Sports
Grafton District Golf
Once again the weather conditions had a influence in last Saturday’s competition with the weather siren employed to call in all players off the course as a safety precaution.
The weather delay lasted about thirty minutes with most players returning to the coarse to resume play. However those weather conditions did not deter Danial Usher (28) who completed his 18 holes with a excellent 43 points to easily claim the overall win. Daniel was in a strong position the previous week when the weather intervened, and he just could not maintain that form at the resumption of play. Therefore his win this week was a just reward for consistency and endurance.
There was a resurgence in form for the winner of A Grade, Neil Hayward (9) who completed his round with a good score of 40 points. Neil was also contesting the semi-final of the summer teams competition which no doubt gave him further incentive to play well. His team incidentally (Elgas) easily defeated their opponents, The Classics, and now proceed to the final. R/up in A Grade was a morning player, Matt McKee (3) who avoided the stormy conditions to record 36 points for his effort. Matt also claimed the pro-pin on the par 3 1st hole. Two players, Clint Corbett (11) and James Wilks (13) featured in B Grade, both recording scores of 37 points. Following a countback Clint was rewarded with the win with “young Wilksy” having to settle for the r/up spot. The results in both C and D Grade were a little more defined with Andrew Connor (15) scoring 41 points to claim C Grade from Matty Day (16) who finished with 39. Nathan James (20) also with 41 points was the victor in D Grade from Peter Tang (24) with 39, the next best in that grade. To claim a pro-ball you needed a score of 35 points or better to win one. Only one player on 34 points was awarded with a pro-ball following the countback procedure.
As mentioned earlier in this report, team Elgas has proceeded to the final of the Summer teams competition. At the conclusion of the other semi final Clarence Coast Motors qualified for the other final spot by defeating the Elders Insurance combination. The final to be played this week. Players who have qualified for the top 10 shootout for both the men and lady components of the Summer series, those involved are up on the notice board. If you have qualified for the shootout and cannot play, please inform Heather Robinson accordingly who will make the necessary adjustments to the fields. The shootout is scheduled for Sunday 7th February with the men hitting off at 10am and ladies 9.30am. The shootout will be followed with a BBQ at which time the formal presentation of trophies for the series will be made. The cost of the BBQ is $5 per head, names to be placed on the sheet provided for that purpose on the notice board.
Past Club Champion, Greg Harvison, had a very strong and successful in 2015, featuring in the results right throughout the year and demonstrated without doubt that he is one of our more accomplished Club golfers. Greg’s 2016 golf year has really commenced in a positive way with the announcement this week that he is the overall winner of the 2015-16 Bendigo Bank Summer Consistency Cup. With a total score of 223 points Greg’s score was by far the best. The next best score was recorded by the ever reliable Kevin Vaughan finishing with a total score of 213 to gain the r/up spot. The various grade winners are as follows. A Grade Danny Hillier 208 points; B Grade Tim Newsome 212 points; C Grade Dek Pabian 212 points and D Grade Tony Daly with 210 points. Congratulations to all those winners and our thanks to the Bendigo Bank for their continued support of the series.
Club Captain, David Morgan, has expressed some concerns about golfers damaging the course by unauthorised practice on the course proper. At no time will this practice be tolerated and those who are guilty of this behaviour are requested to cease such practice on the course immediately. Failure to comply with this requirement could result with invitation to the ‘Captains Table” to explain your actions. Should you have any doubts on the requirement, just contact David who will explain the facts of golf life to your.
Ray Hopwood