It was a dark and stormy night….. Well not exactly, though the BOM were making noises about the possibility of rain and storms but the day started off quite clear with a gradual build up of cloud that started to look a bit threatening by the middle of the day. However it appeared to be heading in the direction of Tasmania and the cricket team was probably hoping it would get there sooner rather than later. But the course was dry and the greens were neat and tidy so there was an expectation that, from the 22 starters, there would be some really good scores with some bets reaching up into the 40s. And as it turned out, the winning score could easily have been in that stratospheric domain.
The only thing was that Brent managed to have a couple of gashes on his card and could only manage a measly 38 points to take out the event for the day. Even though he has been up there and about in the short while that he has been with us, the handicapper is chipping away and eventually a true mark will be found. Unless of course, Brent keeps improving his game. He reckons he putted for a few birdies but only managed to get one on the 18th which contributed in a small way to the total of 20 that we managed for the day.
JohnQ is going to be out of circulation for the next couple of months as he heads off to the Old Dart once again for what purports to be a mix of business and pleasure. The serious business is that he is getting married while he is over there so presumably the pleasure will be his time in the London office. Pepsi reckons he has seen the dress but it is suspected that he wasn’t referring to the one to be worn by the bride. Mehm wants to know if John is taking a set of steps for when he has to kiss the bride. Who needs enemies? Anyway, John had his game working today and came in with 36 points, also with a couple of gashes and singletons so he, too, could have been right up there. Michael and Harry stepped up beside John to take their share of the points available for second place on the podium. It would have to be said that they both left a few points out there as well.
Thirty-four was a very popular score today. So popular that a couple of players tried to claim that score as well by dint of using the incorrect handicap and/or not being able to add up. So it was that the official tally was for six players to have to crowd onto the podium for 3rd place. Fortunately, the ball supply had run out across first and second so there was no incorrect distribution of largesse. The lucky duckies were Stef, CraigC, Matt, Pepsi, Chrispy and Snags. Matt has been off for a little while trying to sort out some medical problems but the break didn’t do his golf a lot of harm though the putter was a bit rusty and not quite as reliable as it can be. Snags has also been off course for a while but he is hopeful that a new employment role will allow him to come back bigger and better than ever. If his back nine was any guide next year’s Championship had better watch out. Chrispy was happy to be in the points but he is desperately trying to think of ways to hobble Michael in the dash to the Championship finish line. And Michael is trying to think of ways to hobble the Beast in his effort to overtake him with a final desperate dash to the line. The next couple of weeks could be very interesting to finalise one of the most fiercely contested Championships in many a long year
Jason, Mehm, Targe and Brendon were happy enough to share the 4th spot on offer today but Brendon is also looking over his shoulder as the year draws to a close. Simon is trying to fit in as much practice as he can between the back yard and the course (with an occasional break for work) to tweak his game that little bit that it needs to meet his expectations. It was tweaked just enough today to score him 5th place and he didn’t have to share it with anyone. If you feel like doing a count you will find that there were not a huge number who didn’t get to put a foot on the podium and Michael needn’t have worried about the Beast who managed one of his more ordinary days in recent times.
The BallPin was on the 4th and Harry could easily have won it if it hadn’t been his provisional ball that finished a metre from the hole. As it was it was Craig (with an s) who ‘snagged’ the pill on offer today. The ProPin was on the 15th and there were a couple who managed to put the ball on the green (one by about a millimetre) but not within the 5m requirement for the event and so the ProPin will jackpot to next week. Now there’s an incentive to get out of bed next Saturday even if it is a Par competition. The other trophy of note today went to that Raider of the Lost Ark, Stefan who managed an eagle on the 17th to add to his growing collection of balls arising from his repeated raids. The Eagle is looking at him with a very jaundiced eye but there is no truth to the rumour (yet) that a Statute of Limitations will be placed on Eagles nest wins. As it turned out, he very nearly had to share the pot when Michael left his chip a mere 100mm short of the hole on the same green.
Zimmer was spotted playing the 10th down the far side of the 13th which he reckoned was taking the scenic route. It must have been a day for taking in the scenery as Brendon took a similar track on the same hole and JohnQ headed for the far side of the 16th while playing the 14th. Gordon didn’t have much of a day with the putter and he reckons that he has now run out of implements to use. It seems that he has about six though there might still be one antique copper head that he hasn’t tried yet. You’ll probably find that it is the nut on the end of the shaft Gordo!
Noodles self-confessed to throwing three tanties on the one hole and, for some reason, wondered what he would be like when he got to be Bob’s age. If anybody had a reason for chucking a tantie it might have been Zimmer as reports have it that there was an airie involved. No reports of any draughties which must say something for how well we are all hitting the ball. Either that or the red markers are set too close to the blue. Priemsy survived Mansfield and managed not to get arrested though he was almost called upon to intervene in one altercation that developed. The practice might have done some good to produce his podium finish today. Pepsi continues to have work on his knee and he thinks that the treatment is doing some good but he needs to put more effort into the rehab. Watch out when he is back at full strength. He obviously has his eye on the Stroke Play Championship and the Vin O’Meara as he is trying to ensure that he can make it to the course for the three weeks in a row.
Anybody who has perpetual trophies gracing their mantel piece could you please bring them in and give them to Gordon so that we can get the engraving done for the presentations. The Calcutta for the Vin O’Meara Stakes will be run after the December Monthly Medal. If you are not intending to play both days in the event or do not wish to have your horse put up for auction could you please email Harry as soon as possible so that the Form Guide can be done in good time and can be as accurate as possible. Don’t forget the Stroke Play Championship will be run over the three weeks of the MM and the VO’M.
Results for Saturday, 12 November 2016
1st Brent Rowley(38) 2nd Harry Boughen(36) 2nd Michael Gourlay(36) 2nd John Quinlan(36) 3rd Stefan Belevski(34) 3rd Craig Cameron(34) 3rd Matt Hunt(34) 3rd Andrew Petricola(34) 3rd Chris Priems(34) 3rd Craig Sharp(34) 4th Mehmet Akdag(33) 4th Jason Hopkins(33) 4th Targe Mifsud(33) 4th Brendon Mitchell(33) 5th Simon Powell(32)
Seniors Results: 1st Harry Boughen (36) 2nd Craig Cameron (34) 3rd Targe Mifsud (33)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin 15th Jackpot BallPin 4th Craig Sharp
Eagle’s nest Results: Eagle 17th Stefan Belevski