Sport
7 September, 2023
It's been a big week in golf
WARRACKNABEAL Golf Club has held its annual golf tournament commencing last Thursday with 22 men playing (11 pairs). The event was sponsored by Green Taylor Partners in Horsham and a big thank you goes to this business for their continuing support...
WARRACKNABEAL Golf Club has held its annual golf tournament commencing last Thursday with 22 men playing (11 pairs).
The event was sponsored by Green Taylor Partners in Horsham and a big thank you goes to this business for their continuing support and to their representative Ross Laycock for presenting the trophies in the 4BBB Stableford event.
The winning pair for the day was Lindsay Brain (hcp 21) (Meangar Park Bendigo) and David Trippett (20) (Warracknabeal) with 44 stableford points.
Runners up in this event were Colin Smith (Barwon Heads) (9) and Ash Purdue (11) (Warracknabeal) with 42 stableford points.
Good scores were had by Gary McKay (Midlands) and Greg Pearson (Warracknabeal) on 41 points along with Nathan McLean and Ryan McKenzie (Warracknabeal) and Shane Glover/Bryan Dufty (Nhill).
The ladies winner playing the same event were Karen Germano (23) and Sue Sanford (13) both Warracknabeal on 43 points. Runner-up being Wendy Hewitt (15) (Warracknabeal) and Claire Hewitt (24) (Barwon Heads) with 39 stableford points.
Other good scores were Debby Barling (Warracknabeal) and Julie McLennan (Wycheproof) on 37 points followed by Lyn Boyle (Birchip) and Ruth Nunn (Mt Xavier) on 36 points. 18 ladies (nine pairs) competed in this event.
Nearest the pins fifth hole, Ryan McKenzie and Wendy Hewitt; seventh hole, Ian Hair and Debby Barling; 13th hole, Dean Gunn and Debby Barling.
Straightest drive: Brian Scott and Cindy Marsh; longest drive: Div. 1, Adrian Bibby and Rebecca Heenan; Div. 2, Kym Stepney and Shirley Starbuck.
Entries on this day came from Warracknabeal, Natimuk, Ballarat, Meangar Park, Barwon Heads, Morunga (NSW), Midlands, Horsham, St Arnaud, Hopetoun, Warrnambool and Rushworth.
In the men and other towns in the ladies competition were Wycheproof, Charlton, Minyip, Birchip. I noted that two of the winners in the mens comp were ex locals in Lindsay Brain and Colin Smith who perhaps had a little bit of local knowledge from years gone by or are they just extremely good golfers.
We then move to Saturday (after then ladies event on the Friday) for the prestigious mens Golden Putter over the challenging 36 hole V Par event.
This would be one of the most sought after prizes on the golfing calendar and to have it over 36 holes makes it even more enjoyable.
Ten pairs played in this event in amazing conditions on an amzing golf court, which many visitors and locals say that it is the best condition it has ever been.
The fairways are an absolute picture which is a great achievement for the curator Nigel Zanker and his volunteer staff.
The golden putter event is sponsored by Hannafords UPL for which the club thanks them and trheir local representative Wayne George and Emmetts Warracknabeal for their continued contribution.
The winners and now Golden Putter owners are Matt Richardson (12) (Warracknabeal) and Gerard Duynhoven (17) (Warrnambool) with a +13 score, winning on a countback from two locals Ryan Smith (12) and Nathan McLean (14) also on +13.
Well done to those four players and congratulations. I believe the winners had +7 in the morning and +6 in the afternoon, whereas the runners up had +8 in the morning and +5 in the afternoon. The challenge of 36 holes had again been run and won.
Third place again went to two locals, Mick (16) and Brenton Cheney (13) on +10 followed by Dean Gunn (7) and Ryan McKenzie (11) +9.
Other good scores being Bryan Dufty and Brendan Etherton (Nhill) and Ash Purdue (Warracknabeal) and Trevor McRae (Horsham) both on +8.
There was also an 18 hole event (stableford) for players in the afternoon only.
Winner of this was Stan Ryan (27) with 35 points. Runner-up was Wayne Dovaston (21) on 34 points. Other good scores were Darrell McKay and David Young (Minyip) on 33 points each.
The women also had an 18 hole stableford event with Lucy Cumming (18) from Portland on 36 points, runner-up being Charmaine Wilson (22) on 30 points.
Nearest the pins fifth hole was Brendan Etherton and Lucy Cumming; seventh hole, Dean Gunn and Lucy Cumming; 13th hole, Dean Gunn and Charmaine Wilson.
Longest drive: Div. 1, Ryan McKenzie and Charmaine Wilson; Div. 2, Gerard Duynhoven and Karen Germano. Straighest drive: Wayne Gove and Karen Germano.
It was also noted that Daniel Kearns put his tee shot from the first tee onto the green approx. 270 metres. Missed the eagle putt by inches, but an easy birdie.
Sunday’s events were a mixed pinehurst and an 18 hole stableford for men. 38 players participated in the mixed pinehurst (19 pairs).
The winners with a score of 70 6/8 were Beth and Liam Preston (Warracknabeal and Jeparit). Runners up were again a family team of Vicki and Clayton Hinkley with a score of 71. Third place were husband and wife team from Beulah Sue and Daryl Sanford who also had 71 (losing on a countback). Best gross score was Julie Bayles amd Graeme Puckle (Hopetoun) who had 82 shots between them.
The mens stableford was won by Darrell McKay (26) on 35 points. Runner-up Danny Kearns (16) who had 31 points.
Nearest the pins fifth hole, Sue Sandford; seventh hole, Andrew Weidermann and Shirley Liersch; 13th hole, Clayton Hinkley and Maree Heenan.
Longest drive: Div. 1, Graeme Puckle and Joanne Miles; Div. 2, Darrell McKay and Vicki Hinkley. Straight drive, Liam Preston and Shirley Liersch.
Nearest the pin fifth hole for the tournament was B. Etherton (4.76m); seventh hole was Ian Hair (Nhill) (2.14m) and on the 13th hole was Dean Gunn (1.15m). Straightest drive for the tournament was Wayne Gove (9cm) and for the ladies Shirley Liersch (6cm), both from Warracknabeal.
Entries for Sunday’s event came from Warracknabeal, Jeparit, Hopetoun, Sheep Hills, Rainbow, Nhill and Morunga (NSW).
Sponsors for Sundays events were Drummond Golf from Ballarat and Robert Smith & Co.
We thank the sponsors for their contributions for the extent of the tournament. We also appreciate golfers coming from far and wide to participate in each days events, and also, the organisers of the tournament need to be congratulated for their efforts in putting the annual tournament together again.
Numerous people do massive hours at the course each day, being office people, caterers, raffle sellers, bar people and BBQ cooks etc.
Thank you to all. See you all again in 2024 and spread the word as to how good the Warracknabeal Golf Club is.
Things that I noticed during the write up that the name of Sue Sanford was written out on numerous occasions.
Winner: Thursdays 4BBB stableford; runner-up Nola Clarke Memorial and team of four winner; third place Mixed Pinehurst. Also nearest the pin fifth hole (mixed pinehurst, ladies). Well done Sue, very consistent golfer.