MURRAY DOWNS MEN’S
CONGRATULATIONS go to Wayne Wisby, who won with a notable 40 points back on Thursday, March 20, while Mark Burns and Rick Rundell-Gordon won with an impressive +5 against par on Saturday, March 22, with Luke and Harper Wilson shooting a winning score of 61 in the two player Ambrose format held on Sunday, March 23.
Extraordinarily, if you didn’t score 39 points or more on the Tuesday, March 25, you didn’t even get a look in among the winners, with Bruce Wilson finishing on top of all-comers with 41 points and a win in the B grade.
Adrian Walker followed him with 40 points and second place in B grade, while congratulations must go to Dale Jager, who topped the A grade with 39 points and won via a countback over a guest from Willunga Golf Club in South Australia.
These high scores were made even more extraordinary when taking into account the fact that the greens had recently been cored.
Last Thursday, March 27, we had a guest from the Northern Golf Club in Melbourne take out the honours ahead of the locals.
Lyonel O’Shannassy and Noah Starrs scored a respectable 38 and 37 in the A grade behind the visitor to be among the money winners, while Steven Kerr, Brendan Crabbe and Leigh Paynter took out the B grade spoils with 38 points each and Richard Johnson, Adrian Walker and David McCallum got the biscuits in C grade.
There was a reasonable showing on Saturday, with 89 golfers having a crack in the Stableford competition.
Josh Hendy blitzed everyone with 44 points and led the way ahead of Lleyton McLean, who was the best of the locals in the A grade with 37 points.
Steven Kerr (43) and John Tripodi (38 – countback) had a day out in the B grade, filling up the podium behind Josh and Timothy Phillips (37 – countback), while Ricky Wilkins (37) and Jake Budde (36) put their hands up in C grade.
The greens were recovering well and there were gorgeous conditions for golf, so there were few available excuses.
Luke Wilson also collected the eagle’s nest on the day, so a tip of the hat to him.
Almost 80 players turned up on Sunday for the medley competition against par off the gold tees, with the best of the day being James Gleeson with +4 in C grade competition, playing off 43, with Brad Cockfield (12) leading the pack in A grade with +3.
Matthew Battenally (22) finished on top with +2 in the B grade, with a special mention to Luke Merritt, who played off one and broke par with a neat 70 off the stick to finish second on a count back in A Grade (+3).
It was good to see Leigh Paynter, Andrew Downes and Joel Travaglia finish with a trifecta of 35 points on Tuesday, April 1, in a small field that teed off from the tips.
It was good to welcome Leigh, our regular guest from the hallowed Nyah West Golf Club in first place and even though we didn’t hear of any April Fools shenanigans, surely some were proffered.
We all look forward to a strong field in the upcoming Monthly Medal competition this weekend.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
SIXTY FIVE women competed in perfect golfing conditions for the April Monthly Medal at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
Tracy Hooper returned her best ever score of 102-39-63 to win the event, also slicing four shots off her handicap.
Pars on holes 7, 8, 9 and 16 were a feature of Hooper’s score, as were her 28 putts which took out the putting competition.
The runner-up to Hooper in C grade was Jo Williams (38) with a score of 67 nett, with Mandy Amezdroz (42) 73 finishing in third place.
In the A grade, consistent performer Paula Pickert (15) scored a 68 nett, with Julie McLennan (24) scoring 70 and Mag Kiley (21) with 71 also successful.
Anne Webb (29) 67, Judi Lonergan (27) 68 and Colleen Roberts (29) 71 took out the top prizes in the B grade.
Claris Bourne (71), Janette Tucker, Maryann Mathiske, Naomi Domaille and Marg Moore all scored 72 to win golf balls, while Rosie Ficarra is $150 richer after collecting the jackpot with her accurate shot on the par 3, 11th hole.
The other nearest the pins went to Marg Moore, Pam Austerberry and Anne Webb.
On Saturday, Kristy Gordon (16) shot 41 points and Lynne Bishop (11) 38 points to be the leaders, with Sheila Beard, Kerry Gammon and Anne Webb all scoring 37 points to lead the ball competition.
MURRAY DOWNS DAD’S ARMY
ON Monday, March 31, members of Dad’s Army played the front nine, with Ian Dickson and Graeme Bray finishing with 18 points.
They were closely followed by Kevin Maddy on 17 points, Robert Deighton, Tom Wilkins and Barry Bishop on 16 points, Barry Ingram on 14 points and Gavin Scown on 13 points.
On Wednesday, April 2, members played the back nine, with Barry Ingram leading the field with 18 points.
He was followed by Robert Deighton, Tom Wilkins and Damian Kelly on 16 points, Barry Bishop on 15 points, Kevin Maddy, Robert Smith and Andrew Millar on 14 points and Ray Frame on 13 points.
The weekly winners saw three players finish on Robert Deighton, Tom Wilkins and Barry Ingram 32 points.
They were followed closely by Kevin Maddy and Barry Bishop on 31 points, Ian Dickson on 30 points, Graeme Bray on 28 points, Damian Kelly on 27 points, Robert Smith on 26 points, John Brereton on 23 points and Brian Devlin on 22 points.
The monthly winner for March was Barry Ingram, who received the valued tin of fruit.
NYAH WEST
THE 2025 golfing season opens on Sunday with a three-person Ambrose event planned, draw for partners.
We invite anyone and everyone regardless of ability and interested in a social afternoon on course and afterwards at the Farley sponsored barbecue tea in the clubhouse.
Assembly is at 12pm, for a 12.30pm tee off, with members asked to please bring a salad or a sweet.
With school holidays about to start, now is a timely reminder about the Swan Hill and Kerang Toyota sponsored Disc Golf course, which is available every day after 10am and is not only free, but also a great family activity.
