MURRAY DOWNS MENS
RICK Pickering achieved every golfer’s dream in last Saturday’s Stableford competition at Murray Downs by hitting a hole-in-one.
Pickering recorded this very rare achievement on the 127 metre, par 3, 11th hole to not only pick up the nearest the pin, but also the members’ jackpot.
Other nearest the pins for the day were taken out by Fred Fletcher on the 2nd, Daniel Cruickshank on the 5th and Bobby Kelly on the 15th.
In the daily competition, which was also the third round of the Swan Hill Wholesalers Premier League, Dale Smith (13) recorded the day’s best score of 42 points, to take out division 2, ahead of Bob Burns (15) with 37 points.
The unlucky captain, Mick Kiley (19) recorded 41 points to be the best in division 3, ahead of Roger Walker (18) on 38 points, while in division 1, Brian Hinton (12) was the best with 38 points, from Daryll Stalker (7) from Sanctuary Lakes with 36 points.
The ball run-down was red hot, as scores of 35 and better were required to get a ball.
Results from the third Premier League round included the Royal Goat Trackers recording their third win of the season, just getting over Presidents Cup 103 to 100, with Speedy Frame’s 37 points being their best.
Royal Capri (111) had a good win over The Sticky Bandits (103). The best for Capri being Roger Walker (38) and Dale Rogers (37), while the best for the Bandits was Jackson Quirk (36) and Daniel Cruickshank (35).
Mick Kiley led the Mallee Bulls to a good win over the Birdies with his 41 points and was assisted by Mathew Quaife with 33, while for the Birdies, their best were Barb Clark and Shelley Wilkins, each with 34 points.
The Mavericks recorded their second win, defeating the Quo Vadis Gladiators 96 to 82, while Dale Smith scored 42 points to give the Bushrangers a good win over The Wannabees 104 to 91.
The ladder after three rounds has the Bushrangers and Royal Goats sharing top position with three wins a piece and are closely followed by the Gladiators, Mallee Bulls and Mavericks all with two wins.
They’re followed by The Birdies, Royal Capri and The Wannabees, who each have one win, and Presidents Cup and Sticky Bandits are bringing up the rear, still yet to trouble the scorer.
Sunday’s competition was a mixed Chapman event, as the qualifying round for the annual mixed knockout competition.
A good field of 20 pairs contested the event, which was won by Steve Bulmer and Nadine Cox with a net score of 60.5.
Runners-up were the pairing of Wendy and Malcolm Talbot with a net 63 score, with these two pairs to be joined in the knockout stage by Kristy Gordon and Steve Emberson, David and Shelley Wilkins, Brenten and Janelle Hogan, Neil Chisholm and Rhonda Barrow, Ash and Tara Free, and Geoff Brasser and Barb Clark.
The knockout draw will be posted on the notice board very shortly.
Janette Tucker, Craig Davies and Brenten Hogan hit the lucky shots on holes 2, 11 and 15 respectively.
Thursday of last week, a very good-sized field took part in the daily Stableford competition, over three divisions.
Matthew Loats (7) was the best in division 1, with 39 points, ahead of Ken Gregory (8) with 35 points, while Ron Munro (17) got the chocolates in division 2, also with 39 points, ahead of Malcolm Talbot (18) on 36 points.
In division 3, the countback system came into play to separate Bill Gurnett (36) and Darryl Domaille (23) when both players finished with 37 each, with Gurnett getting the nod in his favour.
Rob Merrett led the ball run-down with his 36 points, which went down to scores of 33.
Matthew Loats topped off a good day by claiming the nearest the pin on the 2nd hole, Craig Fletcher had a good shot into the 5th, as did Joey Higgins on the 11th and Wayne Wisby on the 15th.
Ken Veal produced a handicap-breaking score of 45 points, with his current handicap of 25, in Tuesday’s Stableford competition.
Needless to say, he recorded the day’s best score, which was 10 points better than the next best, which came from Geoff Bett (28), who received the runner up prize.
The nearest the pins were taken out by Haydn Downs on the 11th and Dale Smith on the 15th.
This Saturday’s competition has the professional (Lisa Jean) and captain (Mick Kiley) taking on all comers in a 4BBB Stableford event, where all pairs having a better score than them, will receive a golf ball each.
A reminder to all those golfers thinking about playing in the 2023 Golden Putter, you are too late, as both the men’s and women’s fields, on all days, are completely full, over six weeks out from the events.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
JO Dillon has certainly got off to a flying start with her golfing career at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
After scoring 66 net last Wednesday, Jo backed it up with 68 net from her 53 handicap to post the best score of the day this week, with Kerry McDonald (39) 75 runner-up in D grade.
In A grade, Maree Thurwood (16) 73 net and Val Hedwards (17) 77 were the winners.
Nonie Domaille (19) 72 won B grade ahead of Jude Simmonds (21) 74 net, and Mary Johnson (34) 76 and Anne Webb (29) 77 were the successful C graders.
Rhonda Barrow 75 net led the ball pool which went to scores of 78 and the nearest the pin winners were Jude Simmonds, Suzanne Napier, Heather Evans and Jo Dillon.
Kristy Gordon (14) 38 points and Sheila Beard (26) 35 points were Saturday’s leaders.
Barb Clark 35 points led the ball pool with Ruth McAlister and Carol Wiseman the most accurate on the 2nd and 11th holes.
LALBERT
ON Sunday the club held its official opening day, with a par 3 event which was followed by a casserole tea.
At the conclusion of the day’s play, the division 1 NDGA Pennant and NDGA Trophy was presented to club resident Peter Harley by club captain Dave Doolan.
Peter thanked all the players who made up the winning division 1 team and those who played in the division 2 runners-up side.
The day’s results, in the Nine Hole Juniors, had Kel Parsons taking out the scratch event with 41, while the handicap winner was Carly Shepherd on bet 37, on a countback ahead of Bo Brown.
In the senior division, the scratch winner was Dave Doolan on 61, with the handicap winner being Stewart McGregor on net 52, on a countback ahead of Robyn Meehan.
LAKESIDE
THE Lakeside course was looking beautiful this week, with Stableford being played.
The winner was Adam Boys (18) with 36 points, receiving the Clark’s voucher, while the runner-up was Ruth McAllister (19) 35 points, while the ball rundown was won by Dee Free 31 points, Joan Foster 30 points, countback from Mandy Male.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
Wednesday, May 17 results:
Winner: Ros Jennings – 1.
Runner-up: Jill Coburn – 3.
Nearest the Pin 1/10: Janet Brauer.
Nearest the Pin 7/16: Ros Jennings.
Nutrien Award: Lisa Zanker.
NORTHERN DISTRICT VETERANS
THE weather was just right for golf this week at the Barham Golf Club, with 13 ladies contending for the title of champion.
There can only be one winner, and that was Michelle Dillon, with a winning stroke score of 90.
The net winner was Jean Youl with 102-26=76 on a countback from Shirley Jenner also 102-26=76.
The ball pool went to L. Hyne with 90 and R. McAlister with 101.
In the men’s section, Ian Dodd is the champion, with a stroke score of 85, while the net winner was Kevin Chase with 99-29=70.
The ball pool went to Graham Wyte and Graeme Brierley on 87, Jack Hewitt on 88 and John Brunt on 89.
The nearest the pins in the ladies were won on the 3rd and 18th by M. Learmonth, 10th by M.Dillon and 15th by L.Hyne.
In the men’s, 3rd and 15th I. Dodd, 10th G. Brierley and 18th T. Turvey.
The next event is at Kerang on Tuesday, June 20.
If you are over 55 years of age, you can become a “Vet” and join in the enjoyment. For more information contact your golf club or call Ray Henshall on 0428 549 855 or Graham Wyte on 0408 148 283.
