MURRAY DOWNS MEN’S
ROUND 6 of the Swan Hill Wholesalers Premier League competition was played last Saturday, with some interesting results.
The Royal Goats continued with their winning way, taking care of the Mavericks, 99 to 93, with Tony Ford being the stand out player for the Goats with 36 points and Brian White, on 34 points, the best for the Mavericks.
Mallee Bulls had a good win over the Bushrangers 101 to 84, with Matthew Quaife on 35 points the best for the Bulls and Troy Gnitecki (36 points) the best of the Bushrangers.
The match between Wannabees and Sticky Bandits went right down to the wire, with the Wannabees coming out on top by a single point, 98 to 97.
Sheila Beard’s 31 points was the best for the Wannabees and Justin Condely’s 34 points was the best for the Bandits, while the Presidents Cup had another win, this time defeating the Quo Vadis Gladiator’s 90 to 86, with their best being Chris Merritt with 33 points and the best for the Gladiators being Joey Higgins with 30 points.
In the last match of the round, it was Royal Capri defeating the Birdies 99 to 84.
Royal Capri were best served by Geoff Brasser and Paul Sparks with 33 points each, while the best for the Birdies was Carol Wiseman with 32.
With four rounds still to be played, the ladder is rather tight, with the Royal Goats sitting on top with 22 points, followed by Royal Capri on 16, followed by the next six teams, all with 12 points apiece.
Mallee Bulls have jumped into third on percentage, following their good win over the previously-second team Bushrangers, who have dropped down to fourth.
Presidents Cup moved up, but it is all very close on percentage, while the Bushrangers, Birdies, Mavericks and Wannabees all have genuine chances of making the playoffs. The Gladiators dropped down to second last, but are still well in the hunt, with eight points, who are then followed by last season’s premier team the Sticky Bandits on two points.
The next round will be held on a double-header, to played Saturday, July 8.
In the daily competition, a very good-sized field took part in the near perfect weather conditions, which must have suited Stuart Patterson (22), as he blitzed the field, finishing with an excellent round of 44 points, to be the best in Division 3, ahead of Tom Wilkins (36) on 35 points.
Graeme Cox (5) also had a day out, recording 40 points, to be the best in Division 1, ahead of Matthew Quaife (7) with 35 points, while in Division 2, the best was Brian Elliott (14) with 38 points, who finished just ahead of Troy Gnitecki (15) on 36 points.
Other players required at 33 points to be eligible for a ball, while Andrew Halligan had a couple of very good shots into the 7th green, to claim the eagles nest of $48.
Jorgen Leschke (2nd), Greg Roberts (5th), Dale Rogers (11th) and Dale Smith (15th) also had very good shots into the par three holes to claim the nearest the pins.
Sunday’s competition was the annual Choices Flooring by Swintons 4BBB Stableford event, with an excellent field of 100 golfers taking part.
The father and son combination of Tony and Grant Ford took out the Men’s/Medley section with 45 points, from the husband and wife pairing of Justin and Ingrid Condely and Darryl Domaille and Rob O’Brien, each with 44 points.
The men’s nearest the pins went to Daniel Cruickshank on the 2nd, Darryl Domaille on the 5th, Dave Hogan on the 11th and Chris Knee on the 15th.
In the women’s section, Kerry McDonald and Amanda McCallum were the best with 44 points, ahead of Lynne Bishop and Libby Gregory with 43 and Pam Austerberry and Colleen Roberts with 42 points. Kristy Gordon had a very good shot (71cm) into the 15th to claim that nearest the pin, while Janette Tucker was the closest on the 2nd, as was Marg Moore on the 5th.
Last Thursday’s competition was against par across three divisions.
Barry Caccianiga (31) recorded the day’s best score of four up, to take out Division 3, from the unlucky Andrew Ferguson (30) on three up, which was day’s second-best score.
Lyonel O’Shannassy (11) was the best in Division 1 with two up, followed by Bob Burns (13), who was just warming up for this weeks’ Golden Putter, at two up.
Neil Bailey (21) got the nod for Division 2 honours, over Ian Read (17), when both players finished at one down while scores of at least two down and better were required to be in ball hunt.
The nearest the pins went to Dale Smith on the 2nd, Tony Ford on the 5th, David Wilkins on the 11th and Ross Hastings on the 15th.
This week is a very busy week at Murray Downs, with the annual Golden Putter tournaments taking place.
The week gets under way on Wednesday with the Women’s Silver Putter, which is a 4BBB Stableford competition, and is followed on Thursday by their 50th annual Women’s Golden Putter, a 4BBB against par, with capacity fields of 144 players having entered for both days.
The men’s competitions commence on Friday, with the Golden Shoe which is an 18-hole singles Stableford competition, and will be followed over the weekend, by the 56th annual Golden Putter, with an excellent field of 228 players having entered for this year’s much anticipated event.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
REPRESENTING 41 golf clubs from across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, 148 women teed off in the annual Silver Putter four ball event at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
This event is the precursor of the Golden Putter, which this year celebrates its 50th birthday.
A severe frost delayed the start of play, but then competitors enjoyed the chilly but calm winter conditions.
Adrienne Fievez and Marg Ivory from the Gisborne Golf Club are regular visitors to Murray Downs and always find the course to their liking.
On this occasion, they combined to score 48 points and win themselves the silver putters.
Second and third placegetters were the Murray Downs duos of Robyn Bett and Julie Overall with 46 points, on a countback from Rosie Ficarra and Jenny Monahan.
Shepparton Golf Club representatives Teresa Murray and Angela Keogh, with 44 points, led the ball pool from Yvonne Reynolds (Barmera) and Susan Gore (Berri) and Bev McIntosh and Margot McGrath (Numurkah), both on 43 points.
Glenys Dixon and Carolyn Lewis (Hamilton) and Bev Holt and Lois Coady, both with 42 points, were also successful.
Nearest the pin prizes were all taken out by visitors, with Glenys Dixon (Hamilton), Carolyn Croke (Mildura), Jacqui Nelson (Gisborne) and Lyn Kirkham (Northern) the winners.
In our club results, Marie Cruickshank (33) four up, headed a small band of golfers who competed in the against par event on Tuesday, with Tracy Hooper (45) and Robyn Bett (27) the next best with one down.
New golfer Nadine Cox is gradually reducing her handicap and on Saturday scored 41 points to do further damage, with Rhonda Barrow (23) on 37 points declared the runner-up, while Maralyn Morrison (25) with 34 points led the ball pool.
LALBERT
ON Sunday the third round of the club championships was played, with the best three rounds of four counting.
In the A Grade scratch event, Doug Meehan and James Meehan Jnr scored 81 and James Meehan Snr scored 85.
In the B Grade scratch event, Peter Harley scored 92, Scott Worner 95 and Stewart McGregor 98.
In the ladies’ scratch event, Danika Meehan had 107, ahead of Caitlin McKissack on 108 and Robyn Meehan on 119.
The men’s A Grade Stableford event saw Doug Meehan win with 35 points, ahead of James Meehan Jnr on 32 points.
The B Grade saw Peter Harley win with 32 points, ahead of Scott Worner on 29 points, while in the ladies’ event, Caitlin McKissack won with 34 points, ahead of Danika Meehan on 30 points.
In the nine-hole juniors, Jonty Worner won with net 36 score on a countback ahead of Blake Shepherd and Kel Parsons, with James Meehan Jnr claiming the nearest the pin.
TOOLEYBUC
ON Wednesday was the Final Round Championships.
Winner daily competition – Lisa Zanker 93/66.
Runner-up – Narelle Fraser 89/72.
Nearest the pin 1/10 – Janet Brauer.
Nearest the pin 5/14 – Lisa Zanker.
Nutrien award – Narelle Fraser.
Balls down the line – Leonie Lambert and Ros Jennings.
Least putts – Narelle Fraser.
2023 championship winner – Narelle Fraser 283.
Net winner – Ros Jennings tied with Lisa Zanker.
Nearest the pin 7th – Narelle Fraser.
Least putts – Narelle Fraser/Ros Jennings 92.
Two best nets winner – Narelle Fraser.
VETERANS
THERE was a good roll call at Kerang for the veterans Stableford event on Tuesday, with all enjoying the nice sunny morning after the frost.
Thanks to the Kerang Golf Club for the condition of the course and a very special thanks to Joyce and Lorraine for the hot soup golfers enjoyed after the game.
The ladies winner, with 29 points, was new member Mandy Male, with Ruth McAlister finishing as runner up with 28 points.
Men’s winner, with the best score of the day, was the lad from Tocumwal, Graeme Brierley, who shot 39 points, while the runner-up was Lindsay Hogg with 37 points.
Nearest the pin winners were Ruth McAlister on the 3rd and 13th and Mandy Male on the 5th, 9th and 16th, while in the men’s it was David Wilkinson on the 3rd, Graeme Learmonth on the 5th, Col Wilkie on the 9th, Graeme Brierley on the 13th and Ian Dodd on the 16th.
The ball pool was won by Shirley Jenner, Jean Youl, Jack Hewitt, Graham Wyte, Rick Austerberry, Ken Jones and Ross Fleming. The next veterans event is the Sandscrape Championship, to be held at Lakeside on Tuesday, July 18.
