MURRAY DOWNS MEN’S
AS we get started, it is good to be able to recognise the success of one of our own in the 2025 Victorian Men’s Country Champs Open Amateur at Cobram Barooga Golf Club last weekend.
Noah Starrs came fifth overall, carding a four over first round of 76 and 72 on the second day to end +4.
One-hundred-and-three men participated in the championships and Noah finished ahead of most — an astounding achievement given that he has only been playing regular golf since the end of 2022.
Special mention to Olive Spitty who was crowned the 2025 Victorian Women’s Country Champs Open Amateur Winner.
Olive is accumulating the silverware this month, taking home the prestigious Victorian Country Champs victory alongside the Murray Downs Club Championship a fortnight ago.
Now back to the local golf competitions this week.
On Thursday, May 22, David Bourne (22) led the field with +2 in the par competition, taking out first place in C Grade.
Ray Power (9) led A Grade with +1 ahead of Noah Starrs (1) in second place and Craig Fletcher (9) finished third with -1.
John Webb (18) finished first in B Grade with +2, followed by Steven Emberson (17) in third place all square.
Robert James (27) was second in C Grade behind the overall winner on +1 and Neil McKenzie (33) took out the bronze on -1.
In the Saturday stableford competition, Graeme Cox (7) won A Grade with 37 points in front of couple of visitors.
‘Coxy’ must have also thought he jagged a hole-in-one on the signature hole 5, hitting it to 70 centimetres.
Stuart Holt (12) took out the honours in B Grade with 37 points and Colin Hedwards (15) 35 points was third behind another visitor to round out the prize pool.
In C Grade there were strong performances from the prize winners, all scoring 40 points or above.
Brendan Crabbe (16) finished with an impressive 42 points and was the overall competition winner, while Alistair Ferrier (19) was next on 41 and Chris Fordham (18) came third on 40. Brendan and Chris both snatched three birdies each in what would have been very satisfying rounds.
On Sunday, Charlie Blake took out the top prize in the Stableford competition.
On a day where it seemed like it was hard to convert a good score, Charlie (24) scored 39 points and Tim Hoare (36) was the only other golfer to beat his handicap on the day with 36 points, while Ian Johansen (10) won A Grade with 35 points.
The pins were difficult on the day and that could have played a part in the overall low scoring, however the windy conditions in the afternoon would have also made it tough going.
Only a few golfers braved the gusty conditions on Tuesday in the par competition.
Shane Kelly (23) finished with +6 and Paul Raudino (17) on +1, while Gary Hughes (24) would have been very pleased to finish even with the card in third.
The Men’s 4BBB and Singles Knockout competitions are also progressing well, with the pairings of Noah Starrs/Lleyton McLean, Garry Foster/Andrew Guy and Paul Raudino/Geoff Frame making it through to the second round.
In the singles, the following players saw success in the early rounds, with Christy Merritt, Dale Smith, Tim Phillips, Kain Domaille, Craig Fletcher and James Beard.
James has had three victories so far and has started strong, but if you want a good story, you could ask Christy Merritt about his impressive win in his second-round encounter, after winning on the fourth playoff hole with some impressive shots to snatch the victory.
MURRAY DOWNS LADIES
SIXTEEN teams of ladies enjoyed the camaraderie and fun of a four person Ambrose event, which was sponsored by Holt’s Auto Service, after the pressure of the previous three weeks of the championships at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club On Wednesday.
Jo Watts, Suzanne McLellan, Eilleen Willox and Maryann Mathiske scratch score was 73 and after the application of their handicap of 11.5, their nett score of 61.5 was just .5 clear of Sue Davis, Belinda Gardner, Gaye Legudi and Betty Pickering.
The next best score was from Maree Thurwood, Carolyn Zambelli, Georgina Douglas and Mandy Amezdroz on 62.125
Sue Davis collected the jackpot on the par 3 11th hole, with the other nearest the pin going to Georgina Douglas and Jo Williams.
On Saturday, Shelley Wilkins was still on a high from winning the B Grade championship.
Playing off a handicap of 21, her 37 points was two clear of Belinda Gardner, Sally Fearn and Val Hedwards, while Marg Moore and Jude Simmonds (jackpot) were the nearest the pin winners.
Jenice Krahnert won the Friday Golden Girls event with 16 points, followed by Barb Upton on 14 points, with a lunch also held to farewell Joan Foster, who has moved to Bendigo.
Club Champion Olive Spitty has taken out the Women’s Country championship and Women’s Open Amateur championship titles after a two hole play off, with the event played at the Cobram Barooga Golf Club last weekend.
MURRAY DOWNS DAD’S ARMY
ON Monday, May 26, members of Dad’s Army played the back-nine, with Col Hayward having a good round, scoring 21 points.
He finished ahead of Andy Millar and Ross Cox on 19 points, Barry Bishop on 17 points, Damian Kelly and Ian Dickson on 16 points, Brian Devlin on 15 points, Kevin Maddy on 14 points and Tom Wilkins, Barry Ingram and Rob Smith 13 points.
On Wednesday, May 28, being the last Wednesday of the month, was fun day, with members having to putt opposite handed and play with no driver off the tee, with interesting results.
Gavin Scown came in with the best score, finishing with 17 points ahead of Barry Bishop, Kevin Maddy and Rob Smith on 16 points.
They were followed by Ray Frame on 15 points, with six others below 13 points.
The weekly winner was Barry Bishop with 33 points, ahead of Kevin Maddy on 30 points.
They were followed by Rob Smith on 29 points, Brian Devlin on 27 points, Ian Dickson and Barry Ingram on 25 points, Tom Wilkins on 23 points, Damian Kelly on 22 points and John Brereton on 20 points.
The May monthly winner of the tin of fruit was Rob Smith with 136 points, while the runner-up was Tom Wilkins on 116 points.
NYAH WEST
STABLEFORD was the game of the day last Sunday and Bryan Rogers made a welcome return, scoring an impressive 35 points off his 15 handicap, with Michael Watson (12) the next best on 29 points.
The nearest the pins went to Dennis Pretty on the Goodyear Autocare 2nd hole, John Manser the Nyah West Pharmacy 12th hole, Michael Watson on the Nutrien Ag Solutions/Landmark 15th hole and Bryan Rogers on the Rutherford Street Tyres 16th hole.
No-one cleaned up the Country Tracks 4WD Swan Hill Eagles Nest.
On Sunday, the club’s junior development program continues, starting at 9.30am, while the club championships will commence with a required assembly time of 12pm for all members.
TOOLEYBUC LADIES
Wednesday, May 28
Stableford – Old Butcher’s Shop
Winner – Lois Jordan (28 points – countback)
Runner up – Janet Brauer (28 points)
Balls down the line – Lisa Zanker, Dianne Walters, Tracey Burge
Nearest the pin 1/10 – Lois Jordan
Nearest the pin 9/18 – Lisa Zanker
9.30am assembly for 10am tee off next week.
