MEN'S GOLF
By SHORT PUTT
On Saturday the Forbes golfers settled into their task on a refreshed course after some recent rain. While there were some sparkling results it was intriguing how most of the scores were bunched within a few shots.
The golf competition was an Individual Stroke sponsored by B&C Automotive. Unfortunately, neither of the sponsors could participate but the field of 71 did their best to produce their best in their absence.
The field was boosted by a group from Dubbo who were travelling on their annual trip south. And they were most welcome.
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The Div-1 was won by Terry Griffiths, on count back from Dave Mylecharane after both finished on nett 70.
Terry did not have the best of starts with bogey, bogey on his opening holes. He then steadied into a run of pars that saw him turn at only 4-over. His back-9 saw another chorus of pars with bogeys on the 11th and 16th to provide a difference.
Dave Mylecharane played earlier and was sitting comfortably in the ‘Golfie’ as he watched other scores being recorded behind him.
He reflected on his 1-over play on the front-9, and his 1-over play on the back-9. While he mused on the possible birdies he may have had it was the bogey on the last that brought him unstuck in the count back.
The Div-2 players, and indeed the field, were left floundering by Liam Fraser as he returned another gun performance, finishing with nett 69 and taking the Div-2 honours.
Like Terry Griffiths he started with bogeys, but then settled into steady play with a mix of pars and bogeys to match his handicap. Double bogeys on the 7th, 11th and 17th holes did not fluster him.
The Div-2 runner-up was taken by Nathan Roach with 71 nett. This was his first outing for many months and he expected to be a bit rusty. But that rust blew off quickly as he traversed the course.
A ‘9’ on the 7th hole followed by a ‘triple’ on the 11th hole were his eventual undoing but nevertheless he was well pleased with his overall game, finishing with a par.
Note that the second best score in Div-2 was returned by a Dubbo player. But alas neither he nor his marker signed his card so he could not be awarded any prize.
Several of the Dubbo players did the same with the same result, leading to the conclusion that they were in the habit of electronic recording and had forgotten the manual ways. Let that be a lesson to you.
The ball sweep went to 75 nett, going to: 71 – A Ruperto, P Pymont, A Rees, H Graham (Dubbo); 72 – K Tyne, N Duncan, P Dawson, H Steele-Park, A Dukes; 73 – S Kirkman, R Smith, J Anderson, M Murray (Dubbo), H Callaghan; 74 – R Hawksworth, J Cutler, I Wheeler (Dubbo); 75 – J Ridley, C McMillan.
The visitors included the Dubbo group and David Naveau (Wellington) and A Brownlow (Peak Hill).
The best of the Dubbo boys were Sam Letfallah and Hugh Graham both on 71 nett.
However, two of their players propped up the field, along with Andy Brownlow, who is returning after a long absence.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – Paul Pymont; 18th – Hamish Steele-Park. Neither of them managed to convert for a ‘2’.
Hamish beat off a posse to win his. There were nine 2’s overall with all scored by Div-1. This week the 3rd was the most vulnerable.
The 3rd hole Super-Pin went to Kailab Tyne. He was in the first group of the day where his shot to 190 cm was enough to put off the rest of the field, although many managed to score a ‘2’ from their ‘close but not quite’ shots. And yes, Kailab got his.
It must be something in the air, or maybe some very receptive greens, but ‘eagles’ seem to be landing quite regularly on the course. This time it was Peter Dawson on the 15th. He struck each shot so well it looked so easy that anybody could do it. Well, maybe.
Consistency can be a good thing in golf, but sometimes the wrong consistency is not good. For example, how many times do you consistently almost shank a chip shot with an 8-iron?
One player who has been very consistent, in the wrong way, is Andrew Dukes. For a long stream of games he has consistently bogeyed or double-bogeyed the 17th hole. This time a duffed chip was the culprit. Quite a dilemma when you are putting together a good score only to stumble at the end.
Another unwanted consistency is ‘lip out putts’. Tony Cogswell had too many of those. And count Archie Quirk in that group where his horse-shoe putt robbed him of an eagle. But they are in good company as Alex Ferguson had a lip out to ultimately lose the Belgium Open on the DP World Tour.
Golf can throw up many challenges, although Terry Griffiths seemed to overcome nearly all of them.
He had a quandary on the 15th when he arrived at his second shot near to the 15th green. Somehow, his ball had settled atop a wooden tee which was quite bemusing. Cries of ‘Play the lie, play the lie’ were heard from Ecky Dawson’s group as they meandered to the 16th tee.
Players must be careful of being a ‘magnet’ on the course. In this case Stevie G was a ’ball magnet’.
Playing the 11th he had to take severe and athletic evasive action as a ball dribbled towards his feet, having been struck by a lady off the 12th tee.
Then while he walked off the 15th green such action was needed again as another ball touched his toes. Cam McMillan explained later that it was his best shot of the day, towards a sterling target.
It was good to see Joel Anderson (Forbes Holiday Park) out again, and of course Nathan Roach. And both John Ridley and Pat Murphy are enjoying the competition play.
Here is the news:
The Condobolin Men's Open was held on Sunday 25 May. It was a good field, no doubt encouraged by the good food on offer and the excellent range of prizes coupled to the Trilogy.
This year local players dominated the prize list with Zac Mitchell (71) and Jordan Smith (72 c/b) took out the A-Grade honours. But Forbes was well represented with: P Dawson (A-Gde H-cap R/up), Archie Quirk (B-Gde Scr Wnr), Mark Simmonds (B-Gde H-cal R/up) and Sandy Paterson (C-Gde Scr R/up).
Three Forbes players also took away Longest Drive and NTP prizes. Another plus for Forbes was being awarded the ‘Most Represented Visiting Club’. It is good to see such support for all of our local clubs.
The ‘Trilogy of Golf’ is played over three events and was concluded at the Condo Open. The support for this event has steadily grown since its inception in 2021. And the Forbes dominance for the winners continues.
This year John Betland took the Scratch honours with 223, ahead of B Richards 227 (Condo), C Hanrahan 228 (Forbes) and L French 229 (Young). The Handicap Winner was shared with Archie Quirk (Fbs) and Adam Richards (Condo) both finishing on 216 nett. Third place went to W Steele 222 (W/W) and 4th place to T West 226 (Fbs).
The Men's ‘Wallace Cup’ Handicap Matchplay event is underway and despite a promising start there has been a lull in game splayed.
Get into action to complete the 1st round by 15 June and the 2nd round by 30 June. The Draw is on the Notice Board in the Pro Shop. Have a look and arrange your matches as soon as you can.
Players are advised that we have had a problem with the Office pc, which has affected the running of competitions and membership management. This should be fixed soon with a primary task the collation and sending of the Annual Membership Renewal Invoices.
It is crystal ball time:
This Saturday 31 May, the event is a 4BBB Stableford Multiplier, sponsored by Forbes Tuesday Golfers. And Sunday has the usual Stableford Medley comp.
VETS GOLF
While happy with the rain on Thursday officials of the West Wyalong Golf Club had no option but to call off the monthly Lachlan Valley Veterans Association monthly 18 hole competition.
Neville Kelly who wears caps as secretary and treasurer for all golf in WW said on Friday they had no option but to call golf off around 8am after looking at the weather map.
“Good think we did, it rained all day, good gentle soaking rain,” he said.
“We got in early before travellers started their come and it was good as no visitors turned up. While our course is in good shape the rain will definitely do it good.,” he added.
While there is a spare date for Lachlan Valley vets golf later in the year a decision will be made at a later date regarding re-scheduling to West Wyalong.
They were last in but they had the best score after the ‘Mayoress’ of BB had earlier handed out the best score for the day in last Tuesday’s 12 hole social comp.
It was the Jeff Moon foursome which had the top score with JM leading the way with 28 points to win the ‘burner’ from ‘Pencil’ Pete Scholefield who looked good early until the late arrivals but had no hesitation telling next week, only if he can score.
Others to rate in the finish were another coming in late Andrew Norton-Knight on 25 point along with the earlier big hitting Neil Herbert.
Last week 15 played and it hoped to build on this. Remember ball toss on the stroke of 9am. Young and old, if fact anyone who wants a hit welcome. Some go further with coffee after, its all happens Tuesday at the Golfie.
