Lady golfers from across New South Wales and Queensland will converge on the Grafton District Golf Course for four days as they compete in the 53rd Annual Ladies May Tournament on Wednesday May 25, Thursday May 26, Friday May 27 and Saturday May 28. This prestigious event has again attracted a good number of top quality players and should provide a great deal of interest in our area as we see many past champions, and a few who are vying for their first taste of glory, hit the fairways to produce some spectacular golf. Wednesday’s 4BBB McLennan Deece Optometrist sponsored competition has a field of approximately 140 entrants, all ready to compete for the Commonwealth Bank Jug, together with a vast array of always highly sought after prizes and merchandise. The tournament’s major competition during the four days is our 36-hole signature honour board event which will run over Thursday and Friday, and is this year being sponsored by Women’s Golf Grafton and the Clarence Valley Council. Our 18-hole individual events on each of these days are once again being generously sponsored by First National Ford and Dougherty Real Estate and the Grafton District Services Club, together with the various business houses. We are pleased to welcome back to defend her title, our reigning 2015 tournament winner, Jodie Rockliff of Coolangatta Tweed, who has once again enjoyed a successful year on the golf course. We are sure that Jodie, who is at present playing off a handicap of 6, will again be right up in the mix of the top contenders. Other notable past winners Sue Reguson (8), Amanda Carr (7) and Dallas McCabe (8) will also be competing and are sure to put in strong performances and should also feature prominently during the event. New player to our tournament is Rebecca Goldsmith of Coffs Harbour who is a member of the Tuggerah Lakes Club. Rebecca will be the lowest marker in the field, off a handicap of 1 and will no doubt make a big impression and gain a large following during the tournament. Grafton’s in form junior player, Courtney Fuller (off 5), is taking time out of her final year of school studies to once again try her luck following her runner up finish in last year’s tournament. Friday afternoon will also see the running of the infamous Brien family shootout. This traditional fun competition will take place on the first tee and all players are welcome to participate. Spectators can enjoy the wonderful vantage point from our back deck and your support of the players for this event is strongly encouraged. On Saturday, our always popular 18 hole Mixed American Foursomes event will conclude the tournament. Our long time much appreciated sponsor of this event is once again A.C. Small Maxwell & Co., together with various business houses within Grafton. Our Saturday lady golfers will again this year, generously sponsor all the ladies’ nearest to the pins on this day with some fantastic prizes. Saturday ladies, last weekend, wound up their 54 hole weekend championships with Peg James the winner of this year’s event on 272. Chrissy Danvers is the weekend handicap champion on 225 and Carol Toms is the weekend putting champion with 99. The Stroke round played in conjunction on Saturday was won by Lorraine McLaughlan (giving her win number two for the week) with 71 nett from Cheryl Shanley on 72. Courtney Fuller won the putting with 29 and she also recorded an eagle on the par 5 ninth hole during her round. Balls were awarded to a score of 73 nett. Julie White