MURRAY DOWNS MEN
THE wind picked up for everyone playing Thursday’s Stableford competition, but that didn’t bother our current Junior Golf Champion and Golfer of the Year for 2024 Noah Starrs (4), who blitzed the field with 40 points to win the day and A Grade.
Lyonel O’Shannassy (11) took second on 37 points and Jayden Graham (5) grabbed third with 35 points on a countback.
B Grade had the steady Ross Kenyon (13) taking top spot on 35 points, ahead of Rod Procktor (16) with 34 points and John Pertzel (17) with 32 points who took third on a countback.
It was a very tight affair in C Grade with the top three players all scoring 37 points and requiring a countback to separate them. A top-notch back nine saw Gary Slater (25) push himself to the top, leaving Chris Fordham (20) the second place and Bruce Wilson (20) the third spot.
D Grade had Joe Morrison (27) taking the top spot with 33 points, with second and third also needing a countback. Jacob King (26) and Tom Wilkins (32) shot 32 points, but Jacob put the burners on the back nine to claim second and relegating Tom to third. Under tough conditions, 32 points were required to get a placing on the day.
Nearest the Pins on the par-threes were taken by Ross Hastings on the 2nd, Dale Smith on the 5th, Matthew Loats on the 11th and Luke Doolan on the 15th.
Saturday provided a great day for the Gisborne Golf Club Charity Day, with 130 playing in the Men/Mixed division to help raise funds to rebuild Gisborne’s golf clubhouse which unfortunately burnt down last year in April.
Playing a two-person multiplier Stableford competition, the pair of Craig Burrell and Dale Jager took advantage of the ideal conditions and scored 73 points to win the day.
Second place went to Gisborne pair Michael and Annie Hamer shooting 70 points. Michael also paired with Bart McDermott from Gisborne and they took out third with 69 points.
Samuel Rovere and Aldo D’Amico won fourth place with 68 points, on a countback from Mathew Quaife and Jason Stevens who took out fifth place. To claim a place, 62 points was necessary.
Nearest the Pins were Paul Raudino on 2nd, Dean Farrell on 5th, Ross Hendy on 11th and Dale Jager on 15th.
Sunday’s competition was a medley par for the men and women who came to play.
Wayne Such (19) proved to be the man to beat with his 4 up claiming the score of the day and C Grade. Dean Farrell (17) followed in C Grade with his 3 up taking second, and Tara Free (31) claimed third with 2 up.
A Grade was a tightknit affair with the win going to Bailey Codling (3), scoring 4 up and getting the countback over second place Daniel Cruickshank (2) and his 4 up. Third place was Andrew Spitty (-4) with 3 up, meaning excluding his handicap he shot a 7 under 65 which is just phenomenal.
Mitchell Ryan (13) shot 3 up to take out the B Grade title ahead of second place Kristy Gordon (15) with 2 up and third place Jason Perry (12) with 1 up. To make a placing, you needed to be all square at the end of the round.
Nearest the pins were claimed by Bailey Codling on 2nd, Dean Farrell on 5th, Allan Spencer on 11th and Jonathan Hirst on 15th.
The weather turned hot for Tuesday’s competition, with only 44 players turning out for the medley par event.
Harper Wilson (17) didn’t mind one bit and shot 3 up to take out the day and B Grade. Greg Kerr (32) was behind him with 1 up in B Grade, taking out 2nd on a countback.
A Grade was a close call, but Bingara Gorge member Brett Standen (13) won with 2 up with a superior back nine allowing the countback win over Mathew Quaife (5) and his 2 up. Finishing all square was needed to place.
Lastly, nearest to pins were taken by Mathew Quaife on 2nd, Daniel Cruickshank on 5th and Anthony Ford on 11th.
The traditional opening to the golf season is here with the Baileys Ag Australia Day Golf Day happening this Saturday. Playing as a two-person Ambrose, it will surely be a great day to be on the course.
Entry is $50 per team which includes a barbecue and the highly competitive putting competition. For more information or to book your place, call the Murray Downs Pro Shop on 5033 1427.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
JENICE Krahnert has had two wins from two starts at MDG&CC over the past week.
On Saturday she teamed with Carolyn Zambelli to score 67 points to win the Stableford aggregate four ball. Proceeds from this event were donated to the Gisborne Golf Club which lost its clubhouse in a fire last year.
Next best were Lyn Merrett and Maralyn Morrison who combined to score 65 points and Dione Heppell and Kristy Gordon next best on 63.
Dione Heppell collected two nearest the pin prizes.
Jenice’s next outing was on Wednesday when she posted the best score of the day, 4 up from her 28 handicap to win Division 2. Lois Tippett (33) 2 up was next best.
In Division 1, Janelle Hogan (25) square and Lois Carnie (18) 1 down won the spoils.
New golfers Kayla Shadbolt and Di Pinal 2 up led the ball pool, Heather Evans was also 2 up and nonagenarian Marie Cruickshank was square.
Lyn Merrett collected 10 balls out of the birdies nest on the par-five 12th hole and the lucky shots were executed by Marg Moore, Janelle Hogan, Lisa Brady and Barb Cadd.
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MURRAY DOWNS DADS ARMY
ON Monday members played the back nine, with the best score being recorded by Rob Smith with 19 points, followed by Kevin Maddy on 18 points, Barry Bishop on 16 points, Ross Cox and Brian Devlin on 14 points, and Rob Deighton and Barry Ingram on 12 points.
On Wednesday, members played the front nine, with Brian Devlin and Robert Deighton coming with the best score of 19 points, followed by Rob Smith, Kevin Maddy and Ian Dickson on 18 points, Ross Cox and Barry Ingram on 17 points, Barry Bishop on 15 points, Ray Frame on 14 points, Gavin Scown on 13 points, and Andy Millar on 12 points.
The weekly winner was Rob Smith with 37 points, runner-up was Kevin Maddy on 36 points, followed by Brian Devlin on 33 points, Barry Bishop, Ross Cox and Rob Deighton on 31 points, Barry Ingram on 29 points, and Ray Frame on 21 points.
The Golden Girls recommence their nine-hole comp on Friday.
The official start of the 2025 golf season will be on February 5 (one month earlier than usual). The annual Kennedy’s Jewellers Pink Day is on February 19 and there will be an Open day on March 5.
