The final of the men’s Captain’s Trophy, a combined fourball event, was played on Saturday, amid pouring rain, howling wind and a largely deserted golf course. Rob Blackett and Jim Kettle, who were beaten finalists last year, were the favourites against Murray Wolland and Harry Quinn. The first nine proved a very close tussle and it was anyone’s game at the turn but then Quinn and Wolland won six holes in a row to win the match 2/1 and possibly the hardest trophy in the club to win. Incidentally the trophy they won is actually called the ‘Captain’s Booths Gin Trophy’ and was, from 1976 to 1982, played for on a sponsor’s day and in 2003 the Men’s Match Committee re allocated the then unused trophy to the Captain’s.
The rest (and there weren’t many of them) of the Saturday field played a stableford round. Results were-
1st Paul Williams 34
2nd Andy Pottinger 34
The New World Thursday competition was won by Paul Fouhy with a magnificent 42 points from five players all on 39, Simon Buckley, Gavin Harris, Dennis Hogg, David Cook and now visitor, Ian Harrowfield. Murray Johnston won the All Teed Up Nearest the Pin. However, the highlight of the day was achieved by Blyth King who ‘shot’ under his age with a 77 gross at the age of 78. This feat has only been achieved by five players in the history of the club!
Club champs are continuing and as the men’s matches approach the ‘sharp end’ some finalists have been found. In the Masters division Robin Carseldine has made it through to the final with a 3/1 win against Jamie Brunton, in the senior grade Simon Buckley beat Ewen Macdonald 5/4 in their semi-final but Dean Gray still has to play Sam Forrester in the other semi-final. The intermediates, who have the biggest field, are still getting to the semi-final stage and both the finalists in the Junior A grade have been found- John Francis beat Derek Clarkson 2 up in one semi-final while Dennis Hogg was taken to the 19th before beating Harry Quinn in the other semi-final.
On Tuesday the women’s championship semi-finals were held. In the Silver division Nooroa Rota beat Jenni Johnston 6/5 and will meet Sereana Phillipps in the final after her win over Carolyn Stevenson, 2/1. In the Bronze grade Brenda Blatchford defeated Jocelyn Pollock 4/3 and she will play Larraine Duckett in the final after a 3/2 win over Jan Tatham. The finals of the women’s flights will see Marilyn Strang play Jeanette McNae in the Silver division and Jane Williams meet Anne Smith in the Bronze.
Both men’s and women’s finals will be played on Sunday 30 October.
The vets played a stableford round on Monday. Results were-
Women
1st Isobelle Weaver 21
2nd Pam Sutherland 21
3rd Venetta Justice 20
Men Group 1
1st Brian Pollock 28
2nd Mick Gates 25
3rd Murray Wolland 25
Men Group 2
1st Mike Inwood 26
2nd Peter Smith 24
3rd Derek Bamford 24
The Fagan Ford Nearest the Pin was Derek Clarkson.
The Wednesday 9 Holers played a PGG Wrightson stableford round which was won by Errol Warren with 16 points from Gill Neal with 14. The PGG Wrightson Longest Drive was Ruth Wylie and Erroll Warren won the All Teed Up Nearest the Pin.
This weekend is Labour Weekend and the club is holding its popular WBS Labour Day Open Tournament on Monday. Tee off is at 11am for the stableford competition and don’t forget to enter the Trust House Melbourne Cup Tournament on Tuesday 1 November. Open to both men and women the entry sheet is on the board in the foyer with a shotgun start at 11.30.