MURRAY DOWNS MENS
CRAIG Fletcher had an outstanding day of golf in last Saturday’s Stableford competition, recording a once-in-a-lifetime score of 44 points from his daily handicap of 11.
His first nine holes included bogies on holes one and three, a birdie four on the fourth, followed by pars on the remaining six holes, for 37 off the beater.
He then followed this up with two further bogies on the back nine for 38 and a great score of 75 off the stick, which gave him his 44 Stableford points, taking out the major prize on offer and Division 1 honours, ahead of Mark Warren (9) on 37 points.
Division 2 was taken out by Peter Tripodi (14) from Medway with 39 points, ahead of Chris Merritt (14) with 36 points, while in Division 3, the best was Josh Gaylor (20) with 41, ahead of Dennis Moore (23) on 36 points.
Other players required at least 33 points to be eligible for a golf ball, while the nearest the pins went to Peter Tripodi on the 2nd, Stefan Mangiameli on the 5th, Dennis Kelly on the 11th and Colin Mewburn on the 15th.
Sunday’s competition was a medley Stableford event played over two divisions, with 44 points again being the outstanding score of the day, this time by David McClelland from his handicap of 15.
McClelland got off to a flying start, recording 21 points on the front nine, before following up with an even better back nine of 23 points, to take out Division 1 from the current ladies champion Olive Spitty (2), who also had an excellent round of golf with 70 off the beater to finish with 40 points. Chris Knee (27) was the best in Division 2 with 39 points, ahead of Luke Hogan (40) on 35 points.
The ball rundown went to scores of 34 points, while Mark Bowd had his eye in on the par three holes by taking out the nearest the pins on holes two, five and 15, with Matthew Loats breaking up the quadrella by being the closest on the 11th.
Monday, the King’s Birthday holiday, had the daily competition played as a Stableford across two divisions.
Jason Baird (11) continued with his recent good form by being the best in Division 1 with 38 points, ahead of Andrew Spitty (+1) with 36 points.
Division 2 was taken out by Stephen Cameron (20), also with 38 points, and was followed by Tim Free (15) on 36 points.
Other players required at least 34 points to be in the ball hunt, while Scott Mathiske on holes two and 15 and Olive Spitty on the fifth collected the nearest the pins on offer.
Last Thursday was also a Stableford event played over three divisions, with Laurie Shipside’s (14) showing glimpses of his best form to take out Division 1 with 38 points, just ahead of John Atchison (16) from Warrnambool with 37 points.
The best score in Division 2 was also 38 points, which was recorded by Paul Raudino (20), who was followed by Chris Conlan (17) on 35 points.
The countback system came into play in Division 3 to separate Ray Holdsworth (34) and Tori Ficarra (24) who both finished with 33 points apiece, with Holdsworth getting the nod in his favour.
At least 32 points were required to be eligible for a ball, while the nearest the pins went to Ross Hastings, John Tripodi, Ken Gregory and Dale Rogers on holes two, five, 11 and 15 respectively.
Tuesday’s competition was against par and the countback system came into play to separate Graeme McMillan (27), Gary Hughes (24) and Geoff Frame (19), when all three players finished at square with the card.
McMillan eventually came out on top, ahead of Hughes and Frame, who led the ball rundown, which went to scores of -3.
Shrek Petersen on the 11th and Dale Smith on the second picked up the nearest the pins on offer.
This Saturday is the sixth round of the Swan Hill Wholesalers Premier League competition, which will have the top-of-the-ladder Royal Goat Trackers up against the fourth-placed Mavericks.
The Mallee Bulls will need to be at the top of their game to take it up to the Bushrangers, with this match expected to go right down to the wire, as should the match between the two bottom teams in Sticky Bandits and Wannabees.
Quo Vadis Gladiators have promised a lot, but are yet to deliver a knockout punch and are tipped to overcome the Presidents Cup, as are Royal Capri over the Birdies.
The 2023 Golden Shoe and Putter will be held next Friday, Saturday and Sunday and at the time of writing this report, all fields are full.
The vast bulk of the fields on all days are made up of visitors from near and far, many who attend this tournament on a regular basis and look forward to coming back and tackling the Murray Downs layout.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
JAN Butcher has had a long golf career and on Wednesday she added to her list of accomplishments by winning the June Monthly Medal.
There were 53 women who took out cards in the event and Jan’s score of 71 net from her 26 handicap earned her a second medal, with Lynne Bishop (15) 73 the next best in Division 1.
In Division 2, Lois Tippett (32) maintained her good form with 73 net, to win from Glenda Coulter (27) with 74 net.
Marg Moore (73) and Eilleen Willox, Maralyn Morrison and Jenny Monahan (75) led the ball pool.
Anne Webb’s short stick held her in good stead, with her 31 putts winning the least putts prize and Chris Warburton, Janette Tucker, Audrey Domaille and Clare Nalder-Martin played the most accurate shots to the par threes.
On Saturday, Rhonda Barrow (24) scored 39 points, ahead of Wendy Talbot (39) on 38 points, while the next best were Jill Bath (36), Nadine Cox and Sue Davis (35).
Full fields will tee off in next week’s Silver and Golden Putter events, with it being the 50th anniversary of the Golden Putter, which started its life at the Donnington Golf Club.
The committee has organised a special presentation on the day and would welcome any memorabilia from current or former golfers, with people encouraged to contact Mag Kiley on 0418 303 371 to contribute.
LALBERT
ON Sunday, the second round of the club championships was played, with the best three rounds of four counting.
In the scratch event, Doug Meehan scored 80, while James Meehan scored 82, and in the ladies’ scratch, Robyn Meehan scored 109, from Danika Meehan on 110.
The men’s Stableford event was won by Scott Worner with 36 points, ahead of Doug Meehan and Stuart McGregor on 35 points, while in the ladies, Danika Meehan won with 28 points, ahead of Robyn Meehan on 27 points.
In the nine-hole juniors, Carly Shepherd won with a net 36, ahead of her brother Blake on net 35, with there being no nearest the pin winner.
LAKESIDE
THIRD round of club championships was a stroke event, with Jean Youl winning the day with (20) 77 net, while the runner-up on countback was Mandy Male (7) with a 77 net.
Ball rundowns were Ruth McAlister and Mandy Ackland, while the nearest the pins were won by Tricia Whitney on the Lake Boga Cafe third, and Mandy Male on the Lake Boga Marine seventh, HEC 12th and J Foster 18th.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
MONTHLY Medal was held on Wednesday this week.
Winner – Narelle Fraser 86.17.69 on countback.
Runner-up – Marg Lauer 94.25.69.
Third – Ros Jennings.
Nearest the Pin 1/10 – Janet Brauer.
Nearest the Pin 5/14 – Leonie Lambert.
Balls down the line – Ros Jennings, Lisa Zanker.
Nutrien Award – Marg Lauer.
Least Putts – Narelle Fraser 28.
Trophy donor – Tooleybuc Sporting Club/Narelle Fraser.
