The weekend at Masterton was dominated by the 49th Sir Bob Charles Tournament and Classic which now involves both left and right handed men and women and this year, for the first time, played over 18 holes. The tournament itself has changed over the years- after starting out in 1967 as a 72 hole, left handers only event, it changed to 54 holes in 1983, then 36 holes and now, in keeping with the trend, to 18 holes. But only left handers can win the coveted Sir Bob Charles Trophy and local Mahunga player, Graeme Dick made no race of this with a gross 76, while the Sir Bob Charles Classic Trophy was won by Masterton right hander, Sam Forrester with a gross 66. Jack Boettcher won both the Clark Trophy for the best left handers nett round and the Holland Percy Cup for the best vet’s nett round. The winner of the ladies competition was Sarah Beam.
Other stableford results were-
Ladies
1st Sarah Beam 38
2nd Carolyn Stevenson 36
3rd Nooroa Rota 34
Men
1st Simon Buckley 42
2nd Murray Wolland 40
3rd Jamie Brunton 40
4th Peter Cottier 39
The vets have played twice in the last week. Last Wednesday, in the monthly ambrose round, results were-
1st John Tatham, Alan Kirkham, Peter Smith, Beryl Stuart 33
2nd Mac Martin, George Gray, Jill Chandler, Charles Anderson 32
3rd Roger Gardner, George Grantham, Pam Sutherland, Jack Richmond 31
The Fagan Ford Nearest the Pin was George Grantham.
On Monday the vets got a magnificent day for a stableford competition. Results were-
Women
1st Sue Blathwayt 28
2nd Pam Sutherland 25
3rd Gail Freeman 19
Men Group 1
1st Blyth King
2nd Murray Wolland
3rd George Grantham
Men Group 2
1st Robin Whitehead 29
2nd Bob Macfarlane 28
3rd John Tatham 25
The Fagan Ford Nearest the Pin was Blyth King.
Last Tuesday the women’s field played an all day eclectic which resulted in a tie as both Jo Philps and Nooroa Rota had 64 nett. This week the ladies are playing the Melbourne Cup Tournament and results will be published next week.
The New World Supermarket Thursday stableford competition got a poor day and most players got wet! Paul Fouhy won the day with 41 points from David Cook with 39. Third was Carl Christensen, also on 39 and then Darryl Hart with 38. The All Teed Up Nearest the Pin was Russell Stewart.
The TRC Toyota Twilight begins this Wednesday with tee off anytime from 4pm to 5pm. On Saturday the men have a stroke round for the Challenge Shield and Chairman’s Trophy and the women will play a 4BBB. On Sunday both the men’s and women’s club match play finals will be played. The silver women’s final, over 36 holes will be between Carolyn Stevenson and Nooroa Rota, the bronze A, also 36 holes, will feature Jenni Johnston against Jane Williams and the bronze B final has already been played and resulted in a win to Marilyn Beetham.
In the men’s finals, all over 36 holes, the senior final is between Sam Forrester and Kerry Mountcastle, the intermediate between Gary Tennant and Jeff Ogg, and the junior final, Jamie Strang and Gary Stewart. The masters final, over 18 holes will be Jamie Brunton v Robin Carseldine.
Off The Fairway
The men’s Masters semi-final was played last Saturday had had a spectacular finish. After 12 holes Jamie Brunton was 6 up (dormie) over Bruce Watkins and the match looked ‘all but over’ but no one told Bruce and he proceeded to win the next 4 holes to be 2 down playing 17. Bruce drove straight up the middle and was on the back of the green for 2 while Jamie pushed his drive into a grove of trees and had to play out to the left rough about 35 metres short of the green. However Jamie then chipped in for a birdie meaning that Bruce’s putt was meaningless, but he putted it anyway and sank it, only to lose 2 and 1!