division 2 with 39 points, followed by Kim Fielke (24) from Hamilton on 38 points.
Others required at least 35 points to be in the ball run-down. Richard Ward hit it closest on the 2nd, as did Braydon Ottrey on the 5th. Andrew Spitty almost holed out on the 11th, hitting it to 50cm, and Troy Gnitecki was the closest on the 15th.
A very small field of hardy fools – or are they just fool-hardy players – went out in the inclement weather on Thursday for the Stableford competition, with Ron Munro (17) the best with 36 points, followed by Tony Ford on 35 points and Doug Grant (9) with 32. Chris Mahon claimed the NTP on the 2nd, and Col Hedwards did the same on the 11th.
Finally, on Tuesday, the competition was Stableford, with Peter Cousins (16) from the Grange Golf Club in SA the best with 37 points, followed by Greg Weybury with 34. The magical number required to be in the ball rundown was 32, with Paul Thomas (The Grange) collecting the NTP on the 2nd and Greg Weybury doing likewise on the 11th.
This Sunday, we are holding a DoingitforJarrod charity day to assist with raising funds for kids with cancer, benefiting the Jarrod Lyle Foundation. The format is a Gentsomes event in fours, with the team’s two best scores per hole being counted as the team score.
Also coming up in the near future is the pre-Christmas Swan Hill Windows and Kitchens nine-hole summer competition. This will start on Monday, October 17 and run for eight weeks, ending on Sunday, December 11. It is a teams event consisting of four players, with the three best scores recorded each week being used as the team score.
Players can play as many times per week as they wish in an attempt to improve their team score. Entry is $40 per team plus $6 each time you play. Play is permitted in conjunction with other competitions. A second series of this summer competition will start in the new year on a date to be set.
A reminder to all golfers that the AGM of the men’s committee will be held on Monday, October 17, at 7.30pm in the balcony room. All golfers are encouraged to complete a nomination form, if interested in joining the committee. Nomination forms are available from the front reception desk of the club.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
VIRGINIA Allen has added a second Monthly Medal to her name for 2022 at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
Competing in a field of sixty women, Virginia prevailed with a score of 68 net from her 25 handicap. Runner-up in Division 1 was Janette Tucker (21), who scored 70 net.
The winners of Division 2 have both had a holiday from golf recently, with Claris Bourne (28) scoring 73 net to win on a countback from Lynne Lawry (32).
Kathy Parkinson is renowned for her big hitting and scored 71 net to lead the ball pool, with the next best being Bev Holt, Lyn Billing, Lois Carnie, Jenny Ford and Cassie Barnett, all on 73 net.
Marg Moore had 31 putts to win the putting competition. Deb Watson is playing in her first golf season and hit her tee shot on the 11th to 106cm from the hole to collect the jackpot. Other nearest-the-pin winners were Paula Pickert, Claris Bourne and Georgina Douglas, while Pam Austerberry collected the birdies’ nest of 10 balls on the par-five 12th hole.
Golfers were greeted by a fairly wet course on Saturday after 50mm of rain on Friday. Maralyn Morrison and Joan Foster scored 61 points in the aggregate four-ball to win on a countback from Lynne Bishop and Michelle Holt, while Jenny Lynas and Barb Clark were rewarded for accurate shots on the par-threes.
A small field competed in Sunday’s Stableford event, with Mag Kiley (17) on 35 points winning on a countback from Phasinee Chaiyasit (22) and Olive Spitty (5).
NYAH WEST
THE Nyah West Golf Club season will officially finish this Sunday, with a three-person Ambrose event and some novelty activities to be followed by dinner and celebrations. It has been a good year and we thank all members for playing and helping ensure the golf club runs well and everyone feels a sense of community.
Although the official golf has finished, there is still plenty opportunity for Swan Hill & Kerang Toyota-sponsored DISC GOLF and golf coaching for children during the forthcoming school holidays at Nyah West Golf Club
School holidays will be well catered for for children and families, with the Swan Hill & Kerang Toyota-sponsored DISC GOLF available at the Nyah West Golf club every day from 10am to 3pm, also being free to play. Bookings are preferred by phoning Dennis on 0417 128 519, Graham on 0418 350 280 or John on 0407 311 874.
For children seeking some coaching to improve their golf, free sessions will be available on Wednesday, September 21 and 28 and Friday, September 23 and 30. Bookings are essential for these sessions by using the phone numbers above.
LALBERT
ON Sunday, September 11, Lalbert Golf Club held its annual Gymkana Day involving a few novelties on various holes on the second nine to mark the official end to the 2022 season.
In the nine-hole junior competition, Chayse Worner took out the scratch event with 49, from Dakota Meehan on 62 – with Dakota taking out the handicap section on 36 net ahead of Chayse on 37.5 net.
In ladies’ competition, Karen McKissack won the scratch event with a score of 103 from Maree Kingwill on 108. Marie took out the handicap event with 81 net from Caitlin McKissack on 82 net. In the men’s competition, Glenn McKissack took out the scratch event with 83, from James Meehan Sr on 84, James taking out the handicap event with 74 net from Maurice Meehan on nett 77.
The nearest the pins on the 6th and 15th in the men’s contest was nine-hole junior player Jonty Worner and in the ladies’ Maree Kingwill, while the longest putt on the 18th, using the club’s wooden stick putter, was Damian Kelly. At the end of the day’s play, the winners and runners-up were acknowledged and presented with their prizes and a barbecue tea followed.
Following tea, the Club 2022 Awards were presented. In the Handicapper’s Cup for nine-hole juniors, Dakota Meehan on 47 won on a countback ahead of Carly Shepherd. In the ladies’ Handicappers Cup, Karen McKissack won with 75, from Danika Meehan on 80. In the men’s Handicappers Cup, Charlie Kingwill won with 70 on a countback from Dave Doolan.
The Gladys Meehan Memorial Trophy was presented by her son Maurice to the 2022 winner, Danika Meehan, an 18-hole junior player, from her aunt Karen McKissack. They were followed by Marie Kingwill. The John Curthoys Memorial Trophy was presented by his son Brian to the 2022 winner, Charlie Kingwill, an 18-hole junior, ahead of Maurice Meehan and Dave Doolan.
Although this was the last official day for club events, the course will remain open for the next few weeks for those wishing to play.
VETERANS
A VERY small field of veteran golfers attended the Cohuna Golf Club on Tuesday, September 13, for the Stableford event. The ladies’ winner was Jean Youl with 35 points, with Joyce Boyd runner-up with 30 points on a countback from Marg Learmonth.
The men’s winner was Rick Austerberry (37 points), who won on a countback from Fred O’Bryan and Joe Tartaglia. Nearest-the-pin winners were Jean Youl, Ruth McAllister, Lorraine Bray, Hank van de Veen, Fred O’Bryan, Jack Hewitt and Mark O’Shea, while the ball pool was won by Marg Learmonth and Joe Tartaglia.
The next veterans’ event is the two-day spring carnival at Barham on October 17 and 18. Entries should go to the pro shop at Barham on 5453 2971. The entry fee is only $80, with a sausage sizzle on Monday before play then lunch and presentations on Tuesday. Two rounds of golf and food for only $80, how good is that. Let’s make it a great couple of days.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
Wednesday, September 14
Winner – Marg Lauer – 24 (30 points)
Runner-up – Leonie Lambert – 25 (27 points, on countback from Narelle Fraser)
Balls down the line – Narelle Fraser
Balls down the line – Ros Jennings
Nutrien Award – Narelle Fraser
Nearest the pin – 1st and 10th Leonie Lambert
Nearest the pin – 5th and 14th Marg Lauer
Trophy donor – Jill Coburn
