MURRAY DOWNS MENS
MALCOLM Talbot had a day to remember last Thursday, shooting a career-best score of 44 points in the daily Stableford competition.
Talbot, playing off his handicap of 16, finished with an even round of 80 off the beater, which consisted of four birdies on holes 7, 9, 11 and 16, along with a couple of bogies, topping off a great round of golf.
If anyone wants to know how good he played, just ask his wife Wendy, because he is still talking to her about it.
Needless to say, this was the best score of day, and in doing so, Talbot took out Division 1 ahead of Graeme Mathiske (13) who finished on 37 points.
Gary Slater (23) was the next best in Division 2, scoring 37 points, just ahead of Michael Corridan (25), who recorded 36 points.
Talbot topped off a very good day by claiming the nearest the pin and jackpot on the 11th hole, with Bob Burns on the 2nd, Wayne Wisby on the 5th and Wayne Such on the 15th winning the other nearest the pins, while the ball run-down went to scores of 34 points and better.
Last Saturday’s competition was an aggregate Stableford event, where Kain Domaille and Brenton Gurnett combined extremely well to record a score of 83 points.
Domaille and Gurnett finished in front of Brenton Cruickshank and Stuart Patterson, who finished with 80 points, and were in turn five points ahead of father-son combination Dennis and Bobby Kelly (75).
Other players required at least a combined total of 70 points to be eligible for a ball, while the nearest the pins went the way of Daniel Cruickshank on the 2nd, Spencer McKenzie on the 5th, and Brenton Gurnett on the 15th.
Troy Gnitecki claimed the nearest the pin on the jackpot hole 11th, but had to share the prize with Mark Warren, as he too hit inside the magical one-metre mark.
Sunday’s competition was yet again a Stableford event and was played over three divisions.
The best score of the day came from Division 3 player James Robertson, from Thurgoona Golf Club, playing off a handicap of 37, recording a brilliant score of 45 points and in doing so, shot an even round of 100 off the stick.
Runner-up in this division was Sebastian Parseghian (27) with 36 points, while Division 2 was taken out by Jackson Quirk (17) with 38 points ahead of Brad Cockfield (15) on 37 points.
Mitchell Croft (13) came out on top for Division 1 honours by way of the countback system, ahead of Sam Davis (13), when both players finished with 36 points apiece.
Other players required at least 33 points to be in the running for a ball, while the nearest the pins went to Cody McClelland on the 2nd, Mitchell Croft on the 5th and Noah Starrs on the 15th.
Coming up on this Sunday, September 17, is the Doing it for Jarrod charity golf day, which is supporting kids with cancer.
The format is a “gentsomes” four-person Ambrose, in which each player hits their drive, a drive is selected as the ball in play and then, each player plays their own ball out, scoring Stableford points. The three best scores are recorded as the team score for each hole, with each player needing to have a minimum of three drives recorded on the score card.
Also on the agenda, on Friday, September 29 is the annual Murray Downs Fire Brigade Day, which is a day full of fun and enjoyment.
The Swan Hill Windows & Kitchens and TASCO Petroleum nine-hole summer competition commence on Monday, October 16 and will run through until Sunday, December 17 for 10 weeks.
It is a teams event of four players each, with the three best individual weekly scores being the team score for each week, with the best score from each week receiving a $50 fuel voucher from TASCO Petroleum.
Finally, a reminder to all golfers of the annual general meetings of both golf committees that will be held in October.
The men’s AGM will be on Monday, October 16 and the women’s on Wednesday, October 18.
Nomination forms for positions on both committees are available from the club’s front reception desk.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
NUMBERS were bolstered by the return of several grey nomads at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
There were 58 women in the stroke event, which incorporated the first round of the Holt’s Spring Brooch and the September Monthly Medal.
Colleen Roberts is one of the said nomads and returned to golf with a flourish, scoring a 68 net from her 31 handicap to win the medal and take her place as the first round leader of the brooch.
Kathy Brennan scored 99-38-71 to receive the runners-up prize to Colleen in Division 2, while Claris Bourne (27) and Lois Carnie (18) both scored 71 net, with the former taking out the major prize in Division 1.
Lois Carnie found the newly cored greens to her liking, with 30 putts giving her the least putts trophy, while the nearest the pins went to Sue Davis, Marg Moore, Carol Wiseman and Maree Thurwood.
An aggregate four-ball was Saturday’s event, with Sally Fearn and another recently returned nomad, Susanne McClellan, combining with great effect to score 71 points.
They had to survive a countback from Claris Bourne and Barb Cadd, however, with Carol Wiseman and Nadine Cox the next best with 70.
Mag Kiley (18) led a small field on Sunday with 37 points, with Jenny Waterson (22) and Claris Bourne (27) the next best with 32 points.
The annual knockout competitions have reached the final rounds, with the singles event seeing a play-off between Val Hedwards and Lois Carnie, while Lois will meet Lynne Bishop in the Donnington Cup.
The four-ball knockout will be a close tussle between Mag Kiley and Anne Webb, while Lynne Bishop and Barb Cadd will also do battle.
LALBERT
ON Sunday, a Stableford event was held at the Lalbert Golf Club, with the winner being Peter Harley with a fine 44 points.
Runner-up was Maurice Meehan on 33 points, while the winner of the junior section was Blake Shepherd on 29 points, ahead of Kel Parsons on 23 points, with James Meehan Sr winning the nearest the pin.
This Sunday, the club will hold its Gymkhana Day to wind up the 2023 season, which will conclude with the presentation of club awards and dinner.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
Wednesday, September 13 – Stableford.
Winner – Lois Jordan (31).
Runner-up – Lisa Zanker – on the countback from Jill Coburn (30).
Nearest the pin 1/10 – Lisa Zanker.
Nearest the pin 5/14 – Lois Jordan.
Balls down the line – Jill Coburn (30), Ros Jennings (29).
Trophy donor – Clark’s.
Also, a very happy birthday to our captain Narelle Fraser.
