There was another good field of 94 players in the Mount Gambier Golf Club’s Thursday’s pro shop stableford event with the afternoon golfers enjoying the majority of the spoils.

Best score on the day was Robert Sims (31) with 40 points on a countback from Grant Stephson (17).

“Red” Sims, who enjoyed a stellar football and cricket career with South Gambier, had splits of 21/19 which included three pars and a four point birdie on the 14th hole which is a bonus for the longer handicapper.

Just eliminate those inconsistent scores and there will be many more wins in store.

Grant, another valued course volunteer, was quick out of the blocks with a birdie on the first which set him up for a 22 point front nine and 18 points on the back.

A couple of one pointers indicating it could have been better, the golfers lament! But still a good day’s work.

Other to play well were Scott Whicker in a welcome return to form with 39 points followed on 38 points by Ross Anderson, who is enjoying a purple patch, Jeff “Old Tom” Hodge who has a bushranger’s handicap to go with his beard and “Leaping” Lyndsay Copeman.

The ball rundown went to 35 points which was up on last week, indicating scores are improving as conditions improve.

Nearest the pins were taken out by Daniel Arch on the 8th and Craig Nisbett on the 16th.

Saturday was the monthly medal with Craig Foster (6) adding his name to the Barney Larkin Medal of Medals contenders, with the day’s best score from the 102 players.

That also took out the A grade competition with Foster continuing his good Thursday form where he had 37 points, to shoot net 70 with runner up Darren Bilney (scratch) net 71.

Foster shot 39/37 with 12 pars and unsurprisingly a birdie on the 15th for the long hitter.

Bilney, a seven-time and current club champion, had his game on song with 15 pars, birdies on the first and 15th and a solitary bogey.

A terrific round by Darren.

Others to play well included Anthony Williams also net 71 and Andrew Stark on 72.

B grade was taken out by the current B grade club champion Matt Bowering (12) with a net 71 on a countback from Peppi Pace (16).

Bowering with splits of 43/40 was a model of consistency, which you have to be in stroke events, with eight pars, nine bogeys and one double.

Bowering has the game to be a single figure golfer and will soon be in A grade on that form.

Pace has been proficient in both soccer and football with silky skills and is now bitten by the golf bug.

Inconsistency cost him as his eight pars is a winning number but too many doubles spoiled the card.

As a dedicated range rat, he will sort it out.

Others to play to their handicap or better were Ross Bond nett 71 and with nett 72 Mitch Broome and Jon Clayton.

Chris Anderson (23) who won a few weeks ago was again in the winner’s circle taking out C grade with nett 72 on a countback from Ian Ewart (20) and Peter Berkefeld (19).

Anderson has been a very talented sportsperson across both football and baseball.

When living in Adelaide he played baseball with East Torrens and Port Adelaide as pitcher/shortstop and football for Glenelg U17s, U19s and Reserves before a knee injury led to a return to Mount Gambier and football with East Gambier and Federals baseball.

Interestingly Anderson was introduced to golf at an early age by his grandparents who only had left handed clubs, hence golf is left handed but all other sports are right handed.

Anderson has been playing a bit more of late reflected in his good holes, four pars, but four not so good holes need some tidy up which for the self-confessed competitive beast will get some serious attention.

Ewart, the current handicap match play champion, followed up his Thursday 37 points with another solid round playing to handicap, highlighted by a birdie on the tough 12th.

Berkefeld is a much better golfer than his current handicap and good to see him return a good score.

The ball run down went to nett 75 with nearest the pins to Jack Jenning on the 8th, for a birdie, and Bryce Whicker on the 16th.

Qualifiers are reminded the Pro Shop Handicap Match Play rounds commence this Sunday, followed by September 17 with the final on September 24.

This Sunday is two rounds and as the clubhouse will be closed players will need to make their own catering arrangements.