Saturday was the 4BBB Stroke Championship, sponsored by a champion business in John Davis Mazda.

The field of 62 players zoomed around the course, looking for some warmth in the Golfie, while using the range of driving experience to compile good scores.

The Stroke Championship winner was the pairing of Steve Betland/ Peter Dawson.

Steve carried most of the burden on the front nine but Ecky chimed in with some timely pars to contribute to the 33 scratch. Ecky returned the favour on the back nine where they were only able to compile a 37, with an overall 70 scratch.

Runners-up were Dan Bayley and Todd Callaghan who returned an overall par 72. They matched the ‘Crane and Ecky’ duo on the back-9 but could only manage a 35 on the front-9.

The Handicap Championship went to a pair of wily exponents, being John Ridley and Bede Tooth. They used their handicaps well to record a 61 nett, and many shots ahead of Rod Besgrove and Greg Webb on 64.5 nett.

They played the front nine very well and would have amassed 26 Stableford points. A tidy back nine ensured they were going to be hard to beat. Rod and Greg were very consistent, recording a scratch 43 for each ‘nine, but their handicap was a little shy.

The ball sweep went to 67 nett on count-back, going to:

The NTP’s went to: ninth – S Betland; 18^th – Alf Davies. Alf got his two but Steve missed his. There were four twos scored overall, with a fine effort on the first by David Earl and two others on the third.

One of those went to Peter Grayson, freshly returned from his trip, and one to Paul Kay, who was emulating the scoring prowess of the Socceroos.

Visitors included a group of 11 players from Orange, who teed off early so they could see the sights of the town later. This was a weekend of golf for them, looking to play at Grenfell on Sunday on the way home. Welcome back any time guys.

Apart from the winning players there were other good shots out there. Terry Sharpe chipped in on the 11^th for a par.

He hoped this would continue the good run he and Laurie were having, scoring 37 on the front nine, but unfortunately it started the downward spiral.

Stubbie Collits also chipped in on the 11^th, but this time for a bogey and it only continued the agony.

Alf Davies hit a great shot on the first but missed his birdie from only about five feet.

He started the back-9 in similar fashion, missing a one foot putt on the tenth for par. These things happen.

Despite the 9th being the shortest, it does through throw up stories of glory and pain. Geoff Drane struck his tee shot so well it finished up on the edge of the garden at the first hole.

Standing in half-in the garden he played a delightful chip onto the green. Unfortunately his putter was not working that day and he made quite a few after that.

One group were moving quickly, and were waved on by another group playing the ninth.

The courteous group stood and watched the tee shots, recognising the calibre of player in the group they had waved on. However, three tee shots found the creek and another got tangled in the trees.

There was some anger released in the 10th tee shots.

There were no Bo Derek’s this week, but a couple of pairings tried hard to get one each, both on the same hole.

The Stableford Medley on Sunday was played and enjoyed by a good number of players. However, the scoring was not brilliant, but acceptable.

The winner was Ron Morris with 35 points, on count back from Peter Dawson. Ron used some of the good shots he did not use on Saturday, while Ecky continued his good form.

The ball sweep went to 34, which included Ray Taylor and Andrew Dukes. The NTP’s went to: ninth – Scott Kirkman, 18^th – Bess Shields. That was Scott’s highlight for the day.

Here is the News

A reminder to players to get your name on the nomination sheet for the Wallace Cup Handicap Matchplay event.

The nomination sheet is on the Pro Shop Notice Board. We need participants so rattle your dags.

The Shire and the Golf Club are participating in a ‘Strategic Planning Workshop’, to be held at the Golfie on Thursday, July 12. This is a change of date from that advised last week.

This will enable our voices to be heard on Wednesday in exhorting the Blues to an Origin Series clean sweep, and enable all of you to attend the Workshop on the Thursday.

It commences at 5:30pm with an expected 7pm finish.

This Workshop is intended for all players to provide their thoughts on where we want the Club to progress into the future and identify what funding is going to be required to achieve that.

It will help the Shire to plan how it can assist us, as it has with other sporting bodies around the Shire.

The Management Committee would like as many people as possible to attend, not only to provide input but to demonstrate to the Shire the strong support the players have for the Club.

This is a ‘heads up’ for important events being held around the District. The LVDGA Mixed 4B Championships will be held at Grenfell on Sunday, July 22, so grab a Lady post haste.

Then there is the Mens 4BBB Championship being held at Forbes on August 5, and at which players from all LVDGA clubs will be attending.

The winners go through to the Regional Final at Bonville. The Temora Open is being held on August 4-5, at which a contingent of Forbes players will be attending.

Important Club events are the Mens Foursomes Championships, to be held July 14-15. And not forgetting the Sand Grass Greens Championships scheduled for August 18-19.

We record with sadness the passing of Ash Tucker’s mother last week. She passed away suddenly in her sleep. All Club members express condolences to Ash and his family.

There is a box full of last items (head covers, towels, jumpers) in the Pro Shop which must be disposed of. If you have lost anything check in that, or even look for something as a replacement.

This is your last chance before they go to a charity.

It is crystal ball time

Saturday, June 30 is an 18-Hole Stroke event sponsored by Forbes TV and Video Repairs, with the Stableford Medley on Sunday, July 1.

Saturday, July 7 is the Monthly Medal sponsored by Walkers Ag-n-Vet, who are always good for a bit of fertiliser.

Sunday has the 18-hole Stableford Medley, and possibly the Caragabal Open, but I have no confirmation of that.

-by Short Putt

The 4 BBB Championships was played last Saturday, June 23 on a busy golf course with 80 players which included the men enjoying the conditions.

Our event was sponsored by Carolyn Duncan in Scratch and Handicap Divisions. 

The Winners of the Scratch and Handicap was the pairing of Heather Davidson and Kerry Stirling with 81 scratch and 63 Handicap, a well deserved win.

Runners Up in the Scratch were Ethel Coombs and Colleen Bratton on 90 C/B. Runners Up in the Handicap were Jill Cripps and Barb Drabsch 65. NTP ninth Julie Woods and 18th Julie Hurkett. Sweep to Heather, Kerry, Jill and Barb.

On Wednesday 27th Blow Financial Services sponsored an 18 Hole Stableford event with 22 players. Winner Division One Janet Smith (37), Heather Davidson Runner Up 34.

Division Two Winner Ev Uphill 40 with Runner Up Enid Baker 37 on a count back. NTP 9th Kerry Stirling and 18th Jenny Fletcher. Ball Sweep to Janet, Ev, Enid and Julie Wood.

Coming up this Saturday is a Stableford sponsored by Brons Hair Designs with Barb on cards. Next Wednesday, July 4 is a Stroke and fifth Round Golf NSW, Monthly Medal Putting Comp with Bernardis Supermarket being the Sponsors. Janet Smith on cards. Congratulations to all the winners over the past week.

-by Roving Reporter