Head green keeper Daniel Christian was out to show new apprentice Trueman Schrader how to set up the course to play to its hardest for last Saturday’s Blue Lake Golf Club Monthly Medal competition.
With the greens quickened-up, the 11th hole claimed a number of victims and with the tee blocks set right back it was no wonder players struggled to play to their handicap. Brett Lewis must have thought all his birthdays had come at once after claiming the win in the stroke round sponsored by Key2Sale Real Estate.
Lewis, on his birthday, was the only player to break nett 70 and set up the win with a solid opening half of 42. Despite finding trouble over the middle parts of the inward nine he managed to hang on for a one stroke win. The next four placings were single figure handicappers, with Stephen Easterbrook (6) claiming the A Grade win.
Easterbrook had terrific splits of 37 and 39, keeping the red ink off his scorecard and throwing in two birdies on holes 9 and 15. Unfortunately he leaked a few too many bogeys to threaten for the outright win, but edged out Jarrod Ryan and Anthony Williams after the latter pair endured a countback for the minor placings.
All three place getters in B Grade – Jake Matthews, Michael Olle and David Gould – finished on 72 requiring a tense countback. Matthews (17) was another to birdie the second hole and despite a horror stretch through 11, 12 and 13, he regrouped with birdies on 15 and 17 for 1 over 45 on the back nine.
Olle showed glimpses of the ability and was the only player to score an eagle on the day with his great 3 on the 17th. “I crunched my drive on the 17th down the middle and a good second shot set up a 50-metre chip shot that luckily found the cup,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll take that form with me when I play against my father-in-law on Hamilton Island next week.”
Gould (15) also had a birdie on his card at the 6th hole, but a disappointing double bogey on the 17th hurt his chances. In C Grade most players struggled over the difficult course with Robert Lindner taking the win after 97-23-74. He almost threw it all away after a disastrous 10th hole, but a saving par on the 13th righted the ship to hand on from Bruce Tichbon (101-26-75) and veteran David McKenzie 99-24-75.
Tichbon survived the count back thanks to his better score of square with his handicap. It was always going to be difficult for the women, but leading the way was Viv Wilson with her round of 107-36-71. She was a clear four-stroke winner from the ever-consistent Fiona Punton, while Courtney Lewis had to settle for third.
