MEN'S GOLF
By Short Putt
On Saturday the Mens competition was the Annual Roylances Cup, with participants drawn from many of the Roylances clients as well as local golfers. The field of 119 enjoyed sunshine all day which helped to provide a tight finish.
This event is a 3-Person Ambrose, with two teams playing together on the same hole. The shotgun start helped get the field moving and with the Ambrose format most teams were finished bu early afternoon and enjoying the atmosphere in the ‘Golfie’.
The winning team of Jack Dobell, Nick Ryan and Nick Morrison did extremely well to finish on 585/8 nett. They started on the 14th and were happy with a par, especially after Nick Morrison’s drive which surprised him having not played for a while. A birdie on the 15th helped, which was then followed by a string of pars, interrupted by a bogey on the 2nd and a birdie on the 4th. Their split score of 34-35 meant a 3-under par finish.
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The runners-up were Pete and Linda Cowhan and Todd Callaghan. Their nett score of 59 1/3 started with a birdie on the 15th from where they birdied each of the par-5’s. A ‘2’ on the 18th helped but their scratch score, 33-33 and 66, was hampered by a low handicap and they could not drift past the winners.
Three teams finished on 595/8 nett, requiring a count back to determine the 3rd, 4th and 5th placings. Ultimately the finishing order was: 3rd – Gus Hooper, Ned Hooper and Cooper Byrnes, 4th – Adam Currey, Steve Martino and Brett Woonton, and 5th – Brad Ashton, Marcus Inder and Kailab Tyne.
There were NTP’s on all of the par-3’s, with the sharp shooters being: Men – 1st D Hood, 3rd L O’Connor, 9th M Simmonds, 18th A Davies; Ladies – 1st Nil, 3rd Nil, 9th S Grierson, 18th L Cowhan. Of these only the Hood and Grierson teams missed their ‘2’. There were thirteen 2’s scored, spread across the 3rd, 9th and 18th.
A Novelty Shot was for a 2nd shot, held on both the 12th and 13th holes. This allowed for sharpshooters and less accomplished golfers alike to have a crack. J Sharkey shot very well on the 12th to give his team a ‘kick in’ birdie, while M Callen did very well on the 13th off his own drive to also set up a birdie.
Another prize was the ‘Bradman Award’ which this year was won by J Fletcher, V Rebellato and A Hearn. This group started on the intimidating 9th hole, where they scored a par. From there the golf was haphazard at best, but the laughter and frivolity was of the highest calibre.
A birdie on the 15th hole was needed to get a good score. There was a good handful of par’s, while two teams managed 6’s on that hole. They certainly had trouble finding the fairway and keeping the putter in line.
Two teams however did better than a birdie, scoring an eagle on the 15th. The team of Andrew, Hayes and O’Neill used their eagle to give them a scratch 34 on the back-9, while Rousell, Rousell and Sly were thankful for that as it kept their back-9 scratch score to 37, stopping a blow-out.
By comparison, the 6th and 7th holes had more par’s than birdies, although they did allow three eagles to skip through to the keeper. The team of Ashton, M Inder and Tyne grabbed eagles on the 6th and 7th. Coupled to a birdie on the 2nd they managed a scratch 30 for the front-9. However, they were a bit sloppy on the back-9 only managing a scratch 33, and with their low handicap snuck in for 5th place.
And of course in this format you would be very unlucky to score a double-bogey or worse on a hole. Having said that, it sometimes does happen when all of the guns in the team misfire.
The participants enjoyed the hospitality in the ‘Golfie’ and paid tribute to Roylances and their team for what was a fantastic day. There were many stories told in the ‘Golfie’ but quite a few were of the ‘fisherman’ variety, so nothing to report from that.
On Sunday the Parkes GC held its Mens Open Tournament. This also enjoyed good weather, and despite the field moving well it was a long day.
Forbes players did feature in the Placings. Notable among these was Steve Betland, who was involved in a 3-way playoff to decide the Scratch Champion. He finished on 75, along with Aaron Wilkie and Jack Elliott. Jack was the first to drop out of contention. But after three holes failing light called a halt and Steve and Aaron were declared ‘Joint Winners’.
The only other Forbes player among the prizes was Stephen Uphill. He grabbed the B-Grade Nett Runner-up, scoring 74 nett and finishing behind Jeff Carey on 70.
There was no Stableford Medley on Sunday.
Here is the News:
It is good to see the 3rd and 14th greens back in action. There are some patches on these greens marked GUR, which are there to stop play and allow the grass to really grow in.
By the time the Champs start they will be good, and will be in top order for the Classic on 3rd November. Mark that date in the calendar as it is a change from the usual timing, due to scheduling of other events.
Also note the Champs begin on the weekend of 12, 13 October.
The Summer Sixes will commence after the Champs, but team nominations are being called now. Get talking among your friends and get a team. Handicapping rounds for Non-golfers should be played before the Sixes start, but talk to H/Pro Will to get details.
If you want help with your golf game from Head Pro Will you better get in this week. Will is taking a short vacation overseas, but will be back in early October rejuvenated and hopefully on two good legs. He has been suffering a ‘malaise’ in one ankle which he finds quite frustrating.
It is crystal ball time:
This Saturday, 21 September, is an 18-hole Par event, sponsored by Everest Auto Repairs. Sunday has the Stableford Medley for those that want an extra game.
