VETERANS
THE local vets will be travelling to the Mildura Golf Resort on Monday, March 6 for a 4BBB competition to kickoff this year’s season
Organising district events is only one function of our group. Our association is not a single stand alone group. The Sunraysia Vets Association is affiliated with the Victorian Veteran Golf Association. The governing body serves as a statewide co-ordinator and adviser to the many individual statewide veteran groups.
Our Sunraysia Association has recently been invited to stage a statewide event in Mildura in 2024. The proposal is to hold one of the country championships at Riverside in May 2024.
It is an exciting opportunity to showcase our district courses and to give an opportunity for local players to participate at this level. Normally our members find it difficult to participate in these events because of having to travel long distances, so holding it locally will be a bonus.
This proposal will be discussed at a general committee meeting to be held after our event at Mildura on Mach 6 where we will share information and outline the commitments required to run the event. Please stay after the presentations to learn about this proposal and find out if we decide to proceed with the nomination process. To be successful we have to make a commitment by the end of the month as these events are allocated a year in advance.
The initial response is one of enthusiasm and belief that we have the skill, resources and facilities to successfully conduct this tournament. See you at Mildura.
RED CLIFFS
LAST Wednesday a medley 4BBB Stableford was played with some very close scores. Sally Jones and Kaylene Geddes were the winners on a countback with 45 points from Michael Hogan and Michael Morrall.
NTPs: 8th – S. Marwood; 12th P. George; 17th – M. Morrall.
A Stableford event was played on Saturday and David Lloyd won A Grade with 41 points from Ben Doherty on 40 points. In B Grade Andrew Bateman had 38 points to win from Graeme Irvin runner-up on a countback with 37 points. John Denman had 38 points to win C Grade and Rohan Hillier was runner-up with 33 points.
In the ladies competition Lea Walmsley had 40 points to win from Faye Englefield on 38 points.
NTPs: 8th – J. McPhee; 9th – T. Pain; 12th – S. Fox; 15th – D. Morgan; 17th – P. Wright; 18th – K. Woosnam.
On Sunday Tyron Moloney had the round on the week with 45 points to win from Luke Coates on 42 points.
Balls went to Troy Germane and Mal Goodieson.
Congratulations to our ladies captain Rita Chase for winning the Summer Cup final on the 19th hole from Dean Doolan.
MERBEIN
IT was an up and down week with the weather again which saw no golf on Friday due to excessive heat.
Last Wednesday was a Stableford event where nine players took to the fairways with Ken Matulick leading the way with a steady 33 points to win the day from Mick Innes on 31 points.
NTPs: 3rd Australian Vintage Merbein – Frank Crouch 280cm; 12th Club voucher – Wayne Innes 398cm; 16th Merbein Lions Club – Mick Innes 682cm.
Saturday was a Par event with 21 players battling it out on the day with Al Gourlay and Graeme Kerr scoring a creditable +3 with Alan winning on countback.
Balls went to Ethan Gray who finished square and Wayne Innes and Steve Farley on -1.
NTPs: 3rd Australian Vintage Merbein – Michael Thomson 201cm which also gave him the pigeon dollars; 8th Drummond Golf Mildura Sunraysia Golf Driving Range – Ant Lee 330cm; 12th Club coucher – Steve Farley 732cm; 16th Merbein Lions Club – Al Gourley 119cm and this was also good enough for the weekly prize.
Meat raffle randomiser was won by Michael Thomson.
Today is a Stableford event from noon; Friday is twilight (weather permitting); Saturday is a 4BBB Stableford (you need a partner).
MILDURA
THE winner of the veterans competition on Monday, February 13 was Ray Lyons (10) with 40 points from runner-up Jeff Giddings (11) on 39 points and 3rd place went to George Poriazis (9) with 38 points.
NTP: 2nd – Steve Peters 100cm
Winner of the ladies nine hole competition on Tuesday, February 14 was Janice Japp (20) with 17 points from runner-up Lois Coldwell (45) with 16 points.
It was fantastic to see 52 ladies playing an 18 hole Stableford competition on Tuesday, February 14 and enjoying perfect weather.
A Grade winner was Mabel Crouch (17) with 36 points from runner-up Angela Plumridge (14) with 35 points.
B Grade winner was Christine Hartley (45) with 38 points on a countback with runner-up Jenny McCoy (32) also with 38 points.
There were 10 balls in the ball comp and 32 points on a countback or better collected.
NTPs: 2nd Trentham Estate – Margaret Morrison 322cm; 10th Trentham Estate – Mabel Crouch 20cm; 12th Zilzie Wines – Sue Laird 450cm.
Last Wednesday the men had 140 players venture out onto the course and good scores were required to win the three grades on the day.
A Grade winner was Garth Doherty (2) with 42 points shooting a fine 68 off the stick leaving George Poriazis (9) a distant second with 37 points and third place went to Chris Blythman (8) with 36 points.
B Grade winner was Trevor Carroll (14) with 41 points from runner-up Rick Foster (15) on 40 points and third place went to Bob Briggs with 37 points.
C Grade winner and best score of the day was Jon Torpey (23) with 46 points blitzing the field by 10 shots from runner-up Jeff Stewart (18) on 36 points on a countback from third placed Ned Torpey (36) also on 36 points.
There were 33 balls in the ball comp and 34 points on a countback or better collected.
NTPs: 1st Pete’s Pure wine – Greg Toma 153cm; 2nd Trentham Estate/PIG – Greg Butcher 130cm; 10th Trentham Estate – Gary Fumberger 481cm; 12th Zilzie Wines – Peter Cottrell 182cm.
The TWW eagles nest was taken out by Les Williams with an eagle 2 on the 6th hole.
The ladies Friday 18 holes competition was won by Carla Sherriff (23) with 38 points from runner-up Angela Plumridge with 35 points.
Friday medley nine holes twilight Stableford competition winner was Ben Camilleri (13) with 19 points on a countback from runner-up Rob Latta (30) also on 19 points.
In the ball comp you needed 16 points on a countback to collect.
Saturday’s medley Stableford competition had 176 players take to the course in four grades.
A Grade winner was Neville Hodgetts (10) with 39 points from runner-up Simon Dale (5) with 38 points and thirrd place went to Rob Toms (3) with 37 points.
B Grade winner was Warrick Fisher (14) with 38 points from runner-up Ron Casey (11) on a countback with third placed Peter Rhodes (11) both tied on 35 points.
C Grade winner was Greg Cooke (18) with 42 points from runner-up Lachlan Inglis (18) on 40 points and third place went to Frank Crouch (16) with 37 points.
D Grade winner was Paul Wilton (27) with 42 points from runner-up Robert Latta (34) with 37 points on a countback from third placed Steve Russell (29) also on 37 points.
There were 43 balls in the ball comp and 33 points on a countback or better collected.
NTPs: 1st Pete’s Pure wine – Rob Donaldson 97cm; 2nd Trentham Estate/PIG – Trevor Riordan 185cm; 10th Trentham Estate – Bruce Dickie 382cm; 12th Zilzie Wines – Paul Treacy 118cm.
The Ranfurly Iron Jack was won by Paul Treacy with 9 points.
Sunday’s medley Stableford competition winner was Cameron Howard (24) with 41 points from runner-up Mark White (8) with 39 points.
There were 11 balls in the ball comp and 34 points on a countback or better collected.
The clubs 2023 season opening day is coming up this Saturday after which the greens will get a refurbishment on February 27 in readiness for our open tournament on the March 31 and April 1 and 2.
