MURRAY Darling Golf Association men’s side have put together an outstanding performance to claim Golf Victoria Country Week Shield honours in Geelong.
One of the biggest events for local golfers on the calendar, the team of Sunraysia players won three of their four contests to win the top division of the annual state teams championship.
The squad of Greg Rhodes, Cam Stewart, Ashley Whitehouse, Jacob Slimmon, Justin McPhee, Daryl Morgan, Brendan Rowse and Mark Woodhouse secured a total score of 17-11 across three days.
While that record was on par with second-placed Ballarat, their halved contest with Goulburn Murray 3.5-all ensured the Sunraysia side could not be caught by the final day.
It marks a brilliant achievement for the largest district in the state by area, but the smallest in population.
It was an outstanding week especially from Coomealla’s Rhodes and Mildura’s Stewart who both won all four of their matches, while Red Cliffs’ Morgan took the honours in three of his four matches.
A 6-1 victory over Goulburn Murray in their first contest at The Sands in Torquay laid the foundation for a good week, but the important victory came later on day one with a tight 4-3 win over Ballarat.
A one-hole victory from Morgan over Sean Klaine of Ballarat GC proved decisive as Rhodes, Stewart and Whitehouse also came out on top.
Murray Darling had the bye in the following round but another 4-3 victory, this time over South Gippsland at Thirteenth Beach in Barwon Heads, combined with Ballarat’s halved contest, ensured the Sunraysia side could not be beaten.
The contest with South Gippsland however was extremely tight with Slimmon’s 3 and 2 win over Jye Kruyer of Southern GC the biggest margin, while two matches were decided by a single hole.
Murray Darling went down to West Gippsland 4-3 in the final match at Portarlington on Wednesday to miss out on the perfect record, but ultimately it was already decided.
Meanwhile the MDGA women’s side have also solidified themselves at the division one level finishing with a win, a halved game, and two losses from four matches.
The squad consisted of Sue Laird, Jenny Stephenson, Lee Bottomley, Angela Plumridge, Heisi Schultz, Nycole Riordan, Michele Philp and former local Sophie Crouch, on loan from Peninsula-Kingswood for two matches.
A tight 4-3 loss to Goulburn Murray in their opener could have been reversed with one contest decided by a solitary hole, however their 4-3 win over North Eastern was their most accomplished performance.
A halved contest with Western went down to the wire, Riordan ultimately sharing the points with Roslyn Brauer of Colac.
A 6.5 – 0.5 loss to Ballarat wasn’t the ideal way to end the campaign, Crouch halving her contest with Puala Bandy of Midlands.
Broken Hill’s Stephenson had an impressive tournament winning three of her matches, while Robinvale’s Philp and Coomealla duo Laird and Plumridge each won two matches
