It was a near perfect day for golf, with a gentle breeze and mild temperatures making for pleasant conditions.
There was one standout score, with the rest of the field tightly bunched in the battle for points. Bruce Brown and Clint Prygoda finished more than four shots ahead of their closest rivals after a great round of 68-6.5-61.5. The two big hitters also had easily the best scratch score of the day and after a middle-of-the-field first round are now well placed in the overall standings.
Larry Hockey and Wink Findlay had a slow start to the summer fourball but combined well this week to finish as runners-up with a score of 73-7.25-65.75. Next best were Ash Sanders and Bill Bray with 66.5. Nearest-the-pin winners were Craig Doherty with a great shot on the long sixth that resulted in a tap-in birdie, Simon Doherty on the ninth and 14th, and Phil Barca on the jackpot 12th. The chook shed challenge was a tie so jackpots for the second time.
It was good to see secretary Jeff Parry out and about again after recent surgery. Although he didn’t play, he did manage to have the winning ticket in the raffle and is looking forward to being back on the course after Christmas.
Last Thursday’s twilight competition was a family affair, with Craig Doherty winning with 47-7.5-39.5. Simon Doherty was the runner-up after a countback with Bill Bray, with a score of 44-4-40. Nearest-the-pins were won by Bruce Brown on the jackpot ninth and Andrew Wood on the 14th. Woody also won least putts with 16, seven behind his phenomenal nine of the previous week. The two-point cut was 42.
This Saturday’s event is stroke.
VALLEY VIEW
Our members seemed unfazed by the prospect of our first par event in well over 12 months at the weekend, with some good scores posted.
Barry Scott and Gill Thorsen posted the day’s best rounds of 5 up to take out B Grade and the ladies’ event respectively while Peter Noble (our club’s biggest, nay only, par advocate) continued his recent form surge taking out A Grade with a score of 2 up.
It was only a few weeks ago that Nobby was in despair over his golf game but a subtle change to his stance has seen him take his game to a new level off his handicap of 12.
Meanwhile Gavon and Helen Armstrong shared the bragging rights in the Armstrong house after they both posted +3 to take out the runner-up trophies in B Grade and the ladies.
Bud Thorsen couldn’t quite match Gill’s score but his round of 1 up enabled him to clinch the A Grade runner-up trophy in a countback from David Collins, who settled for a ball in the ball comp.
Other ball comp winners were Jeff Carnie (+1), Ron Dixon (+1), Ian Rathjen (+1), Robin Quinn (square) and Paul Kuiper also square.
Jeff Carnie was the only player to hit the third green from the tee, taking home the B Grade nearest-the-pin ball, while Bud Thorsen took home the voucher on the 15th on his way to a par on that hole.
An impressive field turned out for Tuesday’s stableford comp, with enough players for two grades, and the scores were equally impressive.
Gordon Mackay took out A Grade with 41 points off a handicap of 14 while Nobby started the week well with 40 points to take out the runner-up trophy.
Des Cornwall is fast becoming a Tuesday specialist and he put together a round of 42 points to take out B Grade from Geoff Strachan with 38 points.
Hard-earned balls went the way of Dean Hubble (39 points), Daryl Harrison (38), Kelly Cheong (37) and Paul Kuiper (37) while Gary Jury claimed the voucher on the 15th for nearest the pin.
This Saturday’s event is the December Monthly Medal and traditionally it is at this time that we start the split tee-off times.
However, with Saturday’s forecast (as of Sunday), a pleasant 27°C the captain advises me that we will be sticking with the 11.30am assembly for 12.15pm tee-off until the new year unless the weather really heats up.
Women’s
Last Wednesday was our annual presentation day. Unfortunately, disruptions due to COVID-19 meant we were unable to complete the required events to award our Golfer of the Year — Yearly Medal, Saturday Medal or the Olympic.
Our foursomes events were sponsored by Australian Consolidated Milk. Leanne Busch and Jenni Bauerle were the winners of both the 36-hole and 18-hole events. The 36-hole nett winners were Marlene Topp and Janice Johnstone and the 18-hole nett was won by Robyn Norton and Dot Bennett.
Our club champions received their M&S Accounting awards. These were our Open Champion Jenni Bauerle and runner-up Jan McHale, B Grade Champion Julie Neale and runner-up Judy Greer and C Grade Champion Robyn Norton and runner-up Leonie McMaster-Smith. Best nett aggregate scores over the three rounds of the Championships, sponsored by Helen Armstrong and Gill Thorsen, went to Marilyn West in A Grade, Judy Greer in B Grade and Gloria Pell in C Grade.
Winners of the eclectic were Leanne Busch, Jan McHale and Wanda Hacon.
Outgoing captain Leanne Busch, who guided our golf through the ups and downs of COVID with great humour, also won the Wednesday putting competition and had the most gobblers. Bev Lyon sponsored the birdies competition, also won by Leanne. Robyn Norton had the most pars, for player with a 30-45 handicap.
Many novelty events were included in our round on Wednesday, but only nett results are reported here.
Jan McHale had an excellent round of 87-21-66 followed by Julie Neale 91-20-71 to street the field in the A Grade competition. Julie was nearest the pin. Incoming captain Helen Armstrong led the way in B Grade with 97-23-74. Bev Lyon was runner-up with 101-23-78 and Judy Greer was nearest the pin. In C Grade, Gill Thorsen took the honours with 101-28-73, from Leonie McMaster-Smith 110-35-75, and Mary Cooke was nearest the pin.
Golf next week will be a 4BBB draw for partners, and on December 15 we will play stableford and enjoy our Christmas lunch. Players are asked to bring food to share and a donation for our Christmas charity collection.
Finally, congratulations to Helen Armstrong, our new captain, and to president Julie Neale and secretary Nancy Saunders. As we embark on another year of golf, let's wish for delightful weather and relief from COVID interruptions.
PARKLAND
Saturday’s stableford event attracted 84 players at Parkland, who were playing for Drummond Golf trophies. Marilyn Ross won the women’s A Grade with 36 points. Runner-up was Nola Arnold on 35 points, with Rhonda Cox third on the same score. B Grade went to Bev Howard with 33 points. Runner-up was Debbie Tonkin on 31 points, with Bev McLay third with 30 points. Kathy Risstrom made 38 points for the best of the day to win C Grade. Runner-up was Pam Spokes on the same score for runner-up. Pauline Laidlaw was third with 37 points. Ray Coleman won the men’s A Grade with 39 points. Runner-up was Tony Potts with 38 points. Rohan Gentle was third with 37 points. B Grade went to Don McKenzie with 40 points while David Matthews was runner-up on 37 points after a countback from Mal Baker who was third. C Grade went to Kevin Jewell who carded 41 points for the best round of the day for the men. Runner-up was Rob Smith on 38 points while Rick Walsh was third with 35 points. Nearest the pins went to Jason Baird on the first, Pam Spokes on the ninth and Greg Ryan on the 18th, which included the eagle’s nest. Ball winners were Jan Gentle, Mary Elliott, Lyn Berry, Geraldine Prendergast, Lyn Fraser, Di Bruhn, Peter Barrette, John Ellis, Paul Price, Vaughan Moss, Peter Price, Vin Sleeth, Fred Roberts and Rob Reid. The Privilege Cup and Magic Goblet were won by Kevin Jewell and Kathy Risstrom.
BINGO: The jackpot tomorrow night will be $1000 in 56 calls.
Golfers were keen to play the three-person ambrose on Wednesday. Some tee-offs in challenging positions created some interesting shots. The Ferguson Brothers were the sponsors of the event. Paul Price, Harry Wayland and Wayne Ferguson finished two under the card, nett 46, to take home the prizes. Runners-up were Tony Potts, Ray Falla and Steve Piggott with a nett 47.5. Third were Chris Harmer, Steve Walsh and Vin Sleeth with a nett 48 after a countback from John Hausler, Bob Ferguson and Shane Backway, who finished in the ball rundown. Others were Max Jenkins, Peter Fraser and Noel Bailey as well as Peter Price, Fred Roberts and Lindsay Wickham. Nearest the pins went to Mal Baker on the first while Peter Barrette was successful on the ninth for the voucher from Ky Pizza and Pasta. Paul Price was nearest on the 18th for the voucher from Kyabram Main Street Butchery. The encouragement award went to Doug Cox, Scott Childs and Don McKenzie.
Coming Events: Saturday, Men’s and Women’s Stroke. Intersport Bennett`s Birdie Hole No 16. 9am to 9:30 am/noon to 12:30pm. Shotgun. Tuesday: Women’s Stableford. Medal Round. 8:30am to 9am. Shotgun. Duty: B. McLay, L.Fraser, L. McInnes, S. Jean, C. Kelly. Wednesday: (8th) Men’s Stroke. Medal Round 9:30am to 10am.
Women
Although par is not every golfer’s favourite game, it did not stop the 37 ladies that turned up to play that event on Tuesday, November 23. The weather was great and the course in superb condition and yet only a little over a handful of players managed to play to their handicap or better.
It was evident that Ina Hogeboom off a handicap of 20 put in a good performance winning A grade with the top score of 4 up, followed by Faye Glover off 17 as runner-up, finishing with 2 up.
It was a close encounter in B grade, which saw Faye Roberts (26) and Barb Duke (24) end up with the same winning score of 3 up, but as a result of a countback, Faye took top honours, with Barb being named as the runner-up.
A square was the winning score in C grade and it was achieved by Lyn Bailey (32) with Pauline Laidlaw (28) sneaking in as runner-up after a countback from three others all with 3 down.
Ball winners were: K Bell and Denise Hee both with 1 up, M Elliott with a square, J. Gentle, H. Caldwell and B. Howard all with 3 down after a countback from four others.
Heather Sleeth won nearest the pin on the first while on the 12th it was the second shot that landed in the hole that won it for Ina Hogeboom.
28°C