MURRAY DOWNS MENS
MURRAY Downs Golf & Country Club have retained the River-Murray shield following last Sunday’s mixed 4BBB Stableford competition.
This year, being the seventh running of the event between Rich River and Murray Downs, saw a very good field of golfers gather for the annual challenge match.
Twenty-one pairs of golfers from each club participated in this year’s match, with Murray Downs coming out on top with an average score of 41.85 points, ahead of Rich Rivers’ 37.38.
Murray Down’s captains Mick and Mag Kiley led the way for the host club with the day’s best score of 47 points and were ably assisted by Jan Butcher and Dale Rogers with 46 points and Geoff and Casey Frame with 45 points.
Gerard and Rosey Devlin were the shining lights for Rich River, also with 45 points, but they did not receive a great deal of support, as the next best score for the visitors was 40 points, which was achieved by Di Symons and Tony Kelly.
The nearest the pins were taken out by Brenten Hogan on the 2nd, James McLean and Lisa Jean on the 5th, Alan Nash and Dione Heppell on the 11th and James Mclean and Janette Tucker on the 15th.
Overall, it is a very friendly, but competitive, competition between the two river clubs, which commenced with a sumptuous two-course dinner on Saturday evening and was followed by the challenge match on Sunday, which was then finalised with a satisfying finger food super and presentations.
The 2024 River-Murray Challenge will be held at Rich River on Sunday, March 24. Those Murray Downs members wishing to partake in the dinner and golf at Rich River next year, which will be held on the Saturday evening, are advised to arrange their own accommodation ASAP.
Last Saturday, the daily competition was a Stableford event, played in three divisions, where the best score of the day was recorded by Graeme McLellan (12) with 41 points to take out Division 1 from our current club champion in James McLean (+1), who shot a 2 under par round of 70, for his 37 points.
Division 2 went to Brian Elliott (14) with 39 points, just ahead of Chris Fordham (18) with 38 points, while in Division 3, Steve Knight (25) from Devils Bend got the nod over another visitor in Alan Nash (29) from the Southern GC, when both players finished with 37 points apiece.
To get a ball, scores of at least 34 points were required, whist with nearest the pins went to Stuart Holt on the 2nd, Brian Elliott on the 5th, Ian Read on the 11th and Luke Merritt on the 15th.
Last Thursday saw another very good-sized field of golfers partake in the Stableford competition, in near perfect weather conditions, which David McFarland (22) from Yarrawonga, found to his liking in accumulating 40 points, to take out Division 3, ahead of Joey Higgins (28) with 34 points.
Jackson Quirk (19) was the best in Division 2 with 38 points, just ahead on Justin Condely (20) on 37 points, while in Division 1, the best there was Daniel Cruickshank (4) on 39 points, with Shaun Smith (6), from Beverly Park, on 38 points.
Other players required at least 33 points to be eligible for a ball, while the nearest the pins went to Mitchell Croft on the 2nd, Mark Warren on the 5th, Ross Kenyon on the 15th and Daniel Cruickshank on the 15th.
Topping off a very big week at Murray Downs was the Stableford competition on Tuesday, Anzac Day, with a large field of golfers partaking in the daily event.
Andrew Gilchrist (10) got the nod for Division 1 honours, with his 40 points, ahead of Andrew Spitty (+1). Division 2 went to Gary Bailey (15), who recorded the day’s best score of 41 points, ahead of Greg Weybury (20) with 38 points, while in Division 3, Braydon Ottery (35) was the best with 40 points, from Zachary Denham (27) on 35 points.
Graeme Cox led the ball rundown with his 39 points, which went down to scores of 34, while with the nearest the pins were claimed by Andrew Spitty on the 2nd, Justin Toomey on the 5th, George Sidorow on the 11th and Shrek Petersen on the 15th.
This Sunday is the opening round of the 2023 Swan Wholesalers Premier League competition. The day will commence with a barbecue from 11.30am, to be followed by a noon assembly for the shotgun start competition.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
INDIAN summer conditions greeted the 68 competitors in the Stableford event at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
Paula Pickert (15) has regularly featured in the winners’ lists in 2023 and this week was no exception, with an amazing score of 41 points winning the Division 1 voucher.Paula’s scorecard featured seven pars and one birdie and if she can keep up this form she certainly will be a contender for the title of champion when the club championships commence next Wednesday.
Runner-up in this division was another in-form golfer in Kristy Gordon (15) who scored 39 points.
Division 2 was taken out by Suzanne Napier (26) with 39 points and Lisa Brady (25) with 38 points and the successful Division 3 players were Lyn Billing (36) on 36 points and Marie Cruickshank (32) on 33 points.
Chris Warburton led the ball countdown with 39 points and was followed by Marg Moore and Val Hedwards, both on 38. Suzanne McLellan, Bev Holt and Lois Carnie were next best with 36 points.
Judi Lonergan played the most accurate shots to the 2nd and 5th, with Lois Carnie successful on the 11th (jackpot) and 15th.
Anne Webb (29) with 39 points and Sue Davis (24) with 34 points were Saturday’s leaders, while Paula Pickert and Jenice Krahnert collected the nearest the pin rewards.
Anzac Day winner was Surfers Paradise Golf Club member Narelle Wicks (25) with 41 points, ahead of Kristy Gordon (16) on 39 points.
As previously mentioned, the Club Championships commence next Wednesday. Olive Spitty will be trying to defend her title, but may be challenged by 15-time winner Maryanne Davis, while Paula Pickert is showing great form, along with Val Hedwards, Kristy Gordon and the big hitting Lynne Bishop.
LAKESIDE LADIES
WEDNESDAY was the perfect golfing day at Lakeside.
Deanne Free won the Clark’s gift voucher (29) with 29 points, while finishing runner-up was Lois Heil (34) with 27 points.The ball rundown was won by Jean Youl on a countback ahead of Mandy Auckland, while the nearest the pin on the 3rd, the Lake Boga Cafe voucher, was won by Deanne, the 7th by Jean and both the 12th and 18th Lois, both taking home the Lake Boga Marine Ball.
Mandy Ackland had two Gobblers for the day on the 15th and 17th.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
STABLEFORD on Wednesday.
Winner – Narelle Fraser, 34 points.
Runner-up – Leonie Lambert, 30 points
Balls down the line – Marg Lauer.
Nearest the pin – Narelle Fraser 1/10.
Nearest the pin – Narelle Fraser 5/14.
Trophy donor – Tooleybuc Club Motor Inn.
