MURRAY DOWNS MEN
The penultimate rounds of the 2023 Swan Hill Premier League competition were completed last Saturday, with a double header round of matches being played.
Some interesting results came out of it, with the final round on July 22 becoming an early elimination final.
The Royal Goat Trackers dropped their first match of series, while Royal Capri jumped into second position with two very good wins.
The Wannabees also had two wins and hang on to third position, while the Mallee Bulls won one and lost one to maintain their position in the top four on percentage, ahead of the Bushrangers and Mavericks.
Results from round 7: Royal Goats 100 (Tony Ford 32, Graeme Mathiske 37) d Bushrangers 94 (Dale Smith 31, Colin Mewburn 29), the Wannabees 106 (Gaye Legudi 36, Deb Watson 36) d Mavericks 97 (Greg Roberts 34, Craig Fletcher 33, Ian Read 33), the Bulls (Murray Conn 36, Mick Kiley 33) d Gladiators 93 (Neville Brady 33, Sean Baumgurtel 31), early favourites Sticky Bandits (Daniel Cruickshank 38, Jonny Hirst 36) d Birdies 96 (Claris Bourne 33, Mag Kiley 33) and in the final match, Capri 108 (James Beard 39, Geoff Brasser 39) d Presidents Cup 94 (Ken Gregory 32, Col Hedwards 32).
In the second match of the double-header, the Wannabees (106) were too good for the Royal Goats (100), Bushrangers were too good for the Gladiators, in a one-point win to the ‘Bushies’ 94 to 93, while the match between the Mavericks and Birdies was also close, with the Mavericks coming out on top 97 to 96.
Capri had a day out with their two best players, Geoff Brasser and Jimmy Beard, each recording 39 points, for a team total of 108, which was too good for the Mallee Bulls with 100, while the final match of the weekend saw the Bandits finally came good, recording their best score of the season and their first win with 109 points, thanks to Daniel Cruickshank’s 38, Jonny Hirst’s 36 and Justin Condley’s 35 setting up the win over the Presidents team with 94 points.
In the final round before the finals, the Royal Goats up are against the Wannabees, the Bushrangers, currently fifth on 16 points, will need to beat the Gladiators, while the match between the Mavericks (16 points) and Birdies (12) will help decide the final four.
The match between Presidents Cup and Sticky Bandits will be for bragging rights, but the final match between Royal Capri (second) and Mallee Bulls (fourth), could be very close, with the Bulls needing to win to maintain their place in the top four.
Saturday’s competition was the annual captain versus president’s challenge match, with all players being allocated a position in either team.
After all the results had been tallied, it was the captain’s team coming out on top, with an average score of 29.75 points over the president’s team, with an average score of 29.51.
In the daily Stableford competition, the best score of the day was recorded by two Division 3 players, Jimmy Beard (22) and Geoff Brasser (34), with 39 points each, Beard coming out on top. Graeme Mathiske (15) was the best in Division 2 on 37 points, just ahead of Justin Toomey (16) on 36 points.
Daniel Cruickshank (3) took out Division 1 with 38 points, ahead of teammate Jonny Hirst (9) on 36 points.
The nearest the pins went to Neville Brady on the second, Jason Dowling (Lonsdale Golf Club) on the fifth, Jonny Hirst on the 11th and Lleyton McLean on the 15th, while James McLean claimed the eagle’s nest on the seventh.
On Sunday there were two competitions, with a mixed Chapmans and a single Stableford for players without a partner.
The mixed Chapmans was won by Justin and Ingrid Condely with a net score of 65.5, and were followed by Geoff Brasser and Marg Moore on 66.5, with Lisa Brady and Craig Davis next best on 68.5.
Mag Kiley hit two very good shots into holes two and 11 to claim these nearest-the-pins, as did Kristy Gordon on hole 15.
Chris Knee (26) recorded the best score in the singles competition, with 36 points, ahead of James Beard (22) on 35 points.
Other players required at least 32 points to be eligible for a ball, while the nearest-the-pins went to Spencer McKenzie on the second, Scott Mathiske on holes five and 11 and Daniel Cruickshank on the 15th.
Mag Kiley (17) recorded the best score in Friday’s nine-hole competition, with 17 points, and was followed by Malcolm Talbot and Barry Ingram, each with 15 points, to both get a ball.
On Thursday last week a Stableford competition over two divisions was played, with Craig Davies having a day out, scoring 41 points from his handicap of 21 to take out Division 2 ahead of Gerard Mackay (24) on 39 points.
Leigh Paynter (18) was best in Division 1 with 38 points, ahead of Ross Hastings (10) on 36 points. Other players required at least 34 points to be in the ball rundown, while Justin Thompson had his eye in on the par-three holes, taking out the nearest-the-pins on holes two and 15. Colin Mewburn was closest on the fifth, Laurie Shipsides on the 11th.
A small field of golfers contested a Stableford competition on Tuesday, with Malcom Talbot (17) recording the best score of 37 points, finishing ahead of Howard Rosewarne (29), also on 37.
Last Sunday, the second round of the WRDGA Winter Pennant was played at Deniliquin, with Murray Downs up against Rich River and Deniliquin hosting Barham.
Murray Downs was too good for Rich River in both Division 1 and 2, winning three and two and halving their match in Division 3, two-and-a-half each.
In the previous week’s matches at Barham, Murray Downs defeated Barham in all three divisions.
A reminder to all those who wish to take part in the PGA four-person scramble on Sunday, July 30, that entries close on Saturday, July 22.
All entries must to be made by following the links at the PGA Scramble website.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
IN the modified Ambrose event at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
In this version of the game, once the required drive is chosen, the competitors play their own ball to the green.
The team of Jan Butcher, Georgina Douglas, Rosie Ficarra and Carolyn Zambelli combined to score 132 points in perfect golf conditions and win from Paula Pickert, Lynne Bishop, Lois Carnie and Kristy Gordon on 126 points.
Next best, also on 126 points, were Val Hedwards, Bev Holt, Jill Brown and Barb Cadd.
Rosie Ficarra, Sonia Sykes, Faye Palmer and Paula Pickert were rewarded for the most accurate shots to the par threes, while Sally Fearn (44) with 38 points, led the field of 16 golfers on Saturday.
LALBERT
ON Sunday, July 9, a Stableford event was held at the Lalbert Golf Club, with numbers being down due to some members visiting Lakeside and others away.
It was the 18-hole juniors who led the way, with Dakota Meehan scoring a magnificent 48 points and Kel Parsons on 33 points.
The club’s annual tournament will start on Friday, July 21, with a three-person Ambrose in sixes, any combination.
Cost is $45 per team and a barbecue lunch available, with 11.30am assembly, for a noon start.
There will be an 18-hole stroke event for men and ladies on Sunday, July 23, with an 11.30am assembly for a noon start. Cost is $25 per player with a barbecue lunch.
TOOLEYBUC
Wednesday, July 12 – Stableford
Winner – Ros Jennings
Runner up – Narelle Fraser
Balls down the line – Jill Coburn and Betty Hackett
Nearest the pin 1/10 – Narelle Fraser
Nearest the pin 7/16 – Marg Lauer
Nutrien award – Narelle Fraser
