MERBEIN
WE should start with congratulations to our president John Bell, who sank his first ever hole-in-one Saturday on the 3rd hole, well done John.
On the same day Paul “Fox” holed out for an eagle 3 on the par-five 6th.
Winner of our one-off special Irish Stableford was Shane Gerring with 41 points, followed in by Terry Fitzpatrick with 38 points.
Ball comp Mark Holding and Adrian Rudd.
NTPs: 3rd Australian Vintage Wines, John Bell 0cm; 8th Drummond Golf Sunraysia Golf Range, Oscar Mannix; 17th Merbein Lions Club, Abe Nemes 12000cm.
Last Wednesday was Stableford.
Winner was Graeme Kerr 34 points, runner-up Doug Watson 33 points.
Ball comp K Matulick and Terry Fitzpatrick. Raffle Fox Mulder.
Next week are the first two rounds of the club championships. Tee times from 8am can be booked through One Golf app, or call or text the captain on 0412 728 467.
VETERANS
THE next VVGA event will be the Annual Teams Event to be held in Bendigo on Monday and Tuesday, September 16 and 17.
Each district may enter three teams of three players (men and women).
The event is a 36-hole Stableford competition, and the teams score is the aggregate of the three players over the 36 holes. We sent one team last year. Closing date for entries is Monday, September 2. The cost per team is $210.
The teams will be selected on a first-come, first-allocated basis. Initially only three teams from Sunraysia are eligible.
If we don’t send three teams our spots will be reallocated to other districts.
At the local level there is less than a week until the Coomealla Club Single Stableford event starts. Local veteran golfers will anxiously wonder what the weather will be like. It is winter after all, and the mornings have had a cold start of late.
The rain has been good for the local courses and the Coomealla Golf Club always presents well-kept fairways and greens. It is always a great day so don’t miss it.
So, rug up and make your way to the club on Monday, August 5. The usual reminders are that registration commences in the clubhouse about 8.30am. Remember to wear your badge and try to have the correct change.
If you have hired a cart see the pro in the golf shop and if you have not contacted the club, I suggest you call to reserve one for yourself ASAP. Each course has a different slope so check your GA score to ensure you play with the correct handicap. Be ready for the captain’s address about 9am for any last-minute instructions before being grouped and sent off to your starting tees in readiness for the shotgun start. Until then, happy golfing.
COOMEALLA
COMING events: this Wednesday is Stableford, Friday is a nine-hole medley Stableford, Saturday is stroke Monthly Medal, and Sunday is an 18-hole medley Stableford.
Last Wednesday was par.
A Grade winner Greg Rhodes +3, runner-up Phil Moisidis +2, third Stan Prymke +2.
B Grade winner Linda Jakubans +6, runner-up Jonny Torpey +5, third James Whyte +3.
Balls +6 – Square on countback. NTPs: 3rd Zilzie Wine – Ray Lyons 170cm, Ann Bowen 138cm; 7th McGuigan Wines – Jack Budd 24cm, Dale Woodham 525cm; 11th Walkers IGA – Greg Rhodes 920cm, Erin Nunan 140cm; 18th Trentham Estate – Shawn Clarke 148cm, Ann Bowen 0cm second shot.
Friday was a nine-hole Stableford.
Winner Ron Hunt 22 points, runner-up Larry Frasca 22 points.
Balls 22 points – 21 points on countback. NTPs: 3rd Ray Lyons 720cm, 11th Larry Frasca 230cm, 18th Larry Frasca 471cm.
Saturday was Stableford.
Men’s A Grade winner Aaron Blake 40 points, runner-up Jim Clarke 38 points, third James Daly 37 points.
B Grade winner Mark Cleary 36 points, runner-up Murray Appleby 34 points, third Ray Lyons 34 points.
C Grade winner Ray Olver 37 points, runner-up Ken Forster 36 points, third Garry Buckman 35 points.
Balls 40 points – 34 points on countback. Men’s NTPs: 7th McGuigan Wines – Kevin Polkinghorn, 11th Walkers IGA – Luke Perry 581cm, 18th Trentham Estate – Ed Parker 300cm.
Women’s winner Nia Whittle 41 points, runner-up Kylie Walters 37 points, third Sandra Luitjes 37 points.
Balls 41 points – 37 points on countback. Women’s NTPs: 3rd Zilzie Wine – Ann Bowen 131cm, 7th – Kylie Walters 1050cm, 11th Buronga Bake – Sandy Waters 89cm, 18th Trentham Estate – Linda Jakubans 55cm.
Sunday winner Ryan Teasdale 40 points, runner-up JD Hawkins 38 points.
Balls 40 points – 34 points on countback. NTPs: 3rd Thoms Clark-Tosic 940cm, 7th Ryan Teasdale 182cm, 11th James Clay 1150cm, 18th Lee Bottomley 220cm.
RED CLIFFS
LAST Wednesday, Stableford was played.
Bernard Washington had 38 points to win the men’s and Mal Goodieson was runner-up on a countback with 36 points.
Balls went to Alex Mullins, Steven Johns, Justin McPhee and Michael Englefield. NTPs: 8th A Mullins, 12th G Riordan, 17th J McPhee and 18th N Birch.
Sue Johns won A Grade ladies with 39 points and Sue Poole was runner-up with 36 points.
In B Grade, Kaylene Geddes had 36 points to win on a countback from Glenys Murray.
Balls went to Lee Bottomley, Sally Jones, Rose Barich and Caroline James. NTPs: 3rd L Bottomley, 8th J Wood, 12th S Johns, 15th L Bottomley and 17th R Barich.
Friday’s nine-hole comp was won by Glenys Murray with 20 points and Susan Gathercole was runner-up with 18 points.
On Saturday, the men played their first round of championships.
Matthew Pascoe had 71 net to win A Grade and Tony Johns was runner-up on a countback with 72 net.
In B Grade, Glen Riordan had 72 net and Jimmy Frangos was runner-up with 73 net.
Balls went to Andrew Bateman, Graham Lohmeyer, Eki Maru, Bernard Washington, Daryl Morgan, Mal Goodieson, Charlie Butcher, Mark Collett, Jamie Wood and Glenn Goodall.
NTPs: 3rd G Nunn, 8th C Downing, 12th D Morgan, 15th G Lohmeyer, 17th M Pascoe and 18th D Vartuli.
Faye Englefield won the ladies stroke on a countback with 74 net and Kaylene Geddes was runner-up.
Balls went to Deb Dark and Christine Taylor. NTPs: 3rd and 8th K Hart, 12th S Blagus, 15th and 17th D Dark.
The second round of men’s championships was played on Sunday.
In A Grade Eki Maru had 72 net to win and Kyle Russell was runner-up on a countback with 73 net.
Glen Riordan had 72 net to win B Grade and Mark Collett was runner-up on a countback with 75 net.
Balls went to Rodney Begg, Christopher Chase, Justin McPhee, David Lloyd, Jamie Driscoll, Matthew Pascoe and Daryl Morgan.
NTPs: 8th B Hogan and 17th J McPhee.
RIVERSIDE
AS we make our way through these extremely cold winter conditions, the keen golfers keep on keeping on.
Monday’s comp saw a lady on the dais for a change, with Wendy Dawson having a terrific game, finishing on 38 points, over Daniel Ghidinelli on 36 points. Balls went out to 35 points. NTPs: 12th and 18th – Lauchlan Smith (410cm and 700cm).
Janette Mason and Marie Hudak played very well on Tuesday in the ladies nine-hole Stableford, with Janette just in front by a smidge, after a countback, with both on 19 points.
NTPs: 4th – Janette Mason 880cm.
Wednesday was a par for the members and visitors, which was played in two grades.
Ash Robinson had a fine +2 to be the A Grade winner, from Bodan Bishop on a +1.
Ron Hall played a great round and managed a +3 to be on top in B Grade. Peter Schroeder pulled in a second place over George Riordan after their countback on +2. Balls went out to -2.
NTPs: Zilzie Wines 4th – John Wass 36cm, 7th – Rory Nutter 710cm, 12th – Mathew Bird 495cm, Sunbeam Fruits 17th – Marty Scott 74cm, Deakin Estate Wines 18th – Jordan Appleby 260cm.
Thursday saw Marie Hudak going one better and picking up a win, on 37 points, in front of Gaye Briggs, in second place on 36 points. Balls went out to 34 points on a countback.
Friday’s nine-hole medley Stableford was won by Paul Wilkinson on 21 points, with Lisa Garioch, grabbing runner-up, after a countback against Ben Hunt, both on 20 points.
The Ladies played stroke, for their Monthly Award on Saturday and Margie Lampard has been very consistent of late and once again put in an awesome round and won with a 86/70 to pocket the Monthly Award. Talking of consistency, you always have to bring Chitra Rankin 95/74 into the equation and she only just snuck in to take runner-up, with Roylene Bailey just missing out, after a countback 108/74. Balls went out to 74.
NTPs: Zilzie Wines 4th – Pat Riordan 220cm, Zilzie Wines 7th – Janet Luke 740cm, 12th – Roz Nash 78cm, 18th – Roz Nash 28
Monthly Medal was up for the men on Saturday and a good field played it out in three grades.
Alex Spooner had a very pleasing round of 75/71 to take the medal in A Grade, over runner-up, Max Marks 86/72, who had to fight out a countback against Grant Giddings 84/72.
The B Grade medal went to Keith Willis 96/75 who also had to contend with a countback, but this one was against two others, in Greg King 92/75, snagging runner-up, and Michael Englefield 95/75, who just missed the cut.
Round of the day and winner of C Grade medal was Neil Lawlor, with a super 101/69, in front of Kevin Burke on 93/70. Balls went to 75 net on a countback.
Jarrod Stokker played the par-five 2nd hole with perfection, leaving with an eagle.
NTPs: Zilzie Wines 4th – Brad Missen 225cm, 7th – Colin Johnston 261cm, 12th – Max Marks 71cm, Sunbeam Fruits 17th – Alex Spooner 16cm, Good Deal Tyres 18th – Steve Spooner 232cm.
Sunday’s game was a medley Stableford and was played in two grades.
Brendan Rowse would have been happy with his win, after a fantastic 39 points in A Grade, in front of Jason Zambelli’s 36 points.
Luke Jeffers topped of his win in B Grade, with the round of the week, a magnificent 44 points, from Opo Tenupale, left with a second place, on an excellent 40 points. Balls went out to 35 points.
NTPs: Zilzie Wines 4th – David Byrnes 257cm, 7th – Jayden Grenfell 395cm, 12th – Paul Wilkinson 510cm, 18th – Claude Dawson 232cm.
The first round of the Ladies Club Championships will be played on Thursday, August 8, with the option of playing the first round on the following Saturday, August 10. Players must nominate their day of play by this Thursday. If you are wanting to be a part of the championship, please contact the club.
MILDURA
MONDAY last week was veterans and friends medley Stableford.
Winner Bob Latta 40 points, runner-up Graham Robertson 39 points on countback, third Milton Clark 39 points.
Balls comp 36 points. NTPs: 2nd Bruce Smythe 790cm, 12th Jim Clarke 224cm.
Tuesday ladies’ 18-hole Stableford winner Valerie Whitelaw 37 points, runner-up Ann Bowen 35 points. Balls 33 points.
Tuesday ladies’ nine-hole winner Isobel Westhead 18 points.
NTPs: 1st Marg Morrison 390cm, 2nd Carla Sherriff 212cm, 10th (two shots) Marg Morrison 0cm, 12th Rhonda Young 100cm.
Last Wednesday was a two-person Ambrose.
Winners Bruce Smythe and Mark Woodhouse 64 net, runners-up Peter Briggs and Bob Briggs 65 net on countback, third Ernie Tyrrell and Peter Rhodes 65 net.
Balls 67.75 net. NTPs: 2nd Mark Woodhouse 30cm, 10th Frank Cavallo 320cm, 12th Mark Woodhouse 72cm.
Friday was ladies’ stroke.
Winner Carla Sherriff 75 net, runner-up Bev Stone 77 net.
Saturday was medley Stableford
A Grade winner Jeff Giddings 39 points, runner-up Greg Toma 38 points, third Ash Whitehouse 34 points.
B Grade winner Keith Williams 37 points on countback, runner-up Jake Cameron 37 points, third John Williams 36 points.
C Grade winner Ashley Spencer 41 points, runner-up Fred Stewart 36 points, third Rod Truman.
Balls 25-33 points. NTPs: 1st Mark Woodhouse 92cm, 2nd David Murray 490cm, 10th Greg Toma 430cm, 12th Mark Woodhouse 172cm.
