MURRAY DOWNS MEN
GOLF can be a very fickle game, sometimes exhilarating and sometimes frustratingly difficult. If you don’t know what I mean, just ask Mitchell Croft.
Last Saturday, Croft was on top of the world after scoring an absolutely brilliant round of 47 Stableford points from his daily handicap of 15. His score could have been considerably better if he didn’t have a triple bogey 7 on the par 4, 17th hole, to shoot a round of 76 off the beater for his 47 Stableford points.
I don’t know if he celebrated too heavily overnight, but what a difference a day makes because along came Sunday, a day in which Croft would surely like to forget. The competition was against the dreaded par, in which he finished with a score of 8, down from his new handicap of 10.
Unfortunately, Mitchell, these things do happen, and I’m sure you’ll bounce back just as quickly.
Other winning scores from Saturday’s round, Andy Graham (5) was the best in Division 1 with 39 points, just ahead of Neville Brady (4) with 38 points.
Mitchell Croft (15) took out Division 2 with his 47 points from Brian Elliott (15) on 39 points, while in Division 3, Will Gardner (28) was the best with 42 points, ahead of Tony Miceli (20) on 40 points.
The ball run-down was red hot, as scores of 36 points and better were required, while with the nearest the pins on the par 3 holes, Andrew “Shrek” Petersen was the closest on the 2nd, Brian Elliott claimed it on the 5th, three players hit within the magical meter on the 11th, “Shrek” Petersen, Ian Read and Andrew Merrett, with Merrett being the closest at 36cm.
Sunday’s event was against par, playing from the “gold” tee markers, where former club professional Mark Bowd (2) recorded the day’s best score of three up to take out Division 1, from Freddie Roknic (11), from the Drouin GC, on two up. Division 2 was taken out by Tony McDonald (28) with two up from Sean White (23) at one up.
Other players required a score of square and better to get a ball, with the NTPs going to Mark Bowd on the 2nd, Mathew Quaife claimed both the 5th and 15th and Darryl Domaille was the closest on the 11th.
Thursday, last week, the competition was a Stableford event where Graeme Mathiske (13) recorded the day’s best score and took out Division 1 with 39 points, from Paul Bethune (11) on 36 points.
Chris Parsons (17) was the best in Division 2 with 34 points, ahead of Tori Ficarra (21) on 32 points, and in Division 3, Geoff Bett (31) was the best with 36 points, slightly ahead of Greg Daniels (23) on 35 points.
Thirty-two points and better were required to get a ball and the NTPs went to Steven Emberson on the 5th, Neil Chisholm had one of his best shots into the 11th to be the closest there, and Paul Bethune claimed it on the 15th.
Finally, on Tuesday of this week, the competition was against par, where Chris Parsons (16), who has hit a purple patch, recorded the best score of the day of six up, followed by Ross Hastings (6) and Howard Rosewarne (27) both at four up.
Scores of square and better were required to get a ball, while the NTPs went to Ross Hastings on the 2nd and Mick Kiley on the 11th.
This Saturday’s competition will be the February monthly medal, which will allow for the annual Reciprocal Tournament to be held on the following weekend, February 4 and 5.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
THIRTY-EIGHT pairs competed in a four-ball at MDG&CC on Wednesday.
Kath Brennan teamed with new golfer Kaye McAlpine to score 52 points.
Playing off handicaps of 40 and 54, respectively, Kath and Kaye’s score could well be a women’s four-ball record at the club.
Georgina Douglas and Jenny Lynas were next best with 47 points, and Pam Austerberry and Colleen Roberts, with 46 points, were in third place.
Claris Bourne and Sally Fearn, 45 points, led the ball pool.
Sarah Clark collected the nearest the pin prizes on the 5th and 15th, with Mag Kiley on the 2nd and Carol Wiseman on the 11th.
Forty-one points was the winning score in both divisions on Saturday.
Kathy Parkinson (16), renowned for her long drives, won Division 1 and Rosanne Kava, who has been regularly featuring on the winner’s lists, took out Division 2.
Runners-up were Robyn Bett (25) 38 points and Kerry Gammon (32) 37 points.
Dione Heppell, 38 points, and Rhonda Barrow and Lynne Lawry, both 35 points, led the ball pool.
Audrey Domaille, Robyn Bett and Dione Heppell were NTP winners.
On Sunday, the Spitty sisters, Mabel (26) one up and Olive (3) three down, were first and third, with Mag Kiley (16) two down, second.
