Rich River Golf Club
Thursday, August 17
A countback was needed in A Grade for all the placings as Kenny Lambert edged out Billy Driscoll and Steven Smith for the major prize. David O’Dea also had 39 points to win B Grade and John Paterson took the C Grade major prize. Leo Langone provided a highlight when his second shot on the par four 13th found the hole for eagle.
A Grade: Ken Lambert (39 points), 1. Billy Driscoll (39), 2. Steven Smith (39), 3. B Grade: David O’Dea (39 points), 1. Neil Edwards (38), 2. Vincent Foott (37), 3. C Grade: John Paterson (38), 1. John Hewitt (37), 2. Gavin Cole (37), 3. NTPs: Luke Young, Bob Scott, Ron Bisset, Leo Langone, Bernie McGrath and Mick Delahunty.
Eagle: Leo Langone 13 West. Super-pin: Gavin Cole
Saturday, August 19
Mark Scholes and Troy Smith combined beautifully to win the two-person ambrose narrowly over Marc Cain and Matt Bell. Father and son pairing of Craig and Connor Griffin came third. Steven Jones hit one to 15cm on the fourth West to claim the super-pin.
A Grade: Mark Scholes & Troy Smith (net 61.75), 1. Matt Bell & Marc Cain (62), 2. Connor & Craig Griffin (62.75), 3. Nathan Beecroft & Paddy Hannon (63), 4. NTP’s: Col Heywood, Steven Colliver, Jake Morgan, Kade Merlo, Peter Varcoe & Noel Sholl. Super-pin: Steven Jones.
Josie Kirkman and Sue Byrne edged out Vicki Kulbars and Simone Morgan by less than a shot to win the ambrose on Saturday. Gloria Bennett and Deb Bawden are a great fourball combination and were in the money as usual.
Women: A Grade: Josie Kirkman & Sue Byrne (net 71.75), 1. Vicki Kulbars & Simone Morgan (72.5), 2. Gloria Bennett & Deb Bawden (75.25), 3. Super-pin: Liz McKinlay.
Sunday, August 20
A beautiful sunny day saw the annual (net) WE Stokes Memorial Mixed Foursomes, in conjunction with the (scratch) Rich River Mixed Foursomes Championship. With the best nett score of the day, 72, the winners of the WE Stokes for 2023 were golf committee secretary Debbie Morden and club co-captain David Pearson. Their win was on a countback to two pairs, Gillian and Butch Crawford, followed by Cheryl and Jock Watson. Vicki and Darren Kulbars made up the winning circle with 74 net. Men’s net winners were Chris Jennings and Brad Murray with 76.
The father and daughter combination of Colin and Kasey Heywood took out the RRGC Foursomes Championship with a scratch score of 87. Men’s scratch winners were Jaxson McMinn and Patrick Kennedy with 89.
Monday, August 21
Ros Pellegrino can show much younger players a thing or two, scoring 21 stableford points to win the nine-hole competition, from Alison Kable in second place with 20 and Suzy King making up the top three with 18 points.
Josie Kirkman had a good day with a win in the 18-hole stableford round, coming in with 35 points. Second and third place were Robyn Dyson with 33 on a countback to Jiddy Dixon. Mal Davey had nearest the pin.
Tuesday, August 22
The wet conditions brought the field down to 74 players and two grades but there were still some great scores. “Sir Garfield” Danga Bourke had a fine 42 points, which was a bitter pill to swallow for Doc Simon Locke in second place. John Haw is the most in-form of the Haw brothers and had the score of the day to win B Grade and two nearest the pins as well. Colin Gniel got in on the act with two nearest the pins, and John Bedford won the super-pin.
A Grade: Geoff Burke (42 points), 1. Simon Locke (41), 2. Potsie Webber (40), 3. B Grade: John Haw (43 points), 1. Alex McCrae (39), 2. Bill Patterson (38), 3. NTPs: John Haw x 2, Colin Gniel x 2, Ken Lambert, Peter Boek, Bernie McGrath, Luke Young and Alex McCrae. Super-pin: John Bedford.
Wednesday, August 23
The women played a par round on Wednesday, with only four players scoring on the plus side of par. Marcia Spiers had the best score and won A Grade on plus three with Rosalie Drill in second place with plus one. B Grade winner Karen Slater and C Grade winner Lesley Mitchell both had plus one. Janine Morgan had her eye in, winning the super-pin on four and a nearest the pin on eight.
A Grade: Marcia Spiers (+3) 1. Rosalie Drill (+1) 2. Sue Jenkinson (0) 3.
B Grade: Karen Slater (+1) 1. Bernie Smith (0 c/b) 2. Heather Gunstone (0) 3.
C Grade: Lesley Mitchell (+1) 1. Dianne Byrne (0) 2. Dawn McCormack (-1) 3.
NTPs: On 16 — Lyn Kingston, Marg Young and Dianne Byrne. On the 8th with second shots — Lyn James, Janine Morgan and Kaye Mullarvey.
Super-pin: Janine Morgan.
Lockington Golf Club
August 18
Friday’s stableford round saw the best field for a ladies’ play day in months, which was great to see. Returned from holidays, Annette Brereton was in top form and returned 33 points to win the Giddings Co Player of the Day voucher. Joint runners-up were Pauline Humbert and Jenny Holt.
The best nine on the card was won by Annette Brereton (22) by just one point from Jenny Holt (21). Nearest the pin: Annette Brereton.
August 19
Numbers were up for Saturday’s par event — it was terrific to see past member Brian Malone out having a hit. Trav Mancer was back in the winner’s circle with his score of +1 to win both the Giddings Co Player of the Day, as well as A Grade honours.
Runner-up in A Grade was Steve Holt (-1), on a countback from Ash Portwine and Jason Wakefield. B Grade winner was Jeff Carnie (-4) on a countback from Ray Brereton. New member Simon Portwine enjoyed his first win with a score of -5 to win C Grade.
Nearest the pins: 3rd – Mark Lyons; 2nd shot 9th – Jason Wakefield (A), Ray Brereton (B), Mark Lyons (C); 2nd shot 18th for the six-pack smack – Trav Mancer.
Spike’s Longest Drive on the 14th, sponsored by Hot ’n’ Cold Plumbing – Trav Mancer (A), Jeff Carnie (B), Mark Lyons (C). Neither the Echuca CIH eagle’s nest on the 3rd, nor Captain Bricka’s yardstick on the 7th was won.
The two Handicap Matchplay semi-finals have been played, with victory to Trav Mancer over Grant Humbert 3 and 1, while Ash Portwine defeated Stuart Newton with the same score, 3 and 1.
The final should be a ripper, Trav was runner-up in last year’s Handicap Matchplay final and will be aiming to go one better this year, while Ash is one of the most in-form and consistent golfers in the club.
The club will be hosting a four-week program of Junior Golf Come and Try starting on Saturday, August 26. The sessions will run from 9.30am to 11am, costing $5 per child per week, and are a great chance to learn the basic skills of golf while having some fun. Contact person: Ash Portwine (0429 966 836).
The Lockington ladies are looking forward to holding the 2023 Joy Bickford Rose Bowl on Thursday, August 31. Inquiries and bookings to Pauline Humbert (0409 038 554).
Bamawm Golf Club
It was great to see 24 players on course on Sunday for a Two Person Ambrose. The course is in great condition and the weather was beautiful.
Winners of the scratch were Sam and Jackie Newth with 66 - 6.5 - 59.5.
Winners of the nett were Tim Staley and Matt Higgins, 71 - 10.25 - 60.75.
NTP 2nd shot (men) 4/13: Sam Frawley.
NTP 2nd shot (ladies) 5/14: Jackie Newth.
NTP 7/16: Adam Shawcross.
NTP 8/17: Lee Hicks.
Longest drive (0-17): Adam Shawcross, (18+): Jacob Dingwall, (ladies) Jackie Newth
Thanks to visitors from Lockington, Rochester, Rich River and Neangar Park.
Next week will be Turns Par 3 Day, hit-off from 11am, bonfire and tea to follow.
TJ Malone 4BBB Friday, September 15 (noon assembly for 12:30pm hit-off).
Rochester Golf Club
Saturday was the first round of the club’s Men’s Championship, previous winners were once again to the fore.
Jake Wright has taken an early four-shot advantage over last year’s champion in Shane Bywaters, Wright shot a three-over 74 from Bywaters (78). President Leigh Hicks has some catching up to do — his 80 leaves him six shots off the pace with two more rounds to go over the next two Saturdays.
New golfer Troy McInnes went close to breaking 100; however, his 102 net 68 was just enough to win the best net score from Laurie Radley (69). Wright (70), Shane Connelly (71), Ian Pollard and Brett Young, both with net 72s, were the next best and ball winners. Nearest the pin winners were Andy Purdy on the 8th and Wright for his second shot to the 9th.
Steve Bubb is leading B Grade, his 86 is two shots ahead of Peter Anderson (88) and David Gebbie on 89.
On Wednesday our social nine-hole golf was played over the back nine in the form of an Ambrose event. The four-man team of Richard Feuk, Lee Hicks, Elmore’s Allan Campbell and late-arrived Neil Coghill won with a one-under 34 - 4-3/8 (29-5/8), from Tim Quinlan, Steve Bubb and Chris Eeles (31-3/6) and Laurie Radley, Mark Walsh and Ian Pollard (31 4/6), Eeles was nearest on the 12th.
Some important Ambrose events will be held over the next few weeks, starting with the popular Three-Person Tradies Day (major sponsor Rochester Mitre 10) on Friday September 8, hit-off noon, and our Annual Charity Day on Friday, September 29, with Rochester’s Sportspower as one of our major sponsors.