VENTERANS
LAST week’s competition had 70 competitors, which is one of the best fields for a while. Another pleasing aspect was that we were able to welcome seven new members on the day.
Hopefully more local golfers will see the advantages and merits of joining our association.
For a $10 joining fee players become full members. For an annual $10 fee members are eligible to compete in 10 district events held on the first Monday of each month. Registrations of $20 covers green fees, competition fees and lunch. Cart hire at each venue is available at a reduced cost. If you have a good round you could win a prize or win an NTP on one of the par threes.
The recent floods have meant a change of venue was necessary and clubs stepped up to ensure we have alternative courses available. Our next event will again be held at the Mildura Golf Resort on Monday, April 3.
We have completed an application to hold a Victorian Veterans event in 2024 and hopefully we will be successful. This year’s VVGA State 4BBB Championships will be played at the
Hamilton Golf Club on Monday, March 20 and Tuesday, March 21. For further details go to the VVGA website vvga.org.au.
RED CLIFFS
LAST Wednesday both men and ladies played a Stableford event.
Michael Golitschenko had 38 points to win A Grade and Ken Upton was runner-up with 37 points. In B Grade Wally Collett had 35 points to win from Peter Knight on 34 points. Lee Bottomley is continuing with her consistent form to win A Grade with 36 points and Sally Jones was runner-up on 35 points. In B Grade Biddy Pitt was the winner with 37 points and Jan Boyce had 35 points to be runner-up.
NTPs: 3rd – L. Bottomley; 8th – G. Sharman and R. Chase; 12th – K. Upton and B. Ramsay; 15th – F. Mackay; 17th – R. Pain and L. Bottomley; 18th – D. Lloyd.
Medley Stroke was played on Saturday and our men’s captain, Jeff Scott had a fantastic round to win A Grade with 66 net and Sally Jones was runner-up with 70 net. In B Grade Denise
Morgan was the winner with 69 net and Don Fiorillo had 73 net to be runner-up.
NTPs: 3rd – L. Palmer; 8th – M. Morrall and J. Lloyd; 9th – Daryl Morgan; 12th – J. Prictor and L. Bottomley; 15th – Daryl Morgan and S. Jones; 17th – M. Morrall and S. Fox; 18th – T. Neville.
On Sunday Kerry Gray had 34 points to win from David Stephens on 33 points and on Monday Rohan Hillier was the winner on a countback from Wayne Smith on 36 points.
MILDURA
THE winner of the ladies Tuesday 9 hole competition on March 7 was Elaine McMillan (38) with 17 points.
The ladies 18-hole 4BBB competition, also held on Tuesday, March 7, was won by Jenny McCoy and Gayle Ford with 43 points from runners-up Adel Dal Corobbo and Jan Lloyd on 42 points on a countback from third placed Janet Stanbrook and Carolyn Croke.
There were 14 balls in the ball comp and 39 points on a countback or better collected.
NTPs: 1st Pete’s Pure wine – Chitra Rankin 790cm; 2nd Trentham Estate – Helen Barnes 358cm; 10th Trentham Estate – Kate Murdoch 0cm; 12th Zilzie Wines – Glenys Anderson 145cm.
Last Wednesday the men played Stableford and the A Grade winner was Robert Young (7) with 41 points from runner-up Jamie Lanyon (8) with 39 points on a countback from third placed Bruce Dickie (10).
B Grade winner was Mark Cleary (15) with 39 points from runner-up Lee Gregory (17) on 38 points and third place went to Mark Golding (11) on 37 points.
C Grade winner was Bob Fleiner (22) with 40 points on a countback from Dennis McLaughlan (26) and third place went to Greg Barila (20) on 37 points.
There were 34 balls in the ball comp and 34 points on a countback or better collected.
NTPs: 1st Pete’s Pure wine – Geoff Sayers 125cm; 2nd Trentham Estate/PIG – Bruce Dickie 423cm; 10th Trentham Estate – Donald Wall 340cm; 12th Zilzie Wines – Steve Fumberger 210cm.
The ladies Friday 18 hole competition winner was Carla Sherriff (23) with 78 net form runner-up Tracy Katis (40) on 79 net.
Friday’s medley 9 hole twilight Stableford competition winner was Tony Beyen (17) with 19 points from runner-up Boof Ferguson (15) on 18 points.
On Saturday a large field of 187 players took to the course on a beautiful early autumn day for the March medley monthly medal.
A Grade winner was Tim Mitchell (9) with 68 net from runner-up Geoff Hazeldine (9) with 70 net on a countback from Nick Katis also on 70 net.
B Grade winner was Frank Morello (19) with a 69 net on a countback from Les Williams (14) also on 69 net and third place went to David Williams (13) on 70 net.
C Grade winner was Joseph Muscatello (26) with 68 net from runner-up Michael James (34) on 70 net and third place went to Jeff Lay (23) on 71 net.
There were 46 balls in the ball comp and 75 net on a countback or better collected.
NTPs: 1st Pete’s Pure wine – Rob Donaldson 163cm; 10th Trentham Estate – Trevor Williams 237cm; 12th Zilzie Wines – Terry Sparrow 115cm; The Ranfurly Iron Jack – Paul Treacy with 9 points collected the jackpot.
Sunday’s medley Stableford Drummond Golf winner was Kathy Ridley (22) with 38 points from runner-up Scott Martin (18) on 34 points.
There were seven balls in the ball comp and 29 points on a countback or better collected.
NTP: 12th Zilzie Wines – Mark Woodhouse 130cm.
Our Open tournament starts on Friday, March 31 with an 18 hole Stableford event. The winner for the best score of the day is a seven day membership. Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 is the 36 hole Open for men and women, so get your entries in early as the field will fill quickly.
A working bee is scheduled for Sunday, March 19 from 8.30am, so if good numbers are in attendance there will only be a few hours of your time needed.
MERBEIN
LAST Wednesday’s Stableford event was well represented with 12 players in the field. It was good to see Adrian Rudd back on the winners list with a good score of 37 points. He took a real liking to the greens with some incredibly consistent putting. Runner-up was Jack Wilson on 35 points with the ball comp going to Ken Matulick 34 points.
Only two players hit the greens for the NTPs. Max Innes was 520cm from the pin on the Australian Vintage Merbein 3rd hole and on the Drummond Golf Mildura Sunraysia Golf Driving Range 8th, Graeme Kerr hit it to 480cm.
Seven players fought for the cash on Friday with Graeme Kerr winning on a countback from Jack Wilson, both finishing on 19 points for the nine hole event. Players are reminded that the
Friday twilight games end at the finish of daylight savings and there only three weeks to go.
Last Saturday was again a Stableford event with 22 players in the field. Lee McLeod was the eventual winner with a very creditable 39 points from Steve Farley just missing out with 38 points on a countback from Al Gourlay. Al led the ball comp followed by Michael Thompson on 37 points and Nick Cavallo with 35 points.
NTPs: 3rd Australian Vintage Merbein – Al Gourlay 236cm; 3rd Pigeon Dollars – Al Gourlay; 8th Drummond Golf Mildura Sunraysia Golf Driving Range – Keryn Neindorf 394cm; 12th Club
Voucher – Steve Farley 494cm; 16th Merbein Lions Club – Steve Farley 394cm; 16th Merbein Lions Club “Weekly” – Steve Farley; Meat raffle randomiser – Michael Thompson.
Vendi carts are now available for hire, check the club’s website for details.
We have had some machinery problems but the Wentworth Golf Club have lent us one of their mowers to allow our volunteers to keep the course maintenance up to scratch. Many thanks to
Wentworth for their help, and thanks to those who put their heads together to make this happen.
On Monday we played a Par event and Claude Dawson was a clear winner with +2 from Graeme Kerr finishing square with the card. Paul Mulder won the ball comp with -2.
NTPs: 3rd Australian Vintage Merbein – Wayne Innes 625cm; 8th Drummond Golf Mildura Sunraysia Golf Driving Range – Paul Mulder 250cm; 12th Club Voucher – Max Trinnick 820cm; 16th Merbein Lions Club – Paul Mulder 137cm.
Today is a Stableford competition with tee off from noon; Friday is the twilight back nine Stableford and Saturday is a Stroke event.
