Rochester Golf Club
The ladies’ 4-ball last Friday was to be the start of the club's annual tournament; however, overnight rain and early cancellations forced the match committee to postpone this event to later in the season.
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After the fog cleared a lovely late autumn day greeted 52 men for the 4-ball stableford event.
Vice-captain Darren White and visitor Richard Ballantyne's score of 43 points saw them crowned Division 1 winners from the Mitiamo pairing of D. Anderson and A. Gould on (42).
Peter Anderson and Rich River visitor — as well as former local — Graeme Chapple had the best score on the day of 45 points to win Division 2; runners-up were Rushworth’s Garrick Campbell and Slim Perry (44).
Other good scores and ball winners were the teams of Terry Thomas and Mark Lyons (Lockington, 43), David Gebbie and Dan Dockery (43), brothers-in-law Troy Holmberg (Elmore) and Ian Haines (Lockington, 41), Ian Rathjen and Kelly Cheong (Rushworth) and the Elmore pairing of Greg Holmberg and Max Williams both on 40 stableford points.
Nearest-the-pin winners were Richard Ballantyne (3), Paul Condliffe (5), Kevin Humbert (8), Troy Holmberg (12), Ian Haines (16), Kevin Scarff's straight drive on 10, and South Australian visitor Tim Holt's longest drive down 18.
Saturday's three-person ambrose (any combination) usually throws up some interesting scores and this year's event was no different.
Shane Bywaters teamed up with Jenny Major and Darren White to win with a fine six-under 65 net 59 1/4, closely followed by president Leigh Hicks and wife Cheryl, with treasurer Julie Leahy on 59 1/2.
Other good scores were recorded by the teams of Scott Wileman, Paul Colyvan, and Simon Cousins (62 1/3).
The best gross score was naturally by a team of four, comprising Jess Cuttriss, Stephen Bubb, Liam Keenan and Peter Anderson, shooting nine-under 63, including an eagle by Bubb on the short par 5, 7th hole.
Nearest-the-pin winners were Kennan (3), Louise Williams (5), and Peter Anderson (16) while Jackie Newth and Paul Colyvan won the straight drive on 10. Karen Taylor and Jessie Cuttriss won the ladies’ and men's longest drives on 18.
Leigh Hicks added another club championship to his previous six to win the 27-hole event with a solid 73 in the morning, finishing on 114 after a closing 41 in the afternoon.
Previous winner Jake Wright was runner-up on 116, while visitor Nathan Richards was next best on 117. Liam Kennan had the best net score of 104.5.
Nathalia member and frequent visitor Bernie O'Hare won the B-grade championship with 87, 44, total 131, from in-form golfer Darren White on 141.
Robert Ralph won the 18-hole event off the short-course white markers (79) from Tim Quinlan and Brendan McCarty on 86, Graham Willis (89), and Ian Pollard ( 91) who also won the best net score of 72 from Dan Dockery (74).
Nearest-the-pin winners were Liam Kennan for his close shot on the 5th to also win the Rachael and Justin Cleary-sponsored fuel voucher over the tournament.
Lachie Wilson was on 8 (after hitting the pin), Hicks on 12 and Willis on 16 and straight drive on 10 (off the white markers), while Shane Bywaters was the straightest from the back blue marks.
Ralph and Kennan were the winners from white and blue markers for their drives down 18.
Hannah Eeles was the lucky winner of the $200 IGA food voucher, and Lockington visitor Jeff Carney won the $100 BP fuel voucher while Jake Wright and Mark Walsh both won $60 vouchers from the Rochester Tavern — our thanks go to those businesses.
In closing, president Leigh Hicks also mentioned the wonderful support that he and his committee received from our major sponsors in Rich River Golf Club, Luke Ryan Real Estate, Shane from Rochester Electrical, and the other local businesses. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and are appreciated by all.
Bamawm Golf Club
Sunday, May 29:
Sunday was the first round of championships for 2022 for both the men and the ladies.
Winner of the men’s stroke round was Darcy Taylor with 81-17-64, and runner-up on a countback from Adam Sims was Leon Laffy with 82-16-66.
Winner of the ladies was Jackie Newth with 93-24-69 and runner-up was Kim Dingwall with 124-44-80.
Nearest-the-pin: 2nd shot 4/13 - Neville Vicary; 2nd shot 5/14 - Jackie Newth; 7/16 - Neville Vicary (men), Nikita Frawley (ladies); 8/17 - Geoff Crossman.
Longest Drive: Tim Holt (men), Jackie Newth (ladies).
Next week will be the final round of championships for both men and ladies, followed by a championship dinner. All members please bring a casserole. It is also the privilege cup.
Campaspe Golf Club
The weather was cool and there were a few showers but a good day was had by everyone.
Russell Tatt was the eventual winner of the secret 12 and Paul Pappin was runner-up.
Frank had the straightest drive. Good luck for your upcoming operation from all of us.
This week’s event is a two-person ambrose. The course is looking great after the last lot of rain.
Lockington Golf Club
Brett Stone’s good form from the tournament continued on Saturday, with another win. His round of 39 points was best on course and won him the Privilege Cup, as well as A-grade honours.
Trav Mancer was runner-up in A-grade with a fine score of 38. B-grade victory went to Ash Portwine (36), ahead of Jeff Carnie (35). Tom Scurrah won C-grade with 32, on a countback from Tony Brooke.
Yardstick balls (next best scores, all grades): 35 – Ray Brereton; 34 – Mat Dennis, Kevin Humbert.
Nearest the pins: 16th – Brett Stone; 2nd shot 13th – Grant Humbert (A), Darren Carnie (B), Graeme Hodgens (C); 2nd shot 18th for the six-pack smack – Mat Dennis.
Spike’s Longest Drive on the 2nd (sponsored by Hot ‘n’ Cold Plumbing): – Grant Humbert (A), Andrew Glatte (B – and it was longer than A-grade – again), JD Wright (C).
Trav Mancer won the 12 balls in the Echuca CIH eagle’s nest on the 3rd with a super shot, but Captain Bricka’s yardstick prize of $200 on the 16th remains unclaimed.
Two more first-round matches in the Handicap Matchplay Championships have been decided. In a quality contest, Trav Mancer defeated Kevin Humbert 3 and 1.
Tom Scurrah won the last two holes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and win one-up against the gallant Graeme Hodgens.
On Friday, the women played a 9-holes stableford event. The winner was Helen Hayes with 17, with Annette Brereton runner-up.
Nearest the pin: Carolyn Mitchell.
Upcoming events: Saturday 4th June – Stroke – 2nd Preliminary Round Club Championships – Monthly Medal – 2nd Qualifying Round Gartside Cup. Duty: Tom Scurrah, JD Wright.
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