Last Tuesday saw our travelling golfers board a bus, with Coach Captain Trevor Townsend at the wheel, heading off down the highway bright and early all ready to take on the Woolgoolga Ladies in our annual Interclub Challenge event.
After finally wrestling back the lovely Wooden Plate in 2015, our ladies were determined to hold onto the trophy for a little while longer, despite the fact that we were to take on the Challenge at the tricky layout of the Woolgoolga course.
Millie Harris was the super star of the day taking the win in Div 1 with a fabulous 35 points. Our Captain, Noeline Smith, also had a great round to come in as the runner up in Div 1 on 30 points. A few of our players were also in the ball rundown list. Gai Leeson was the clever winner of the nearest to the pin on the difficult 4th hole.
However, all this good golf and determination by our ladies, was not quite enough to overcome the formidable Woolgoolga ladies on their always tough course. Woolgoolga returned an average score of 26.36 compared to Grafton’s 25 points.
The best of the Woolgoolga players were Cathy Anderson 33 points and Gaile Mackenzie in Div 2. Trish Hill and Marie Matthews in Div 3 with 32 points.
Our ladies thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful day of fun, friendship and fine weather and as always were most appreciative of the fine food and hospitality provided by our Woolgoolga golfing friends. We look forward to once again taking up the challenge back at our home course in 2017.
The Saturday 18-hole Stableford competition catered for a good number of 11 starters. Janet Croft showed that you cannot keep a good golfer down for too long as she returned a wonderful 41 points to come in as the winner. Courtney Fuller was the runner up with 38 points and balls were awarded to Margie Hopkins and Marianne Mannell.
Last Wednesday’s Stroke and medal event attracted a good field of 55 players, despite the warm day and leading into Easter. Carlie McKenzie had a great round to come in as the overall winner with 70 nett. Carlie was the lucky recipient of the beautiful trophy donated by Tania Clark of Allure Derma Cosmetic Skin Clinic and will not doubt enjoy Tania’s pampering. As a Div 2 player, Carlie was also the recipient of the monthly medal for that division.
With some fabulous golf produced by the A Graders, it was a tight contest for the medal honour with a three way count back required to determine the winner. Sue Petty was grateful for her extra handicap to get the nod from Kaye Murdoch and Janette Blair all on 71 nett.
Dale Bax, who apparently does not need any beauty work, was awarded first place in division two with 73 on a count back from Marie Hayes with Kathy McMullen third placed on 75. Still continuing with her nice consistent form, and to prove that “coaching” and practice does work, Helen Irving was the medal winner of division three on 74. Helen Hopwood, whose jet setting to Victoria for her birthday celebrations had no effect on her golf, was second placed on 76 and Bev Snowdon was third with 77.
Our O.B.E. winner on the day was Jeanie Dahl with 77 on a count back. Gross winners were Janette Blair 85, Carlie McKenzie 93 and Helen Hopwood 107 on a count back. Putting winners were Kaye Murdoch 29 on a count back, Carlie McKenzie 28 and Jean Milne 32.
Wednesday also saw Round Two of the Stephen Donnelly Financial Services Aggregate. Following on from her fabulous 40 points the previous Friday, Marie Hayes was able to back that up with a consistent 73 net to take the Aggregate win with 75 points.
A reminder also to all players, that it is an expectation of our Match Committee that all stroke rounds of golf are to be played using the format of honour golf.
Monday next, April 4, will see Round 2 of the Ann Bawden 4BBB Knockout series contested. We should see some tight matches being played and all golfers are welcome to come out and support the players. The first match is scheduled to commence at 8.15am.
Matches to be played are H. Packwood/D. Newton v S. Baker/M. Atkins, S. Avery/R. Wilkes v J. Townsend/J. Walters, M. Mannell/N. Smith v J. Dahl/S. Petty, S. Grainger/R. Smith v T. Bloomer/K. Eccleston. Good luck to all ladies.
Julie White