It was another incredible week of action at Castlemaine Golf Club, with more than 150 rounds being played across three main days of competition.
We started on Anzac Day, April 25, when 66 players set out for an Ambrose competition. It was great to see so many mixed teams on the course with people of all ages and levels of experience contributing helpfully to both scores and total handicaps.
Next year we might consider an auction of any players with handicaps over 35 – there could be money to be made.
The eventual winners were the team of Nigel Wilson, Liz Wilson, Jacquie Phiddian and Marty Beck with a nett score of 53.5 – that’s 18.5 under!
Forward to Thursday, and the heavens opened up early, resulting in a truncated field of 16 hard-core players, unafraid of the elements. In a Par format, Mick Kehoe (16 & 1) came out on top, nudging out Rob Prendergast (+1 & 0) for the victory. It’s not often that someone who rolls in 7 birdies for the day is relegated to 2nd, but that’s the magic of golf.
Other solid rounds on Thursday came from Ross Bottomley (6 & 0) and Ross Stevens (14 & -1). Bottomley knocked in 4 birdies of his own, while remainders were recorded by Mick Kehoe, Gavin Lang, Matt O’Brien, Tony Olsson, Daniel Pollard (2), and Ross Stevens.
But the big occasion was of course, Saturday, when Round 2 of the Men’s Club Championships resumed. It was another perfect day for golf, and 60 players came back again for a crack at glory. Closing out the day in the last grouping was John Jefferies (6 & 71). John had an almost flawless round, going just 2 over on the last 9 to catapult into 1st place overall and in A Grade ahead of Gavin Lang (8 & 71).
In B Grade, Laurie Harding (16 & 72) took the honours over Leon Thomas (15 & 72).
Continuing a run of form, both players have found themselves near the top of the leaderboard on more than one occasion in the last few weeks.
Meanwhile, in C Grade, Tony Olsson (20 & 72) did it again, matching his handicap to slot into first position ahead of Malcolm McKellar (24 & 73).
All our winners did their chances of taking out a prize in the Championships no harm, with each slotting into the #1 or 2 position on the nett rankings.
Other great rounds recorded on the weekend went to Daniel Klimeck (9 & 72), Lachie Brown (7 & 73), Mathew O’Brien (2 & 73), Jason Thompson (6 & 73), Rob Prendergast (+1 & 73), Norm Bellis (18 & 73), Peter Verlaan (13 & 74), Peter Kepsner (18 & 74), and Ross Bottomley (6 & 75).
Birdies also dropped again for Ross Bottomley, Lachie Brown, Ash Callandar, Glenn Carroll, Ben Christmas (2), Jason Cordy (2), Greg Crowe (2), Will Dodson, John Jefferies, Klai Jermyn, Mick Kehoe, Daniel Klimeck, Gavin Lang (2), Matt O’Brien (4), Daniel Pollard (2), Rob Prendergast (3), Jason Thompson (2), Ian Vorbach, and Andrew Wilson.
Nearest the pin on the 12th went to Ash Callandar, while Kane Clack went inside the mark on the 7th.
In the Saturday nine hole competition, Mary Harris (31 & 14) got home ahead of Lynne Johnson (36 & 13). In 3rd place was Kevin Adams (17 & 13).
It has been great to see such large fields on the course, with each player giving themselves a chance to win their comp fees back. What’s there to lose? This week’s winner was Geoff Margary. $10 will be credited onto Geoff’s account.