SPENCER McKenzie has taken out the 2023 LJ Hooker Summer Cup.
McKenzie, playing from a handicap of 6, posted three consistent rounds of golf of 40, 31 and 35 points throughout the Summer Cup.
The three rounds of the competition, par, Stableford and stroke, are all converted to Stableford points, which saw McKenzie come out on top with 106 points, two ahead of Justin Thompson, Ross Kenyon and the early leader Troy Gnitecki all finishing on 104 points.
Last Saturday was the holding of the March monthly medal, with Dale Leiper (17) being the recipient with a net 68, closely followed by Ken Gregory (9) and the in-form Lucas Free (30), both with net 70s.
Gregory took out Division 1 from Spencer McKenzie (6) on net 73. Corey Frost (18) was the best in Division 2 with net 71, from Gary Wilkes (17), who finished with net 73, while in Division 3, it was Lucas Free (30) on top, from Michael Pickett (26) on net 71.
Other players required scores of at least net 75 to be eligible for a ball. The best shots into the par three holes, for the nearest the pins, were hit by Fred Fletcher on the 2nd, Daniel Cruickshank on the 5th, Mark Warren on the 11th, and Justin Thompson on the 15th.
Lucas Free continued on with his recent good form and with a new handicap of 28, recorded the day’s best score in Sunday’s Stableford competition, 42 points, to take out Division 2, from Ross McFarlane (21) with 38 points.
Jason Perry (15) was the best in Division 1 with 37 points, just ahead of Ricky Pickering (17), who also recorded 37 points. Scores of 35 points and better were required to get a ball, while the NTPs went to Noah Starrs on the 2nd and 11th, Ben Sheridan on the 5th and Robert Forster on the 15th.
The best score recorded in last Thursday’s Stableford competition was 38 points, which was by Jorgen Leschke (8) and Jonathon Hirst (10), who were both playing in Division 1, with Leschke coming out on top, by way of the countback system.
Rob Merrett (22) was the best in Division 2 with 37 points, ahead of Gary Slater (23) with 36 points, with the scores of 34 and better required in the ball competition. Jonathon Hirst topped off a good day by taking out the NTPs on holes 2 and 5, Ron Munro was the closest on the 11th, as was Geoff McDonald on the 15th.
Following the WRDGA Summer pennant competition’s final round, played at Deniliquin last Sunday, Deniliquin defeated Rich River Blue 6 and 1, and Barham defeated Rich River Green 4 and 3, with Murray Downs having the bye.
This means that after the final round, the top three teams, Deniliquin, Barham and Murray Downs, all have the same points, but matches won and lost has Barham into the grand final ahead of Murray Downs by a slender margin of half a game. The grand final will be played at Murray Downs between Deniliquin and Barham on Sunday, April 2.
STABLEFORD on Wednesday.
Winner – Lisa Zanker, 38 points (27).
Runner-up – Narelle Fraser, 36 points (17).
Balls down the line – Bev Beasy, Leonie Lambert, Marg Lauer.
Nutrien Award – Lisa Zanker.
Nearest the Pin – Lisa Zanker 1/10.
Trophy donor – Lois Jordan.
