MEN'S GOLF
By SHORT PUTT
The Forbes golfers were keen to capitalise on both their previous good form and the sunny winter weather as they ventured onto the course for the Saturday competition.
The sun did shine making it very pleasant but the occasional wind made things quite chilly at times.
The Saturday men's competition was the July Monthly Medal, sponsored by Walkers AgnVet.
Latest Stories
The field of 62 players produced some very good scores but unfortunately some found the conditions too cold with subsequent effect on their score. Two of the three Juniors in the field did struggle a bit.
The A-Grade was won by Adam Ruperto with a nett 67. He did not start well with a ‘triple’ on the 1st hole but three birdies on the front-9 and a couple on the back-9 coupled to numerous pars ensured he conquered the course.
He was helped by a couple of chip-ins with the best of those being on the 11th that earned him a birdie.
Runner-up was Todd Callaghan (70 nett) who had an exciting almost par round. He had a lone birdie on the back-9 and a couple of minor blemishes but overall it was a demonstration of steady pars all the way.
The B-Grade possibly heralded the rise of another star junior.
Charlie Howe had not played for a while but he was refreshed and attacked the greens all day. His 68 nett included two double-bogeys on the front-9 but other than those it was handicap golf with a birdie on the 9th.
The B-Grade runner up was Ted Morgan who managed to shake off a bit of rust and finish with a nett 70. He only had the one double-bogey but was devoid of birdies despite many opportunities.
The C-Grade provided a close finish with Allan Rees finishing as the medal winner. His 72 nett was a reward for recent weeks of strong positive play.
He also had only one ‘double’ and bucked the usual trend by doing better on the back-9 than he did on the front-9. His only par was on the 15th which demonstrates his mental focus.
The C-Grade runner up was Frank Hanns with a nett 73. After seeing his score nip ahead of Richard Smith on count back, Frank was quietly confident that he would take the day. But it was not to be and he can only rue the 8’s he scored on the 7th and 15th holes.
The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count back, going to: 70 – P Pymont; 71 – P Duke, K Tyne, P Murphy, K Herbert; 72 – S Uphill; 73 – S Thomas, J House, C McMillan, P Kay, R Smith, C Alley, L O’Connor; 74P Tisdell, S Kirkman, M Duff.
There were a few visitors, namely: Ethan Gaffney (Beerwah) here to visit mum, Aaron Whittingham (Antill Park) visiting family and Jason and Will Davis (Blayney) fulfilling an ambition to come and play the course. They are all A-Graders and finished towards the other end of the prize listing.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – B Parker; 18th – C McMillan. Barry managed to convert for a ‘2’ but Cam was unlucky to miss out. Barry got in early and his marker was not challenged all day but Cam knocked off two others who had edged their way throughout the day.
There were seven 2’s overall with the A-Graders and B-graders sharing the honours. The 3rd and 9th holes proved the easiest.
The 3rd hole Super-Pin went to Jeff House.
His shot to 192 cm was a good result from a well struck tee shot and even more so after an epic journey down the 2nd hole. He finished a good four inches inside the previous best and capped it off with a fine ‘2’.
Adam Ruperto played a game when he was ‘in the groove’ all day and struck his irons with aplomb.
His ‘triple’ on the 1st hole was the first of a few hiccups but from the 4th hole onwards it was a simple of case of ‘see the ball – hit the ball’. He managed to birdie both the 6th and 7th hole but his best hale was the 17th. Here it was a case of a tremendous drive, great iron to the green and a solid uphill putt for the birdie.
The scores would suggest that a number of players could not quite get their ‘groove’ moving.
Kailab Tyne could have done better if his marker’s pencil could write other than a ‘5’ on the card. And Ecky Dawson had a back-9 where his scores were like a roller coaster – up and down all the way.
There were those who when asked the question replied with “bad day but the company was good”.
Brian Clarke would have taken the ‘Bradman Prize’ if it was awarded but there were a few in the B-Grade challenging for that accolade.
Liam Fraser was one where a Bo Derek’ on the 4th hole troubled him for the remainder of the day.
It was good to see some returning and some new members out there. Adam Andrews did better this week in only his second game for a while, knocking nearly 20 shots off his score. He did earn a few Frequent Flyer points, but only as a passenger to his son Luke.
On the 7th Luke was not going to tangle with the OB, and being a Leftie he was looking for a controlled slice to keep him away from the fence. He did slice it but the ball got up high and was carried on the wind to the 12th fairway.
It took a while to get back to the 7th green, so much so he was close to starvation.
Promising junior Archie Quirk did not have a good day. But in a positive manner he was looking forward to a good day on Sunday at Duntryleague, playing in a Junior event.
He was confident he had washed all of his bad shots out of his system. You can ask him how he fared.
Dave Bernardi and John Ridley enjoyed a quiet putt on the 9th hole. It gave them solitude as they braced for another nine holes of battling trees, like they had done on the front-9. Neither of them had any ‘blow-out’ holes but they just wanted to be on the fairway to enjoy the sun.
Here is the news:
There is quite a deal of tidy-up work being done around the course. Be assured that the number of smoking stumps is not a result of lightning strikes but merely part of the clean-up.
The Wallace Cup is progressing well with all of the second Round Matches decided.
Of those the biggest win was by Ken Sanderson over Ben Robinson, with Ken prevailing 5-3. Two matches finished on the 18th with Cam McMillan pipping Anthony Alley and Wayne O’Neill accounting for Bruce Chandler. Both Stephen Uphill and Brad Ashton had good wins.
The quarter-finals are due to be finished within the week. All players are hoping for fine weather to give them the best chance.
It is crystal ball time:
This Saturday 12 July is an Individual Stroke event, sponsored by B&M Tooth. And Sunday has the usual Stableford Medley comp.
VETS GOLF
Prior to presentations in twin towns vets golf last Thursday in Forbes host Allan Rees congratulated the 23 players who took part as the weather had it all, freezing conditions, wind and at times misty rain.
But play they did with the winner from the local ranks Peter Scholefield bravely taking all laurels breaking handicap scoring 38 points and while due to a small field there was no runner-up trophy but special mention to Parkes’ John Fowler next best with 37 points.
The punters pal John Milton backed a winner at the wrong end of the field taking home the ‘burner’ for the encouragement award while nearest the pins in all grades went to Alf Davies back after a successful knee operation. Twins towns shield, Forbes 198 (14 players), Parkes (nine) 185.
Ball sweep to 30 points - 33 Frank Hanns (F), Steve Uphill (F), Allan Rees (F), 32 Richard Hamilton (P), 31 Alf Davies (F), 30 Lindsay Elliott (P), Nym Dziuba (P), Ted Morgan (F), Kim Herbert (F).
Next week twin towns in Parkes, 9.15am for a 10am shot gun start. Be brave be there.
Also mentioned the following Thursday Forbes will host the Lachlan Valley monthly comp where all players from Forbes are urged to supply a plate (loaded with goodies) for morning tea.
You never know what your going to get during the Tuesday social 12 holes but a new one last week when it came to scoring.
In brief it went a bit like this – four was conveyed to the scorer on the first; six on the second to the amusement of playing partners then three on the third.
Question then asked – ‘what’s your handicap?’ Answer – ‘been away and haven’t played for a few weeks, will be a bit rusty. I think 20 today.’ ‘Well how come 4, 6, 3 points in holes played?’ Reply – ‘that’ the number of strokes I’ve had.’
The scorer amended the cards to a 2, 2 then a 3 for 7 points instead of 13. A bit more like it. If continued could have been a record.
Winner when all cards tallied was Bede Tooth who hit ‘em like a regular for 25 points from John Milton who went off a couple of days early looking at Thursday scores. That’s golf.
Be part of Tuesday golf any week, ball toss at 9am. All invited to enjoy the hit and if interested coffee after where the problems of the world take preference to all.
