The October Monthly Medal, sponsored by Forbes Concrete, was played on Saturday, with the field of 77 relishing the chance to harden up their play so that their aggregate hole-by-hole score cemented themselves in the Medallists list.
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The A grade winner was Shane Sallaway, whose 68 nett was not looking at all possible after a triple-bogey on the second. But he re-grouped and turned with 38. This was followed by a blistering 34 on the back-nine to ensure a great score.
Runner-up was Andy Dukes with a nett 70. He matched Shane on the front-nine, but then his concentration faltered on the back-nine although he did score a ‘two’ to finish.
The B grade Win was just reward for some steady play over recent weeks, as Stephen Uphill meandered in with a nett 70, having used his handicap well. Like so many his front-nine was ‘easy as’ but the back-nine was a stumble, which had him concerned about the end result.
Relishing in the warm conditions, Mark Watts finished Runner-up with a tidy 72 nett. Whilst his overall score was tidy, his score card resembled a blind man’s dart board, with hits all over the place. But it is the end result that counts.
The C graders usually provide a tight battle or a clear winner. In this case it was a tight battle by a pair that were clear winners. Bruce Chandler managed a nett 73 after a scattered scoring start, and no real scoring highlights. He got the nod by count back ahead of Frank Hanns whose nett 73 was more evenly spread than Bruce’s but just not quite good enough.
The ball sweep went to 75 nett on count back, going to: 68 – S Sallaway; 70 – A Dukes, S Uphill; 72 – M Watts; 73 – P Owen, B Chandler, T Morgan, G Pymont, F Hanns; 74 – B Ashton, D McAuliffe, K Herbert, D Bayley, B Parker, J Coulthurst, P Kay; 75 – M Collits, I Bown, T Griffiths, G Webb and E Gaffney.
The NTP’s went to: ninth – D Bayley; 18th – S Sallaway. Shane got his two and was one of only six to succeed with the putt all day. Among the players were some known and unknown visitors. The knowns included Lee Grierson, with the unknowns including John Boyle (Tathra Beach), Peter Owen and David Carmody (both Maroochy River). They enjoyed their time here.
The scores this month were generally not as good as for the September Monthly Medals. Perhaps the greens were slightly slower, with many players bemoaning a putt stopping short amid cries of ‘hit it you idiot’, or something similar.
And then there were the fairways, which had benefitted from a drop of rain and judicious application of good stuff by Jack and the team. The Preferred Lies may have helped, but in many cases there was little difference.
This game always throws up the odd hurdle. Brad Ashton would have been in the money but for a triple-bogey start and three other bogeys around the course, where the seventh struck again. Lee Grierson was another who played well but had a mixed game with six pars, two birdies and some bogeys.
But we must give credit to Shane. His back-nine had eight straight fours and a two to finish. This certainly made counting his score up real easy. Barry Parker almost did the same as Shane, but he had straight fives.
At the other end of the spectrum we have the scatter gun players. Mike Spice was a champion in this group, with strong support from Garry Collits, Brett Thomas, Ralph Baker and Les Little. But as we all know we do not draw pictures.
At the Day’s Comp Presentations the Card-drawer for a Medallion went to Brian Doyle. He spent time trying to work out why he was heading for Bradman country on the course, but getting the card draw put a smile on his face again. Make sure you get your money in for a medallion to be in for the next draw.
The Sunday Stableford Medley was again well represented. The winner was Ray Taylor with 40 points, and quite a difference from his Saturday score.
Runner-up was Julie Hurkett with 39 points, who shook her head at the unnecessary one pointers’ on the front-nine. These two had a good gap on the rest of the field, who must have suffered from sundayitis.
There was no ball sweep. The NTP’s went to: ninth – Jill Cripps, and 18th – Richard Smith. While the field were behind Ray and Julie, no-one had a truly bad day, so it was quite competitive scoring.
Here is the News
The Wallace Cup (Match Play on Handicap) is getting near the end, with the last of the quarter-final matches completed.
This cements the Semi’s contestants as Ash Tucker versus Neil McMillan, and Stephen Uphill vs Niel Duncan. Neil McMillan was the Runner-up last year and is keen to go one better, while Stephen feels like his game is ‘in a good spot’. Go to it guys.
Niel Duncan had a mishap on the weekend injuring his back, then needing to NCR his game on Saturday. Hopefully he recovers well. Neil McMillan got a jump start on Stevie G in their match. Neil played well, being three-over after nine holes but not all that way ahead. But his consistent play was too much for Stevie, who still had sea-motion in his legs.
This weekend sees the commencement of the Mens Club Championships, played over two weekends combining four rounds of play.
There are Daily Prizes (sponsor Pool Magic) and the BIG prize at the end (sponsor Lachlan Commodities), so do not despair if your first game is a shocker. Anything can happen and often a first round bolter falters towards the end.
Players are advised that the Course will revert to the Local ‘Play the Lie’ Rule. The course condition has improved sufficiently to allow a return to our normal Local Rule and will hopefully make for a true test in the Championship.
Here is early notification of some good events coming up. On November 10-11 we have the 2018 Forbes Nissan Classic. But we have a Charity Day prior to that and another after that.
The Charity day on Sunday, November 4 is for the Currajong Disability Group. This provides assistance to disabled persons in Forbes and Parkes, relying mainly on donated funds.
Then on Sunday, November 18 we have the 2018 Forbes Rotary Charity Day, the proceeds from which will assist local families.
Watch the notice boards for more information on these.
It is crystal ball time
Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14 are the first and second Rounds of the Mens Club Championships. There will not be a Stableford Medley on Sunday, but Social players are welcome after the field have teed off.
-by Short Putt
Ladies Golf
Last Saturday the event was a Three Ball Ambrose for the Jenny Hubbard, Debbie Tilley and Jenny Fletcher Trophy.
Winners on the day were V Lane, F Wells and L Godden with sixty five and one sixth from J Wood, R Lyell and J Hurkett with sixty eight and two thirds.
NTP went to Judy Hodge on the ninth and Kathy Collitts on the 18th while the ball sweep went to the winning team. Wednesday, October 10 was a Stableford event sponsored by Hair with Style in two divisions.
There were some pretty good scores on the day but the most adventurous round must go to Enid Baker who had a gobble on the 5th, a gobble for a birdie on the 8th, a birdie on the 9th and a birdie on the 18th. Good for the Eclectics, gobble and birdie competition which finishes at the end of the month.
Winners were:
Division 1- Judy Hodge 37 points on a count-back from Robin Lyell.
Division 2 -Sally Perry also with 37 points with Enid Baker the runner-up with 36 points.
NTP ninth S Perry and 18th E Baker.
Ball Sweep went to J Hodge, R Lyell, S Perry, E Baker, J Hurkett and M Reid to 35.
The Golf NSW District Final is on at the Forbes Club on Friday and as was the case last year at Gilgandra, conditions look like they will be a bit soggy. It is good to see the rain which will make a big difference to the course.
Club Championships start this Saturday. There will be some added interest with the rain this week filling up the waterways, something we have not seen for a number of months. Hope to see as many people as possible even if you can’t play all four days, come for some. Next Wednesday is a Pinehurst sponsored by J Schall and S Black.
-by Roving reporter