MILDURA
IT has been a big week of golf at Mildura, the main event being the 36-hole Mildura Open which was held over the weekend.
Lead-up events to the Open included the twilight nine-hole Stableford on Thursday, which was won by Jason O’Brien who had 20 points, with Elaine Henshall second on 18, and Sandra Hutchinson third on 17.
A nine-hole Stableford on Friday was won by Bev Stone with 21 points, from Ruth Rodi on 19 and Elaine Henshall on 17.
There was also a nine-hole Stableford medley on Friday as part of the Open, won by Steve Fumberger who scored 21 points to win on countback from Sam Boake.
After 36 holes of golf, the ladies’ scratch section of the Mildura Open was won by Jenny Stephenson with 167 strokes (rounds of 79 and 88), with Mabel Crouch second on 182 (90-92).
However, the results in the handicap section were reversed with a win for Crouch (net 146) and second for Stephenson (157).
The men’s events were in three grades.
A grade scratch was won by Daryl Morgan (70-72-142) from Justin McPhee (73-72-145).
B grade was also a close contest with Rob Garioch (84-84-168) the winner and Geoff Hazeldine (82-87-169) second.
C grade men was won by Philip Nash (86-91-177) and Frank Morello (92-98-180) was second.
The handicap section for men was also in three grades.
C grade was won by Phillip Nash (69-74-143), with Frank Morello second (75-71-146). Rob Garioch scored 71, 71, 142 to win B grade from Geoff Hazeldine (70-75-145), and Vince Dichiera (69-73-142) won A grade handicap with Rob Pallot second (71-72-143).
The veteran men’s handicap winner was Vince Dichiera (69-73-142), and Rob Pallott (76-77-153) was the scratch winner.
The juniors handicap winner was Mathias Moisidis (76-80-156); and Stephanie Baker (95-88- 183) won the scratch section.
The Mildura veteran men’s competition on Monday was won by Greg Rhodes, who scored 39 points.
Tony Dal Corobbo was second on 38 points, and Alan Steedman was third – also on 38 points. Balls were awarded to 15 players with scores of 28 points or better.
WENTWORTH
The Chicken Run is no longer, there has been a name change to the Potty Run thanks to the hotels of Wentworth.
Tuesday’s winner went to Ged Chapman with minus 2.
Thursday’s Stableford went to Howard Hankinson with 34 points.
Runner-up was Ged Chapman on 32 points and the ball winner Col Stewart also had 32 points.
NTP: Ron Moore with 558cm on the 17th.
Mr Risky went to newby Jeff Woodroffe on 19 pts.
In Sunday’s stroke round returning officer Donny Sproh continues to reap the rewards with another win at Wentworth having 72 net.
Runner-up was Col Stewart on 73 net.
Ball winners were the North School boys Bill Murray 73 net and John Stephens 75 net.
NTP Bill Murray 640cm on 17.
Mr Risky went back to back to Jeff Woodroffe with 94 net.
COOMEALLA
WEDNESDAY’S A Grade winner was Mark McDonald with 42 points.
Runner-up was Michael Holcroft with 39 points.
Third was Michael Golitschenko, also on 39 points.
B Grade winner: Stephen Smith 41 points from Dale Stafford 39 points. Third: Ron Hunt 38 points.
C Grade winner: Colin Morrow 41 points, runner-up: Ralf Wagner 39 points. Third: Frank Geyer 36 points. Ball comp ( 21 ) 42 points to 36 points.
NTPs: Third Mark McDonald 263cm, seventh: Jeff Giddings 132cm, 11th: Matt Pascoe 323cm, 18th: Dale Stafford 109cm
The women played Stableford with the winner Ann Bowen on 37 points. Runner-up: Michelle Blair 36 points
Ball comp (5) 37 points to 34 points.
NTPs: Third: Lee Bottomley 29cm, seventh: Ann Bowen 550cm, 11th: Adel Dal Corobbo 260cm, 18th – Ann Bowen 38cm.
Friday: Medley nine-hole Stableford.
Winner: Howard Jones 22 points.
Runner-up: Colin Morrow 17 points. Ball comp (3) 17 points to 16 points.
NTP: 18th – Ross Robertson 596cm.
Saturday was Stableford for the men.
A Grade winner was Aldo D’Amico on 41 points. Runner-up was Paul Matthews with 38. Third: John Thompson 37.
B Grade winner was Tim Nunan on 40 points, runner-up: Greg Carson 39 points, third: John Horkings 38 points.
Ball comp (13) 41 points to 36 points.
NTP: 3rd: Alan Scorer 963cm, 7th: Tim Nunan 149cm, 11th: Greg Cooke 420cm, 18th – David Miton 240cm.
The women played Stableford on Sunday, with 37 points giving Lee Bottomley the win over Sue Mills (36).
NTP: third: Lee Bottomley 90cm, seventh: Lee Bottomley 235cm, 18th: Sandy Waters 25cm.
Sunday was medley Stableford
Winner was David Britton 43 points, runner-up: Evan Tranter 39 points.
Ball comp (11) 43 points to 34 points.
NTPs: seventh – James Daly 249cm, 11th – Sonya Golitschenko 12cm.
Congratulations to Lee Bottomley for an eagle on the fourth hole on Saturday.
Congratulations to James Daly for eagles on the 12th and 17th holes on Sunday.
RED CLIFFS
ON Wednesday we played a medley par game, Nev Birch was the star scoring plus three to win A Grade from Michael Hogan who had plus 1.
In B Grade ,Joan Ryan was the winner on countback from Brian Furey, both on minus 1.
With our extreme weather policy in place on Saturday play started at 6.15am and the last group hit off before 9.30am.
Only 32 brave souls tackled the course.
Due to the hot weather we had a monthly medal with a difference, it was a Stableford game, not the usual stroke game we have for our medal events.
Winning in A Grade was Jill Gleeson on a countback from Deb Hassell, both on 36 points.
B Grade winner was Ron Baird on 37 points from Ray Pain on 34.
Balls went to Tim Pain, Sally Jones, Dylan Burnett, Neville Birch and Shayne Dempsey.
NTPs: fifth Tim Pain; eighth Julie McEwan and Mal Blagus; 12th Rita Chase; 15th Deb Hassell and Affie Ganz; 17th John Prictor; 18th Shayne Dempsey.
VETERANS
NEXT Monday is the first event of the Sunraysia Veteran Golfers new schedule and also the last for this calendar year.
Following the AGM held last month we begin a new 10-month series of events.
Therefore annual subscriptions are due and the incentive program restarts.
In recognition of the support given over this COVID-19 disrupted season, current members will have their subscription fees waived.
New members will pay a once only joining fee and a $10 dollar annual fee. Now is a good time to join us.
The association invites all players 50 years and over to come along to enjoy competitive friendly golf while experiencing the opportunity to play on all district courses. Talk to a current members and let them tell you how good this is.
Monday’s event at the Mildura Golf Club will be a single Stableford game starting at 9.30am with a shotgun start.
Twenty dollars covers a great lunch and green fees.
Registration begins from 8.30am and carts are available for hire for $20 dollars by contacting the pro shop on 5022 8089.
The usual NTPs and A and B grade comps will be conducted. At the end we will enjoy a special Christmas themed lunch with plenty of gifts to be distributed.
There are many reasons to be there and with great weather forecast a good field is expected.
The start of summer means that we will be taking a two-month break to avoid the hot weather meaning our next event won’t be held until March next year.
RIVERSIDE
SUNDAY brought some relief from a sizzling week, which kept away some, but not the diehards.
November 23 saw Keith Vale play a winning round of 38 points, in front of France Wilmann on 37 points.
Dot Knight was the winner of the 18-hole Stableford on November 24 with a nice 37 points.
In the nine-hole comp, Meg Hamence won on 18 points.
A countback left Cath Kent as runner-up over Linda Dickson, both on 17 points.
Wednesday’s men’s comp was in two grades and Brak Zambelli finished on a lovely 40 points, winning A grade, with one of Riverside’s stalwarts, Alec Cattanach, in second place (36 points).
Les Ball put his 35 points to work in B grade, taking the win one in front of a group of three.
Ray Cottle snared runner-up with Rob Arnold and Warrick Fisher just missing out.
The ladies included a nine-hole comp on Thursday and Caroline James had a great score of 20 points to win.
Nora Paech’s fine 36 points in the 18 holes put her on top.
Friday’s nine-hole medley Stableford was decided after a countback, with Brad Winslow coming out the better, from Simon Dale, both collecting 22 points.
Teresa Hagen won the ladies’ comp on Saturday after battling the elements (124/83).
Saturday’s men’s stroke was in three grades.
The A grade scores were outstanding, considering the conditions.
Wayne Innes (78/67) had a ripper to win, in front of Barry Pilgram, who also landed an excellent score (76/68).
Atu Akima was the B grade winner after his (87/73), from Nathan Lawson (90/75), who edged out Anthony Matthews (90/75) and Tezza Simpson (89/75) after a countback.
The C grade winner, Noel Biles, finished with (91/72), in front of Frank Taperell (98/73), who picked up second place after a countback against Neil Lawlor (97/73).
Damien Arney came away with the best score in A grade with 40 points on Sunday in the medley Stableford over Grant Docking’s 39. Docking also came away with an eagle on the par-five second hole.
Jim Callaway won after a coun back with Dallas Kalms in B grade, both on 36 points.
MERBEIN
NEW club skipper Matty Wilkes got the job done on Wednesday with a 72 to get the W with 41 points and an appointment with the handicapper.
Saturday saw a tough day for the field with temperatures at a wicked high, but that didn’t stop Terry Fitzpatrick claiming the win with a solid 36 points.
Last Wednesday’s Stableford winner was M. Wilkes with 41 points. Runner-up: F. Crouch 35 points. Balls: T. Fitzpatrick 35 points, M. Cook.
NTPs: 14th J. Barber 30cm, 16th G. Kerr
Saturday Stableford: Winner: T. Fitzpatrick 36 points, runner-up: M. Wilkes 33 points. Balls: R. Teasdale 33 points, K. Matulick 33 points.
NTP: 2nd M. Wilkes 500cm, 14th R. Teasdale 354cm, 16th G. Kerr 680cm.
