Murray Downs Victorious

Murray Downs Golf and Country Club were successful in winning two NDGA pennant finals, played at Barham.

Division 1 won against Cohuna in a nail bitter. The last two matches going to the 19th hole.

With five matches completed, Cohuna held the upper hand with three wins recorded. The second last pairing of Dallas Free and Thomas Shewen were all square after 18 holes and headed for their 19th hole. Free overcame Shewen on the 19th, which then left the last pairing of up and coming Junior from Murray Downs, Luke Merritt against Ben Appleby. Appleby was one up going the 18th hole, but three putted to give Merritt a sniff. Merritt took full advantage of this mistake.

In front of their team mates on the 19th hole, two very nervous players teed off. Appleby hit his drive into the left side fairway bunker and Merritt drove into the trees on the right hand side. Playing their second shots, Appleby flew the green, leaving a difficult shot left to get near the pin. Merritt shot his ball over the trees onto the green, but was left with a long putt for a birdie. Appleby’s chip finished on the green, but was still a long way from the hole. Merritt putted first and left himself with a short putt for par. With nothing to lose, Appleby hit a firm putt at the hole, but lip out, which then left it up to Merritt to win the match and the pennant final. He did it successfully and was swamped by his team mates. A very proud grandfather was one of the first to congratulate Luke on his win.
Other team members were Lindsay Watts lost 7/6, Tony Haley won 3/1, Brian Hinton won 2 up, Luke Parker lost at the 19th and John Manser lost 1 down.

In Division 3 Murray Downs 5 defeated Cohuna 0.
Tom Templeton won 5/3, Fred Fletcher won 2/1, Chris Hodgson won 2/1, Dale Rogers won 2 up and Geoff Hinton won 4/3.
Whilst in division 4 Murray Downs went down to Barham 1 and 4.
Stuart Holt lost 3/2, Chris Thornhill lost 3/2, Joe Lochery lost 2 down, Mick Kiley won 7/5 and Daniel Delmenico lost at 19th.

On the local side, last Saturday, the May monthly medal was played. Brian Hinton (4) won the medal and the Super Saturday prize with a nett 69. A grade was taken out by Max Short (10) 70 from Luke Parker (8) 72. Stuart Holt (12) won B grade from Phil Tennant (14) 74. In C grade Ross Palmer (16) stood out, winning from Karl Delmenico (19) 74. A count back was needed to decide D grade. Trevor Oldham (20) won from Paul McKee (20). Both players finished with nett 75s.
Balls went to 78. The nearest the pins were taken out by Luke Parker 2nd, Brian Hinton 5th, Braydon O’Bree 11th and Colin Stewart 15th.
Jill Bath (23) 73 nett won the Ladies event. Balls went to 78. NTPs 2nd Barb Cadd, 11th Betty Cockcroft and 15th Enza Toomer.

Thursday last was a stroke event. In A grade Ross Hastings (6) 72 won by a count back from Jay Kent (15). Ex Sea Lake golfer Graham Giddings (24) 75 nett, also won by a count back from Rick Kent (21).
Balls down to 76. NTPs went to John Manser 2nd and Peter Norgrove 11th.

A small field played on Friday. Brian Gammon (19) took it all before him, winning the par event with 4up. The next best score was 2 down. Balls went down to -3. Darryl Roberts had the lucky shot on the 2nd.

Wayne Cook (24) +3, won Sunday’s Par event from Ross Hastings (5) +2. Balls to -2. The only NTP was won by Ross Hastings on the 11th.
Val Hedwards (9) won the Ladies with -2 from Bev West -2 and Rhonda Barrow -3.

A Stableford event on Monday was taken out by Donald Ayre (13) with 33 points.

Another Par event was played on Tuesday, which saw Gregory Chandler (8) win with +2 from Max Short (9) +1. Balls went down to -4. NTPS went to Max Short 2nd and Frank Breen 11th.