PERFECT conditions are set to greet the Murray Darling Golf Association’s second Open of the season this weekend.
The Mildura Open is always strongly attended and a full field of 180 are locked in for Saturday and Sunday at Mildura Golf Resort.
Justin McPhee heads into the weekend as defending men’s A grade champion after holding off Greg Rhodes last year by a solitary stroke, with his opening 71 proving the difference.
Broken Hill’s Jenny Stephenson, a regular winner in Sunraysia, put on a clinic to win last year’s women’s title by 16 strokes from Lisa Garioch.
McPhee was runner-up to Ash Whitehouse in last week’s Merbein Open, while Lee Bottomley also took out the win at ‘Royal Merbein’ marking her as an early favourite for the women’s title.
Mildura Golf Resort general manger Seamus Connell said everything is coming together for the 36-hole event.
“The course looks in absolutely fantastic conditions at the moment. Brad Duscher and the boys have done a power of work to make sure it’s ready to go,” he said.
“We’re really proud of how the course has come up ahead of one of the biggest weekends.
“The support from local golfers and afar has been great over a number of weeks now, we’ve had full fields for a few weekends and now another full field of 180 for the Open teeing off on Saturday.
“Golf is so well supported throughout the region and for all clubs, which is fantastic to see.
“As we know, there’s a lot of good golfers in the region and we’re hoping to see that on display again.”
Connell said the sharp increase in junior golf numbers has been one of his favourite aspects of the job.
“From 2023 to now we’ve seen about a 300 per cent growth of junior players, but the biggest thing is to see them out there with smiles on their faces and not being sit up on the couch. It’s fantastic to see,” he said.
Prizes for all grades of men’s, women’s, juniors, and veterans are up for grabs, as well as points for the MDGA Order of Merit.
