They say a week is a long time in football, but three sleeps must work in golf.
Peter Miller had the dubious honour of winning the NAGA at the LSE Veterans on Monday but bounced back to be a clear winner of the Mount Gambier Golf Club’s Thursday stableford competition with 42 points.
The sun brought out the biggest Thursday field for a while with 103 players enjoying the course in great condition.
Miller (15) had 23 points on the front nine and finished in style with an eagle 2 on the 18th for 4 points which won him the eagles nest 10 balls.
This was enough to get over the line from a visitor Gary Jenz (10) part of a regular Portland contingent with 40 points comprising 19/21 split.
Other good scores also on 40 points, Brian Norman with a strong finish of a 4 point par on the 17th and 3 point par on the 18th and Peter Collie 20/20 split followed by Wayne Davison 39 points and on 38 points Bryce Cutting another good score, Pat O’Donnell, Ross Bond and Nick Black.
The ball rundown stopped at 35 points for the third week and nearest the pin went to Rob McIntyre on the 8th, with his tee shot looking in at one stage and Dennis Smith on the 16th both converting for birdies.
Saturday’s stroke field continued the trend with another big field of 116 players somewhat of a surprise considering the local football and netball finals under way.
There were testing playing conditions with players contending with strong winds, which was reflected in the ball run down going to nett 77.
However some excellent scores were still recorded.
A grade was taken out by Kevin Cook (9) with nett 67.
Cook has one of the better short games reflected in 37/39 splits including birdies on the 7th, 8th and 12th.
Runner up on nett 70 was Roger Davis (10) using his volunteer time to work out the course nuances.
The long hitting Travis Younghusband finished nett 72 with Paul Reade now in A grade following his win last week and Mitch Broome on nett 73.
The left handed Mathew Dixon (16) took out B grade scoring nett 69 comprising 40/45.
A birdie on the difficult 7th is gold.
Runner up with nett 70 was Ross Bond (13) with birdies on the 8th and 15th and as is golf’s way the 15th birdie was followed up with a double bogey on the 16th which was costly.
The hard luck story belonged to Jeffrey “Old Tom” Hodge (12) whose golf has started coming back the last few weeks.
Standing on the 17th tee well under handicap a winning score beckoned.
What followed was disastrous with a quadruple 8 and victory was snatched away.
If only it was a par competition something Hodge loves.
David Anderson nett 71 and Shayne Hosking, Tony Geddes, Moryn Sullivan all nett 72 scored well.
The lowest score came from C grade with Chris Lynch (28) shooting nett 66, scoring pars on the tricky 3rd, difficult 13th which is a bonus and the 16th.
On a 28 handicap some doubles are allowed and Lynch kept them to a minimum reflected in an excellent score in difficult conditions.
Well played Chris.
Rob McLellan (21) bounced back into form with nett 70 featuring pars on the 1st, 5th, 11th and 18th where a par on the last is always sweet.
Other good scores came from the steady Hayden Dow nett 71 and a long list on nett 72 – Graham Thomas, Peter Berkefeld, Stephen Stott, Max Tollner and good to see Robbie Young playing.
Nearest the pins were taken out by Paul Reade on the 8th and Peter Collie who made the birdie on the 16th.
Sunday featured the handicap match play quarter finals played in ideal balmy conditions, where Kim Sykes d Tim Driver, Jason Millhouse d Nic Clayton, Craig Foster d Craig Wirth and Stacey Parsons d Jim Leane on the 20th.
The afternoon semi-final match ups had Jason Millhouse d Kim Sykes and Stacey Parsons d Craig Foster 1up.
Next Sunday’s final commences at 8am and members are encouraged to come and watch two evenly matched players in Jason and Stacey battle it out.
Once again a thank you to the sponsor John Martin’s The Pro Shop.
