Echuca-Moama and district golf notes

Phyll Macfarlane also played well to finish runner-up with 36, while Annette capped off her good day by also winning the nearest-the-pin.

The biggest field of the season so far contested Saturday’s stroke round, and it was good to see Perth visitor and former local Gavin O’Brien in the field.

Andrew Glatte had a great round of 87-20-67 (highlighted by an eagle on the 10th) to win the Privilege Cup, Giddings Co Player of the Day and B-grade honours.

Jason Wakefield (85-15-70) was runner-up in B-grade.

Kevin and Pauline Humbert celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary during the week, so it was a nice touch to see Kevin successful in A-grade with his solid score of 81-12-69.

Tony Brooke (108-40-68) was in good form to win C-grade on a countback from Ron Dixon (91-23-68).

Yardstick balls for the next best scores (all grades): 72 – Mark Lyons; 73 – Grant Humbert, Jeff Carnie, Stuart Newton, Don Muhleisen. Cut-off for Handicap Matchplay Championship – net 77.

Nearest-the-pins: 3rd – Ash Portwine; second shot 11th – Ash Portwine (A), Darren Carnie (B), Mark Lyons (C); second shot 18th for the six-pack smack – Grant Humbert.

Spike’s Longest Drive on the 14th, sponsored by Hot and Cold Plumbing – Ash Portwine (A), Jason Wakefield (B), Brad Wakefield (C). Neither the Echuca CIH eagles’ nest on the third, nor Captain Bricka’s yardstick prize on the seventh was won.

Kelly Shield

The Lockington Golf Club hosted the 2023 Kelly Shield on Sunday, contested by four clubs — Bamawm, Lockington, Mitiamo and Pyramid Hill — and despite the cold weather, golfers enjoyed the excellent condition of the course, a tribute to the tireless efforts of the workers on the course.

The closest finish was for the ladies’ shield, with victory to Mitiamo (228) by just two shots from Lockington (230), followed by Bamawm (245) and Pyramid Hill (248). Bamawm (524) romped to a 10-shot victory for the men’s shield, ahead of Pyramid Hill (534), then Lockington (537) and Mitiamo (537).

Ladies — scratch winner: Deb Bish (Mitiamo) 85; nett winner Helen Hayes 100-32-68; nett runner-up Kathy Connors 102-26-76. Nearest the pins: third — Di Walker (Mitiamo); seventh — Nikita Frawley (Bamawm); 16th — Annette Brereton; 17th — Deb Bish. Long drive — Deb Bish.

Men — scratch winner: Dave Mann (Pyramid Hill) 80; net winner Rick Connors (Bamawm) 87-19-68; net runner-up Shane Wolfe (Bamawm) 93-23-70, c/b Frank Coonerty (Bamawm) 90-20-70. Nearest-the-pins: third — Matt Miles (Mitiamo); second shot fifth — Dave Mann; seventh — Rod Wilkinson (Pyramid Hill); 16th — Andrew Cochrane (Bamawm); 17th — Greg Reynoldson (Bamawm); second shot 18th — Trav Mancer. Long drive — Greg Reynoldson, Simon Ray (Mitiamo).

Upcoming events: Friday, May 12 — Stroke — first round Club Championships — qualifying round handicap matchplay. Duty: Pauline Humbert, Helen Hayes. Saturday, May 13 — Stableford. Duty: Andrew Glatte, Matt Baulch.

Golfers are warmly invited to the club’s Annual Tournament, commencing on Thursday, May 18 with the Ladies’ 4BBB, followed by the Men’s 4BBB on Friday, May 19, the Mixed American on Saturday, May 20, and will conclude on Sunday, May 21 with the men’s 36-holes Stroke Open Championship.

Enquiries to club captains Pauline Humbert (0409 035 554) or Mark Lyons (0427 862 590).

Rich River Golf Club

Thursday, May 4:

Merv Aitken continued his great form to destroy the field in the par event. Ian Williams did likewise to win B-grade.

A much closer contest in A-grade saw Jade Bennett defeat Joe Shiels in a countback.

A-grade: Jade Bennett (+3), 1. Patrick Falconer (+3), 2. Joe Shiels (+2), 3. B-grade: Ian Williams (plus 6), 1. Ross Young (+2), 2. Grant Stewart (+1), 3. C-grade: Merv Aitken (plus 8), 1. Barry Hart (+3), 2. Brian Harland (+3), 3. NTPs: Kevin Saillard, Ap Kuiper, Fred Harrison, Graham Hodgson, John West and Neil Moresco. Super-pin: Jackpot to next Thursday.

Saturday, May 6:

Des Carey had a mixed day with his beloved Hawks getting smashed, but having a hole-in-one on the 16th East.

It was also the day of the first ever hole-in-ones on the par four 15th West after a visitor borrowed a driver from his mate and put it in the hole.

Pete James won the Privilege Cup with Jesse Cuttriss and Brian Suffolk winning A and B-grades respectively. Big-hitting Mark Langenbacher eagled five and Reece Thompson eagled 12, the par four.

A-grade: Jesse Cuttriss (39 points), 1. Robin Quinn (39), 2. Reece Thompson (38), 3. B-grade: Brian Suffolk (38 points), 1. Mahir Ozdilek (37), 2. Darren Ampulski (37), 3. C-grade: Pete James (40 points), 1. John Bennett (39), 2. Shane Lynch (38), 3. NTPs: Brad Pressler, John Azzopardi, Neil Haw, Ken Lambert, Joe Burton, Craig Peterson, John Guilfoyle and Nick Sheldon. Hole-in-one: Des Carey 16 East. Eagles: Mark Langenbacher 5 East and Reece Thompson 12 East. Super-pin: Ryan Murphy.

Colleen Lynch had a fine score to win the ladies’ event with Miranda Turner in hot pursuit. Kacey Heywood continues to play well, finishing third and winning the super-pin. Karen Slater won the nearest-the-pin.

Women’s A-grade: Colleen Lynch (39 points), 1. Miranda Turner (37), 2. Kacey Heywood (36), 3. NTPs: Karen Slater. Super-pin: Kacey Heywood.

Sunday, May 7:

Round three of the Rich River two-person ambrose was run with daily winners turning in good scores.

Women’s gross: Dianne Watson and Susan Hull (85). Men's gross: Glenn Rogers and David Pearson (66). Mixed gross: Kay and Peter Sargentson (72). Women's nett: Dianne Watson and Susan Hull (74.5). Men's nett: Mark Scholes and Kevin Drennan (62.75). Mixed nett: Kay and Peter Sargentson (72).

Monday, May 8:

Nine-holes: The nine-hole competition was won by Diane Atkins with 33 nett, followed by Lynne McGrathe with 34 and Lyn Newton 35.

18-hole medley: Joy Adams had a great round to win with 67 nett, just in front of Debbie Gniel on 68 and Ashley Smith who made up the top three with nett 70.

Tuesday, May 9:

Jade Bennett and Len Drill combined beautifully to win the two-person Ambrose. Ron Meikle and David Collins were hot on their heels and by all reports Jeff Ridge carried Trevor Moody to third place. Graeme Chappel has been playing well but just getting out of late, but scored the super-pin on four West.

A-grade: Jade Bennett and Len Drill (nett 63.5), 1. Ron Meikle and David Collins (64.25), 2. Jeff Ridge and Trevor Moody (64.5), 3. Bruce Duncan and David Boromeo (65), 4. NTPs: Ron Meikle, Bruce Bryant, John Haw, Kevin Timpson, David Collins and Alan Peach. Super-pin: Graeme Chappel.

Wednesday, May 10:

The stroke round on the east course was also the qualifying round for the Bridie McKenzie singles knockout and 16 players qualified, with the draw for the first round to be announced.

It was also May Monthly Medal day and Heather Gunstone's 69 nett gave her the result.

A-grade: Heather Gunstone (69) 1. Bernie Smith (70) 2. Rhylee Chapman (71) 3. B-grade: Fran Galvin (70 c/b) 1. Leanne Cregan (70) 2. Joy Kelly (71) 3. C-grade: Dianne Byrne (71) 1. Barb Loader (73 c/b) 2. Trish Williams (73) 3. NTPs: On the third, Dale Haw, Liz Connick and Pamela Pengelly. On the 16th, Lyn James, Pam Talnot and Debbie Gnield. Second shots on 13, Carol Eddy, Marie Collins and Gabi Christians. Super-pin: Lyn James.

Veterans

One-hundred played the west course in the Rich River veterans golf on May 5.

The ladies’ A-grade winner with an impressive 39 points was Colleen Armstrong, with Marilyn Robins runner-up on 34 points.

B-grade was taken out by Debra Thompson with 36 points and Doss Dinsdale runner-up with 35 points. NTPs on the fourth were, A-grade Diane Symons, B-grade Jan Alborough.

On the 16th Karen Mose won A-grade with Nelliette Read the B-grade winner.

The men’s A-grade winner was Mark Emery with 37 points and Ted Fordham was runner-up with 35 points on a countback.

B-grade winner on a countback was David Kirkpatrick to Ray Steele, both on 35 points.

NTPs, on the fourth Ted Fordham, with no B-grade getting on the green.

On the 16th, A-grade it was Tony Kelly and B-grade was Neil Moresco.

The next vets game is on June 2.

Bamawm Golf Club

On coronation day, it was only befitting that King Richard Feuk would walk away with the win in last Saturday's qualifying singles match play stroke round event.

His loyal subjects, including a small group of court jesters, rose in excitement when King Richard (94-24 net 70) won on a countback from president Leigh Hicks (76-6 net 70).

The next best and ball winners were Robert Vise (71), Jake Wright (71) and Peter Anderson (72). Ap Kuiper, Bruce Bryant and Lachie Wilson will join Feuk, Hicks, Vise, Anderson and Wright to fight for the Rochester Golf Club singles match play ‘crown’.

Nearest-the-pin winners were Hicks (3), Chris Eeles (8), Bruce Major (10) and Feuk (16). Next Saturday players will try to qualify for the club’s four-ball match play championship, and the top four groups to advance.

Peter Anderson's 20 stableford points over the back nine and nearest-the-pin on 12 won last Wednesday's event from the unlucky Kevin McCormack on 19 points.

Unfortunately, our pennant team lost the grand final in the Golf Central Victorian Open division, played at Heathcote on Sunday, going down 3/2.

Congratulations once again to Bruce Bryant (2/1) and Brendan McCarty (3/2) for winning both their matches as they have done throughout this campaign.

Di Johnson lost on the last while Karen Taylor (3/1) and team captain Lachie Wilson (2/1) losing to the all-male team from Castlemaine.

Jenny Major had a day out last Friday winning the stableford event with a solid 37 points and nearest-the-pin for her second shots to 3, 8 and 16.

Louise Williams was runner-up (34), next best was Helen Ingram (27) and it was great to see Simone Walsh joining new golfers and playing for the first time.