With the forecast temperature being in the high thirties Blue Lake Golf Club manager Bill Burley opened the doors from 5.30am on Saturday for players to beat the heat.

The call proved a popular decision with a large portion of the field teeing off by 7.30am.

It was not only the local members who took advantage of the earlier start time with the club making welcome visitors from the Geraldton, Palmerston and Ilfracombe Golf Clubs in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland respectively.

But it was not only the temperature that was hot, the scoring was likewise with Josh Searle’s 42 points topping the day.

Searle (14) started well with four three-point holes in the front nine and managed a very creditable 19 points at the turn even with a complete wipeout of the ninth.

The hot streak continued over the back nine where he went even better, starting par, birdie, par to have 10 points over just three holes.

A minor stumble on the roadside 13th earned him just a single point but from then on he reeled off another four pars worth three points each.

The golden run brought Searle’s tally to 42 points which was enough to take the outright win.

A count back was required to separate Bruce Morale (7) and Matt Roscow (7) after both finished with 40 points in A Grade.

Ironically both players had two birdies each and mirrored each other’s scoring with Morale having splits of 37 and 36 off the stick for 40 points, while Roscow reversed the splits with 36 and 37 to be relegated back to second.

Brett Perryman (9) had too many one point holes over his round which ended up costing him a chance at a higher finish, returning splits of 19 points apiece.

B Grade players struggled hard to match the hot scoring of the A Grade players, the best being Roger Gale who took the win with 36 points.

Gale’s round was all or nothing, some fine stroke play earning him three point pars but mixed in with four holes of one point or worse.

His 36 points was still good enough to take the grade win and he will walk away knowing there is better to come.

Garry Von Duve will be surprised but happy to have eked out second prize with just 35 points.

While not setting the course on fire he was content with his consistency, the 15 handicapper having splits of 17 and 18.

David Johnston (15) held off a host of players to take third place in a count back from Jim Ferrazzola, Mark Ferguson and Andrew Close who all finished on 34 points.

Johnston celebrated his third prize by making sure some of the visitors experienced the camaraderie of the club well after their rounds were finished.

Adrian O’Donnell was the captain of the ship in C Grade with his 36 points being just enough to take the win.

There were highs and lows in his opening nine, a four-point par on the third to go along with a pair of scratches, but he still scrambled to a respectable 17 points.

O’Donnell added another three pars on the back nine, only finding trouble on the 13th to end up with another 19 points, snatching the win by one point.

In second place Alex Joukoff (27) matched O’Donnell over the front nine of 17 points showing a little more consistency but his regulation back nine was not quite enough to catch him overall, finishing with 35 points.

After a four-point par on the third hole Trevor Gartside (22) was looking for the win but he shot himself in the foot with no points on holes six and seven which saw him stray off target.

After a slight adjustment to his sights over the inward nine he performed a lot better, coming home with 19 points to take third place.

Only the one Pro Shot was claimed by Steen Hansen on the fifth while Matt Roscow and Ferrazzola took out their respective NTP’s.

A smaller than usual field of ladies also faced the heat on Saturday to take on a stableford competition.

Viv Wilson (35) will still be happy to accept the chocolates and prize money with her winning round of 33 points.

Despite an impressive par on the fifth for three points it was generally a struggle but to her credit Wilson still managed to score on all holes, but one which is the secret to winning stableford competitions.

The ever improving Jorja Morale took some impetus from her father also playing well in the men’s competition to take second place with 33 points.

Morale has seen her handicap tumble from the mid 40’s to now 28 through hard work and learning all the time.

Her par on the fifth evidence of how far she has come.

Morale just saw off Fiona Punton in a count back for second and third after they both finished with 33 points.

Unfortunately for Punton she did all her good work on the front nine with 19 points thanks to pars on the second and fifth holes, but a scrub on the 14th cost her dearly.

Her 14 points over the inward nine relegated her back to third.

It was a battle right down to the wire to separate the winners in Tuesday’s mid week stroke competition.

Brian Vawser (22) and Robbie Drenthen (24) tied on nett 68 and with both shooting 43’s on the back nine it meant a double count back was required.

Vawser eventually prevailed by the slimmest margin.

Both players had their trouble early with Vawser battling on the third before finishing strongly, while Drenthen had issues on the fifth before finding clear air on the back nine finishing three under his handicap.

The round of the day belonged to club green keeper Daniel Christian who now plays off scratch. Christian followed up a birdie on the second with two bogeys but evened up the card with another birdie on the ninth to turn with 35.

Two more bogeys on the opening holes of the back nine halted his momentum slightly but he showed his length with an easy birdie on the 12th before eagling the 17th for a one under the card 69.

Chris Hoggan (12) went one better than Christian on the 12th, walking off with an eagle and sharing the eagles nest.

Apart from Hoggan other place getters included Andrew Russell 70, Steve Jelly, Matt Davidson 71, Russell Lingham, Jim Ferrazzola, Stephen Easterbrook and Ian Bown on 72.