Murray Downs Men
Happy New Year, everyone, I trust that 2023 will bring you good health and happiness.
It’s been a hectic period at Murray Downs over the festive holiday period, with many visitors participating in the daily competitions, which have been held on all days except Christmas Day.
Saturday, December 24: Stableford competition:
Division 1 was taken out by Brian Hinton (14) with 40 points from Brenton Cruickshank (8) with 37 points.
Division 2, Allen Woolstencroft (17), 40 points, from Mark Shipsides (15) from Oakbank SA with 37 points,
Division 3, Josh Gaylor (23), 38 points from Chris Knee (29) with 38 points.
Nearest the pins went to Mark Shipsides on the 2nd, Lleyton McLean on the 5th, Gary Wilkes on the 11th and Brenton Halligan on the 15th.
Monday, December 26:
Lachlan Brooks (16) from Neangur Park took out Division 1 with 40 points, from Mark Shipsides (14), enjoying his time back at Murray Downs, with 39 points.
Peter Tripodi (18) from Medway GC took out Division 2 with 42 points, closely followed by Matilda Bland (24), from Whittlesea with 41 points.
The NTPs went to Pat Scala on the 2nd, John Tripodi on the 5th, Stefan Knudsen on the 11th and Mark Bowd on the 15th.
Tuesday, December 27:
Up-and-coming junior Mason Forster (41) recorded a magnificent, handicap-breaking score of 45 points, to be the best in Division 2, from Chris Knee (27) on 39 points.
Division 1 went to Kain Domaille (18) with 40 points, followed by Tristan Ramadge (13) on 39 points.
Chris Grant, Chris Knee and Kain Domaille claimed the NTPs on holes 2, 11 & 15.
Thursday, December 29:
A large field of 120 players took part in the daily Stableford competition, where Dennis Kelly showed glimpses of his best form by recording 44 points from his handicap of 19 to take out Division 3 from Stuart Brumby (20) on 40 points.
Divisions 1 & 2 were decided by the countback system, with Division 2 going to Greg Armsden (15) over Steven Bulmer, with both players finishing with 39 points and similarly, in Division 1, Oliver Rohde (7) came out on top of Andrew Gilchrist (10) with both players finishing with 38 points each.
Peter Junor (Shepparton) claimed the NTP on the 2nd, Neville Brady was the closest on the 5th, Koby McMillan took off the jackpot on the 11th (52 cm) and Daniel Delmenico on the 15th.
Friday, December 30’s 9-hole competition was taken out by Robyn Bett (25) with 23 points from Dione Heppell (10) on 21 points. Craig Davies got NTP on 5th hole.
Saturday, December 31:
New Year’s Eve’s competition was against par, with Scott Mathiske (5) taking out Division 1 with 5 up, from Craig Fletcher (11) on 4 up. Division 2 went to Andrew Halligan (15) with 3 up ahead of his brother Brenton Halligan (13) at 2 up, and in Division 3, Kristian Walker (36) was the best at 5 up from Matt Harrop (22) on 3 up.
Scores of square and better were required in the ball competition, whilst the nearest the pins were taken out by Damian Mangiameli on the 2nd, Ross Hastings on the 5th, Daniel Delmenico took off the jackpot on the 11th (80cm) and Allen Woolstencroft on the 15th.
Sunday, January 1:
New Year’s Day, David Winter (2) from Lakeside GC in Melbourne was the best in Division 1 with 3 up from Malcolm Talbot (17) on 1 up, and in Division 2 Steven Emberson (20) got the nod over, Jarrod Halligan (20), topping off a good couple of days for the Halligan family when both players finished at 3 up.
Minus 2 was the score required to be eligible for a ball, with some on this score missing out. Neville Brady, Leigh Paynter & Steven Emberson claimed the NTPs on holes 2, 11 & 15.
Monday, January 2: A smallish field of golfers competed in the daily Stableford competition, which was taken out by Zachary Caccaviello (22) from SGA GC, with 44 points, followed by Peter Roberts (24) on 40 points and David Winter (+1) from Lakeside GC in SA with 37 points.
Tuesday, January 3:
There were enough players to have 2 Divisions in the daily medley Stableford event, with the countback system being required in Division 1, to separate Andrew Spitty (+2) and Mitchell Croft (15) when both players finished with 39 points each.
Spitty got the nod in his favour. Our local Mayor, Les McPhee (31), got his new year off to a bright start by taking out Division 2 with 37 points from Wendy Talbot (38) on 36 points.
Aaron Connaughton (7), from the Bendigo GC, led the ball run down with 38 points, which went down to scores of 35 points.
Connaughton, top off a great day by taking out the NTPs on holes 5 & 15, with Paul Raudino getting the closest on hole 11.
Murray Downs Ladies
Sally Fearn has started 2023 with a flourish. Sally is new to golf and competed with a handicap of 54 on Wednesday to prevail in the January Monthly Medal with a score of 68 nett. This was a personal best score for Sally, who will have a reduced handicap the next time she steps up to the tee.
Runner-up in Div 2 was Judi Lonergan (29) 75.
In Div 1, Paula Pickert (17) 73 and Lois Carnie (19) 74 were the prize winners. Pam Austerberry, 74 and Robyn Bett and Lois Tippett, both 75, were the ball pool leaders.
Pam Austerberry collected the jackpot on the par 3 11th for the second week in a row, and the other nearest pin winners were Georgina Douglas, Kerry McDonald, Olive Spitty and Jude Simmonds.
Mag Kiley’s 29 putts won the least puts prize.
Claris Bourne saw out 2022 with an excellent score of 5, up from her 27 handicap. This was followed by Jenice Krahnert (29) 3 up.
Lisa Brady and Robyn Bett were the only two others on the right side of the ledger with 2 and 1 up, respectively. Robyn Bett and Jenice Krahnert were nearest the pin winners.
