MURRAY DOWNS MEN
LUKE Hogan produced a career-high, handicap-breaking round of 47 points in last Saturday’s Stableford competition, which was played from the black tee markers.
Hogan, a relatively new player to golf, playing from the maximum handicap permitted of 54, recorded 28 points on the front nine holes and a further 19 points on the back nine, which included three holes that he didn’t score on, for his final tally of 47.
This excellent round has reduced his handicap by ten shots to a modest 44, which, if he continues with this great form, will be reduced even further over the coming months.
Hogan was obviously the best in Division 3, from Rick Rundell-Gordon (19) with 38 points.
Sam Davis (18) was the best in Division 2 with 40 points ahead of John Tripodi (18) with 38 points, while in Division 1, Mark Warren (11) was the best and also had a very good handicap-breaking round of 43 points, from Mathew Collins (6) on 39 points.
The ball rundown was red-hot, with scores of 35 points and better required to be eligible for a ball.
The nearest the pins went to Howard Rosewarne on the 2nd, with a shot to within 59cm, Daniel Cruickshank on the 5th, Nicholas Giles from Cobram-Barooga on the 11th and Sam Rovere and Ian Johansen both hit it to the same distance of 280cm on the 15th.
Sunday’s competition was also a Stableford event from the gold tee markers, with scores of 39 points, being the best of the day.
Jonathon Hirst (10) and Neville Brady (3) both shot this score for Division 1 honours, with Hirst coming out on top, and in Division 2, Steven Emberson (19) also shot 39 points to be the best, from Joel Travaglia (27) the next best with 35 points.
Thirty-five points was the score required to be in the ball competition. Neville Brady topped off a good day by taking out the NTPs on holes 2 and 5, Gary Blencowe was the closest on the 11th, as was Mathew Loats on the 15th.
Last Thursday’s event was a two-person Ambrose/stroke competition, where Riley Daniels and Ray Power combined very well to take out the day with a net score of 60, ahead of, by way of the countback system, Colin Mewburn and Dale Smith with net 62.75, who got the nod over Doug Grant and Michael Pickert.
Scores of net 67.25 and better were required in the ball competition, while the NTPs went to Justin Thompson on the 2nd, Darryl Domaille on the 5th, Ray Power on the 11th and Craig Fletcher on the 15th.
Tuesday’s Stableford competition was played from the gold tees, where Ian Johansen (13) led the pack home with a very good score of 43 points, ahead of Paul Bethune (9) with 40 points. Scores of 33 points and better were required to get a ball, while the NTPs went to Paul Raudino on the 2nd and Paul Bethune on the 11th.
This Sunday is the Lions Club Charity 4BBB Stableford competition.
It is a shotgun start event, with a noon assembly preceded by a barbecue. This event is followed on Monday and Tuesday, February 27-28, by the 21st Annual Seniors Tournament.
This competition is divided into different age sections for both men and women.
At the time of writing these notes, the fields for this very popular event are at near capacity, with 240 players entered.
Players come from near and far, such as the 2022 winner of the senior section coming from Mundubberraj in central Queensland.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
PAM Blohm was the star of the day at MDG&CC on Wednesday.
Competing in Division 3 and playing off a handicap of 32, Pam led the way with a score of 42 points, with the next-best score of 39 points posted by Ruth McAlister (27) in Division 2.
Runners-up in these two grades with 36 points each were Norma Everett (27) and Wendy Talbot (40).
Val Hedwards (19) made a welcome return to the winners list with 35 points to win from Lois Carnie (19) with 34 points.
Fay Rush and Judi Lonergan both scored 35 points to lead the ball pool, which went down to 33 points.
Lyn Merrett hit her nine iron to within two metres of the flag on the 11th hole to collect the jackpot, with the other nearest the pins going to Lynne Bishop, Pam Austerberry and Nonie Domaille. Virginia Allen scooped the Birdies Nest on the par five 12th.
Rhonda Barrow (23) and Dione Heppell are making a habit of leading the field on Saturdays.
On this occasion, Rhonda scored 38 points to win from Dione with 36. Sue Davis, Marg Moore, Eilleen Willox and Rosanne Kava led the ball pool, with Eilleen and Claris Bourne collecting the nearest the pin prizes.
Kristy Gordon (16), 35 points, and Pam Austerberry (22), 34 points, led a small field on Sunday.
A capacity field will tee off next Wednesday in an Ambrose event to mark the start of a new season of golf.
Rutherford Street Insurance has sponsored this event for over 20 years, with both experienced and novice golfers taking to the course.
VETERAN GOLF
THERE was plenty of excitement at Barham for the first veterans Stableford event of the year on Tuesday.
Captain Graham holed in one on the par three 15th, Graeme Bray hit birdy on the 3rd.
Not to be outdone, Joe Tartaglia hit a duck – feathered type – after mouth to mouth, the duck scampered off.
All veteran clubs were represented.
The lady’s winner was Marg Moore on a countback from Lisa Hyne and Carole Letheby, all on 31 points.
NTPs were Lisa Hyne, Michelle Dillon, Lorraine Bray and Lorna Stuchbree (welcome back to golf Lorna).
The men’s winner was also determined on a three-way countback.
Fred O’Bryan with 36 points from Graeme Bray and Ian Dodd.
NTPs went to Rick Austerberry (twice), Peter Roberts and Graham Wyte (hole-in-one).
The next veteran’s event is at Kerang at 8.30am assembly for 9am start, Tuesday, March 21.
The AGM will follow golf presentations. A good attendance would be great.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
WINNER – Lisa Zanker.
Runner-up – Leonie Lambert.
Balls Down the Line – Bev Beasy, Sheena Gadsden
Nutrien Award – Narelle Fraser
Nearest the Pin – Leonie Lambert 2/5, Deb Farley 1/10
