MEN'S GOLF
By SHORT PUTT
With delightful conditions for both the weather and the course condition the Forbes golfers once again battled for supremacy. Such was the intensity of the competition that many needed extra time to recover in the 19th.
On Saturday, the Men's Competition was the May Monthly Medal, sponsored by Adept Plumbing.
The field comprised 67 players with most keen to score well and snare one of the special ball markers.
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Two of the juniors in the field acquitted themselves well and showed the adults a thing or two. However one was an NCR after a terrible day, shared by many adults.
The A-Grade was won by David Quirk with a nett 69. It was not all plain sailing for him but pars on the front-9 par-5’s and a few birdies did offset the ‘other’ scores.
Runner-up was Lee Grierson (70 nett) who went out determined to make his mark. Four birdies in the first five holes certainly stamped his intent and led to him turning on 32 Scratch. The back-9 had eight 4’s and one ‘3’ but unfortunately he carded a ‘4’ on the 18th hole to just miss out but still recorded a 5-under score.
The B-Grade saw the first of the count backs with both Niel Duncan and Graham Newport finishing on 71 nett and inspiring each other as they played in the same group.
Niel got the nod for the Medal with a very well controlled back-9. While his front-9 was a ‘mish mash’ of scores his back-9 was consistent with a bevy of 5’s, a couple of 4’s and one ‘6’. But he got them on the right holes.
The B-Grade runner up went to Graham who parried with Niel on the front-9 but lost his way on the back-9 with a succession of 6’s to start. He assured himself of a good round by ‘not paring the 1st hole’, as tradition has it. A run of pars through the middle of the front-9 helped, as did paring each of the par-5 holes on the course.
The C-Grade also required a count back when Liam Fraser and Steve Grallelis both finished on nett 72.
Liam snared the Medal with his consistent play that resulted in a 46-46 split. He was a bit up and down on the front-9 but his ups included a few pars. He started his back-9 with a succession of steady 5’s, stumbled on the 15th but then come home well.
The C-Grade runner up was awarded to Steve G who had a ‘Jekyl and Hyde’ round. Steady golf on the front-9 with a few pars helped him turn on 44. On the back-9 he developed a few wobbles early on but steady play to his handicap on the way home. But for a couple of missed short putts he may have conquered the contest.
The ball sweep went to 75 nett on count back, going to: 72 – S Hayes, H Callaghan, P Dawson; 73 – Archie Quirk, P Murphy, P Tisdell, M Walton, T Callaghan; 74 – C Alley, S Sallaway, B Parker, F Hanns, K Tyne, B Slack-Smith, L Flakelar; 75 – A Currey, J Hall. The visitors included Rob Bartlett (Macquarie Links) and Charlie Goodsell (Condo). Neither fared very well with both raising the bat. Rob had an excuse being only his second game on the course but Charlie held his head down in sorrow.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – L Flakelar; 18th – J Pendleton. Only Luke managed to convert for a ‘2’. There were nine 2’s overall with the 18th recording more than usual and both were well contested throughout the day. None of the C-Graders managed a ‘2’ while only one B-Grader grabbed one. Perhaps the A-Graders were better putters than the remainder of the field.
The 3rd hole Super-Pin went to Anthony Alley. He played relatively early and was the first name on the card. His shot to 160 cm was too good for the remainder of the field.
The game played by Lee Grierson was everything expected of a golf professional. A tidy par to start the round was followed by four birdies and then four pars to finish the front-9.
The back-9 had pars on six of the first eight holes with birdies on the 12th and 15th, both being within easy reach of the dynamo. An errant bogey on the last hole cost him a shot at the Medal. His runner-up prize was not PGA-like but will be well spent by his mother. The others in his group could only manage a nett par or higher result as they watched on.
Another to put on a masterful display was Shane Sallaway who played off Scratch handicap. A bogey-bogey start was followed by a string of pars to turn after the front-9 on a good score. The back-9 was again par golf with a birdie on the last and an exciting ‘eagle’ on the 15th. This warranted a ‘star’ beside his name on the leaderboard.
Also having a good day was Adam Currey. This was his first game for a while but the rest was beneficial as he finished in the top half of the A-Graders. His 75 nett could have been so much better if he had not recorded a ‘Bo Derek’ on the 7th. Old memories haunted him there.
Golf does present amazing anomalies. On the one hand we have Lee firing a 5-under, while on the other we have others, like Peter Barness, producing shots they have never seen before – ‘where did that ball go?’.
But one player produced these outliers in one game. A 33-handicapper had a terrible start with double-, triple- and quadruple- bogeys on the first three holes.
And then the next hole produced a birdie from seemingly out of the blue. It was in fact the blue sky as the ball arched high in the clear air then dropped onto the green and ran in for a birdie. The player then returned to double- and triple bogeys to finish the front-9.
It was more of the same on the back-9 until the 15th. Here it was case of two mighty swelts that brought to ball to the edge of the green. A not so elegant chip required a longish putt for birdie, which was so delivered. And then the multiple bogeys began again. That was one round that Jake Banks would dearly love for an ‘Eclectic Comp’.
The greens were in fabulous condition following the busy period of two Opens and the Vets ‘Week of Golf’. Graham Newport excelled with a monster putt from the front of the 15th green to see it drop in, score a par and halve the hole in the KENO stakes.
But playing partner Bruce Chandler did not fare so well. His long putts were magical, either dropping in or finishing within ‘tap in’ range to keep the KENO stakes alive. But his opponents, namely Niel Duncan and Pete Grayson, were pleased when Bruce was faced with a short putt of under four feet.
The many misses from this rang is a cast-iron case of the ‘Yipps’, not that we should mention that word. Can you have a Driving Yipp? Anthony Alley, a Leftie, askes the question after his drive off the 13th tee found the trees beside the 12th green. The ball rattled around there for a while.
Here is the News:
The Men's ‘Trilogy of Golf’ resumes this weekend with the West Wyalong Mens Open being played. That will be followed by the final round at Condobolin on Sun 25 May. We shall see a new Champion crowned as Steve Betland was unable to defend his title having missed the Forbes Open.
The draw for the men's ‘Wallace Cup’ Handicap Matchplay event has been posted on the Notice Board in the Pro Shop. Have a look and arrange your matches as soon as you can.
Head Pro Will askes that players try to redeem their Pro Shop account credit before the end of June. There is plenty in the shop to spend your good lucre on.
It is crystal ball time:
This Saturday 17 May, there will be an Individual Stableford Medley event, playing for the ‘Kristie Carpenter Perpetual Trophy’. And Sunday has the usual Stableford Medley comp but also the West Wyalong Mens Open.
LADIES GOLF
Last Wednesday there was a good field despite a number of ladies being away. There was one visitor.
The Stroke Event was for the May Monthly Medal, Golf NSW Medal, Putting and was sponsored by Colleen Venables and Terese Armitage. Drop-out Stableford was also in play with three players taking advantage of it.
Scores were not great with the best being a good Nett 72 by Robin Lyell to win Division one.
Colleen Venables was runner-up with Nett 76 on a countback from Sheena Gunn (Port Macquarie) also on 76.
Division two winner was Kate Steele-Park with Nett 79 on a countback from Shirley Davies and Lyn Kennedy both with Nett 79.
Balls went to Colleen Venables Gunn, Sheena, Sally Crosby and Shirley Davies to 79 c/b.
Drop-out Stableford was won by Jill Cripps with 35 points.
NTP went to Lindy Pollock on the 9th and Alison Kingston on the 18th. Kate Steele-Park must have handled the fast greens getting around with only 28 Putts to win the Putting.
Monthly Medal Winners were:
Division 1 Robin Lyell Nett 72
Division 2 Colleen Venables Nett 76
Division 3 Lyn Kennedy Nett79
Saturday’s event was also a Stroke Event sponsored by Forbes Bakehouse in one division. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for a game of golf with a good Saturday field. Most players are still finding the greens fast and quite difficult due to all the recent golf on the course.
Winner was Jill Cripps with a fine Nett 70. She was consistent all day with lots of good putts being put away.
Brianna Duncan was runner-up on Nett 72 on a countback from Sally Perry.
Balls went to Brianna Duncan and Sally Perry. Brianna topped off the day with NTP on the 18th while Ann Simmons took the NTP on the 9th.
Next Saturday May 17 is an Individual Stableford Medley for the Kristie Carpenter Perpetual Trophy which is sponsored by Terry Griffiths and Veronica Rebellato.
Wednesday May 21 is an Individual Stableford sponsored by Kaloola Dairy.
Friday May 23 the Pennants Team is travelling to Cobar for their first match for the year.
Sunday May 25 is Trundle Ladies Open.
