A field of 114 players enjoyed a mixed weather day. Nearly half the field comprised A-graders with many from Orange, Sydney, Narrabri, Newcastle and the Hunter, Nelson Bays, Condobolin, Canberra, West Wyalong, Young, and southern Queensland.

But there was also a deal of talent among the B-graders and C-graders. Scoring was difficult for many of the visitors. A playoff was needed to determine the winner of the Open.

Both local hero John Betland and Moore Park’s Hayden Gulliver finished on 70 scratch. They each struck their shots with accuracy and power, equalling the first in fours before heading to the 18th. Again both were accurate putting their tee shots on the green.

Hayden had a long 20 foot putt which he lagged to within a foot of the hole. John quietly stroked his 12 foot putt into the hole for a birdie and the win.

This win gave John a place in the GolfNSW Open. Also up for grabs was a spot in the GolfNSW Senior Open. This was won by Rob Martin (Lakelands) who played a par round of 72. Two birdies on the front-nine helped. Also available was a spot for a player and two friends to play in the NSW Open Pro-Am. Local stalwart Peter Cowhan won this with the best nett score of the day of 68.

Many Forbes golfers performed very well on the day. The full prize list is (Forbes unless otherwise stated):

NTP went to: A grade: First M McGlashan (Parkes); third H Gulliver; B-grade – A McDonald; 18th – B-grade Jeff Haley. For the power hitters there was the chance to crack the longest drives on the 17th. These went to: A-grade – Joel Shields (Young), B-grade – Max Haley, C-grade – Ash Tucker.

The OB on the first took its toll on many players. Notable among those were Graham Newport whose shot cleared the fence and finished in the storage yard of the hotel. Geoff Betland nearly scored a hole-in-one, but this was on the practice green. His tee shot on the first went very high, collected ice and landed on the practice green missing a hole by inches.

Gary Johnson was very deadly. He found the centre of a few trees. One of his rebounding tree-shots, on the eighth, did bring tears to his eyes for painful and personal reasons. But he also hit the star picket in the 13th hole hazard dead centre, which sent the ball straight back past him, but luckily did not hit him. 

Saturday was a 4BBB sponsored by Forbes Livestock Agency. In good weather, 74 players managed to score very well indeed. The Handicap winners were Ted Morgan and Ralph Baker. These guys combined very well to score 46 points, getting ahead of the runners-up by count-back. That unlucky pairing was Mark Collits and Dan Bayley, also with 46.

The Scratch winners were Scott Allsopp (Balgowah) and Joel Wheatley (Fox Hill) who managed 42 points. They were comfortably ahead of Collits/Bayley with their 40. The ball sweep went to 41 on count back, going to: 46 - Morgan/Baker, Collits/Bayley; 44 – Allsopp/Wheatley; 43 – T Cogswell/J Zannes, B Parker/D Culley; 42 – J Betland/Taylor, Duncan/Bown, Earl/French, McDonald/Haege (Royal Sydney); 41 – B Coles/Hogan.

The NTP’s went to: Ninth – John Finlay (Manly); 18th – H Gulliver (Moore Park). There were 13 2’s scored overall, with four pairings scoring two 2’s each.

Forbes gave the visitors a very friendly and sunny welcome, with players from Balgowah, Fox Hill, Royal Sydney, Nelson Bay, Cromer, Concord, Penrith, Trundle, Condobolin, West Wyalong, Lakelands, Yallourn, Pacific Dunes, Maitland, Moore Park, Murrumbidgee and Manly clubs.

This is a team event where the best team has their players mixing their good shots well. It is also important for each of the pair to help the other, and to stay together. Jack Clarke and Jeff Haley got the wrong idea when both were observed playing from the hazard on the 14th, after each had hit the trees. 

Terry Griffiths enjoyed his day. He had the company of Gordon Hurry, and capped the day off well with two chip-ins. The one on the 16th was a two-bounce and plop! straight into the hole for a birdie. His chip-in birdie on the fourth was spectacular. He was playing his third across the creek, when he hit the shot hard. Sending the ball like a rocket over the water, up the slope and across the green. The ball struck the pin, bounced up at least a foot and dropped straight down into the hole.

Peter Barnes played really well through the Vets week, then fell to pieces on Saturday. Gordon and Paul Kay were doing well against Griffiths and Peter Cripps, until that little devil with the camera jumped out from behind a bush on the 16th and took their photo. 

Some good ‘Keno matches’. Bayley and Collits were warming up with their demolition of Pete Dawson and Shane Sallaway by 7/6. And firepower does not always help, as evidenced by Digit McAuliffe and Pete Tilden being ambushed by Newport and Chandler. 

Michael Browne had a challenge when he hit his tee shot on the third with a very low trajectory, and very hard. It trundled over the green but stopped barely within bounds, leaving an awkward shot. Mike had to straddle the fence, and bring his club from behind the fence to connect with the ball, which he did very well, moving it forward about a foot and tangling his club in the fence.

Here is the News: We sadly say farewell to Daniel and Holly. Daniel has taken up the position as Head Professional at Foster-Tuncurry, managing many staff, two Pro shops, enjoying two courses and good teaching facilities. Holly is looking forward to the beach once again and being near family. We all wish them well. Today will be the Legends Pro-Am, in what may be wet conditions. We have a very full field, and a number of returning golf pros who enjoyed themselves last year. 

The ‘Winter Three’s’ competition will start May 22 and run until August 28. Team nomination form from the Pro Shops. The Wallace Cup draw will be made very soon, with competition in June. And pencil in the Sand-Grass Green Championships on August 19-20. Let’s build on the numbers we had last year.

It is crystal ball time: May 19 we have the Legends Pro-Am. This is well worth the time spent playing alongside top golfers. May 20 is a three ball Ambrose/Stableford sponsored by B&C Autos. 

On Wednesday, May 10 Jan Smith and Julie Woods sponsored a four Ball Stableford Multiplier. With a big winning score were Doreen Barnes and Jan Smith with 61 points. Runners Up Debbie Dingwall and Heather Davidson 60. Nearest the Pin on ninth Fran Smith and 18th Barb Drabsch. Ball Sweep to D Barnes, J Smith, D Dingwall, H Davidson, K Stirling, R Lyell. Saturday, May 13 Stroke was played for the Robin Lyell/Colleen Venables Trophy. Division One HC 0-23 was won by Colleen Venables with 71 on a count back and the lowest score of the year was in Division Two with Enid Baker going low with 64. Ball Sweep to Enid, Colleen and Jenny Fletcher. Nearest the pin 9th Eily Hush. Congratulations everyone.

This Saturday 20th 4BBB V Par Qualifying Round WDLGA sponsored by Bernie Horan Builders. May 24 is a Stableford in Two Divisions with Julie Hurkett on cards. Next week we will have all the news from Western Districts which is being held in Orange with thirteen of our Ladies attending. On behalf of the Lady Golfers we wish Daniel all the success at Foster/Tuncurry Golf Club you have done a great job at Forbes and you will be missed, thank you.