Tatura-Hill Top Bowls Club
Bowlers hit the greens for the first round of Goulburn Valley pennant with limited practice under their belts, and many were eager to demonstrate their talents. Tatura-Hill Top in its second year of merger for weekend and midweek pennants is looking to be very competitive in the Goulburn Valley region's bowls competition.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Taura Hill Top's Division 1 came up against the powerhouse of the competition in Shepparton Golf and failed to come away with an overall win, but the narrow seven-shot loss, 88 to 95, provided the group much encouragement for the coming season. Two rinks up and two rinks down and four points to 14 down against last year's premiers could be considered an encouraging and strong effort.
Division 2 with two wins and a draw would have to think itself unlucky not to have an overall win, but the name of the game is a combined team effort of the entire four rinks, and Tatura Hill Top subsequently lost to Rushworth by four shots, 89 to 93, gaining five points to Rushy’s 13.
The only winning division for the weekend was Tatura Hill Top's division four, which with two rink wins and two losses defeated Euroa in a hard-fought match by just two shots, 84 to 82, scoring 14 points to 4. The win was salvaged by the strong effort of Paul Kerrins (s), Paddy Cummins, Jacob Cartwright and Andrew Crawford who won by 11 shots against the John Pearson rink.
Division five lost to Mooroopna Golf, 83 to 99, and 17 points to 1 with Rodney Kirby (s), Robert Miller, Roderick Kirby and John Lowe being the sole points-scoring rink with their low-scoring 20-all shot draw.
Tatura Bowls Club members please note: All club event draws will be listed on the noticeboard and with the shortened season entrants need to be active in completing their games. There may well be a need to allocate a specific day for the Club Championship round to advance to an early completion. There is an urgent requirement for members to keep the selectors informed early of their unavailability for bowls pennant. Late advice is making it extremely difficult on organisers to formulate teams and regular amendments create uncertainty amongst members.
— John Crilly
Hill Top golf
The Melbourne Cup Stableford event sponsored by long-time sponsor and member Ron Popple was played in excellent conditions with 10 women and 41 men supporting this popular event.
The winner of the women’s event was Lyn Flett with 38 points from Sheryl Curran, 37. Other place-getters were Jan Coe, 36, and Robyn Downs, 35. Nearest-the-pins were 3rd Bev Roberts, 6th Sue Turnbull and 9th Lyn Flett.
In the men’s event, A-grade winner was Ryan Butler with 35 on a countback from Steve Allison. B-grade winner was Graham Meneilly with 37 from Joshua Mcrae, 36. C-grade winner was Bob Hunter with 38 points from Ray Whitfield, 37. Other place-getters with 35 points were Peter Hutton, Colin Barlow, Daniel Maher, Leigh Thornton; 34 points Bryan Miller, Bryce Wellington, Mick Mulcahy, Joe Deleso; 33 points Jono Kerrins, Peter Baird, Angie Serra, Ray Flett and Walles Cheong.
Nearest-the-pins were 3rd David Roberts, 9th sponsor Ron Popple, 14th Jono Kerrins.
Thursday’s event was stroke with Peter Hutton taking out the event with a net 69 from Graham Meneilly, 73 on a countback from Ross Kelly.
We had 37 players in the Twilight event sponsored by our local electrician Matt Langley Electrical. It was great to see a newcomer to golf winning the event; well done Rosemary Hepworth with 26 points from Jody Webber with 22 points. Other place-getters were Lou Villani, Glen Pearce (with a full set of clubs) 21, Jacob Chessells 20, David Roberts and Jan Coe 19 on a countback.
One Nation Les won the nearest-the-pin on the 14th.
Saturday the ladies played a stroke event with Josephine Deleso winning with a net 70 from Judy Baker 73. Other place-getter was Sue Turnbull 74 on a countback. Nearest-the-pins: 9th Niki Miller (Tatura Engineering), 3rd Bec Jeffers (Lewis Homes), 6th Janette Hayward (Tatura Post Office).
The men competed for the GMCU Monthly Medal and first qualifying round of our Club Championship. The question was asked, is Ned Kelly back? With eight pars, six bogeys and four double bogeys and a handicap of 21 that will no doubt change, Bob Hunter romped home to win the Monthly Medal and C-grade with a great 64 net. Winner of A-grade was John Keller on a countback from Graham McIntosh with 69, B-grade was won by Jacob Chessells on a countback from Colin Barlow with 69. C-grade was won by Bob Hunter 64 from Joe Deleso 67.
Other place-getters were: 68 Rocci Villani; 69 Pat Davies; 70 Alex Howson; 71 Jarrod Taylor, Lewis Walker, Leigh Thornton, Fred Andrews, Bryan Miller; 72 Ashley Blake, Darryl Phillips, Glen Pearce, Brad Deane, Brian Coe, Les Walsh; 73 Steve Allison on a countback.
Nearest-the-pins were awarded to Jarrod Taylor on the 3rd sponsored by Lewis Homes, Neil McAntee on the Tatura Post Office 6th, Tim Balfour on the Tatura Engineering and jackpot 9th, and John Keller on the A1 Freight 14th.
Bunkered noticed a golfer heading off to play the twilight event. Whilst watching a group hitting off the 11th tee he realised that he isn’t that good a golfer to play an event with only one club. Mr Pearce, you should check that you have all your clubs in the golf bag and on the golf cart before you proceed to play golf with your mates — this could cost you dearly.
Next Saturday is a stroke event and the second qualifying round of our Club Championships, sponsored by John Steen, Shaz and Bec Jeffers. Good luck to all.
Don’t forget that all golfers need to be double vaccinated to play and enter the clubhouse.
Hill Top women’s golf
The stroke event, which included the second qualifying round of the championships, was played in fine weather with the rain coming in after play. Sponsors: Sabac on High.
Mandy McGrath played her best ever round scoring 94-26-68 net, parring the 3rd and having a birdie on the 9th to win B-grade. Runner-up was Paula Wills with 73 net.
Sheryl Curran had a great round, parring five holes, giving her a score of 69 net off a 22 handicap.
Runner-up was Sue Turnbull with 73 net.
Ball winners: Robyn Butler 73, Lois Rogers 74, Di Day and Josie De Ieso both on 75 net.
Nearest-to-the-pins: 3rd Blossom With Love: Di Day; Bev Roberts was closest on both the 6th Tatura Hot Bread and 9th Hill Top Voucher, and walked away with two birdies. 14th Lindsay’s Jewels and Gifts: Marita Cornwall.
The final four players in each grade to play off in the championships, were decided by adding the two rounds together, bringing up some interesting results. Some players recorded lower gross scores than some qualifiers in higher grades and were given the option to change. Colleen Johns decided to give it a go in the open section and became the fourth qualifier in that division. The semi-finals have to be played on or before November 14.
The qualifiers were:
Open: Larysa Phillingham, Janette Hayward, Bec Jeffers and Colleen Johns.
B-grade: Sheryl Curran, Judy Baker, Sue Turnbull, Robyn Downs.
C-grade: Mandy McGrath, Josie De Ieso, Paula Wills, Lyn Flett.
D-grade: Di Day, Robyn Butler, Rita Fairchild, Rosemary Hepworth.
Larysa and Colleen played their match on Sunday which was a close tussle until the 14th hole when Larysa putted in for a par, won the 15th and parred the 16th to close the match winning 3-2.
One match was played in C-grade also, between Mandy McGrath and Lyn Flett. Mandy was one up coming up the 18th and feeling good one can assume, but Lyn was not done and put a very long putt in to tie the match. The match went to the 19th hole where Lyn continued her good putting to win the match. All other matches will be played over the next 10 days.
The four Hill Top teams entered in the GMGA event had their scores recorded this week so it will be interesting in the coming weeks to see how each team is going.
Summer 4BBB Knockout is coming up with players encouraged to put their names down to play in this fun event.
Wednesday’s event: stroke, Monthly Medal, sponsored by Drummond Golf, Newton’s Parcel Service and Char Grilled Chicken. Qualifying round of the Glad Robbins Knockout, $5 entry, and start of the summer points for the Mary Lally Summer Cup.
Nine-hole event: stroke, front nine.
Merrigum Golf Club
Saturday’s summer four-ball at Merrigum concluded what has been a big week of golf for the Doherty clan. The event was 4BBB stroke, the first of five rounds of the summer fourball to be played over the next few months. Stormy weather threatened to disrupt the round, however the dark clouds bypassed Merrigum and all players made it through the round unscathed. Craig Doherty had two partners for the day, and it looks like his original partner might get the sack after a late pairing with Jeff Parry saw Jeff and Craig score a comfortable win with an outstanding round of 58.
Jeff hadn’t organised a partner because he will be out of action for six weeks or so, but when his ball fell closest to Craig’s in the toss for his partner, he hit the jackpot. Both played extremely well and finished four shots ahead of their closest rivals. There is now a concerted push from others to have the next four rounds played over consecutive weeks before Jeff makes his return.
Phil Savage and Tommy Ladhams were the runners-up with 62 but had to survive a countback with Simon and Craig Doherty. Nearest-the-pins were won by John Fuller on the sixth, Clint Prygoda on the ninth and Phil Barca on the jackpot 12th. Bruce Brown and Clint Prygoda won the chook shed challenge with 13.
Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup was celebrated with a 4BBB Stableford event. Simon Doherty and Bill Bray won with 41 points. Next best was Andrew Wood and Phil Barca with 37 points. Nearest-the-pins were won by Andrew Wood on the jackpot 12th and Mal Campbell on the 14th. Mal and James Campbell won the chook shed challenge with 10 points.
Thursday evening’s twilight competition was won by Craig Doherty with a round of 46-8.5-37.5, one shot ahead of brother Simon, who was runner-up with 43-4.5-38.5. Simon also won least putts with just 12, starting with a chip-in on the first hole. Bill Bray took the nearest-the-pin on the 14th, and the two-point cut was 43.
This Saturday’s event is par.
Merrigum Bowls Club
On Saturday Merrigum commenced this year’s pennant against Tallygaroopna at the Tally green but unfortunately failed to win a single point. On the day we were outplayed by the home team and the need for some more structured practice is very obvious.
Glen Smith played Barry Rutherford but lost by nine shots. If you take out ends 10 and 16 on which we lost nine shots in total, you will see that it could have been much closer.
John Firmer drew Bill Conley and also lost by nine shots. They led after four ends but after that they slowly fell behind.
Our best rink was skipped by David Pettifer against G Murphy and only went down by three shots. They dropped two fives and a four so did a great job to get so close.
Unfortunately I didn’t get the last card but Gary Mott skipped and they lost by an unknown margin.
On Tuesday we will travel to Shepparton Golf to begin Tuesday pennant and we wish all players a happy day out on the greens at last. Please be ready to leave at 8.45am. You must bring your own lunch.
Our evening meal began successfully on last Thursday and will continue each Thursday at 6pm. Please bring a salad and realise that the board has set the new price for this season of $10. If you are attending please let Joe know by Wednesday evening on 0428 552 466.
Most players should have their hamper books already but if not you will soon be given a book to sell. All donations for the hampers will be gratefully received.
We now have three junior members which is very pleasing to all members of the club. Welcome to new members Lane and Clarry Talbot.
— Young Joe
Contributed content