The Men’s Golf Stroke event last Saturday saw 56 players making miraculous scores with Scott Kirkman winning the A-Division with 66 net. Runner-up was Dave Mylecharane on 68. The B-Division saw Alby Callaghan, one of Forbes golfing’s true gentlemen, take the win with 66 nett. Close behind, was Geoff Drane on 67 nett.

The ball sweep went to 71 nett on count back. The visitors included Ray Beacroft (The Grange), making a welcome return, and Marty Woods (Orange). The NTP’s went to: 1st – A Dukes, 18th – A Davies. Alf managed three 2’s in total. The golfing gods helped Andrew House,
who chipped in twice and later holed a monster putt on the 16th,to get a good score. There was also a magician golfer playing the 7th hole. He had three tee shots but finished the hole with a birdie 4, because his first two tee shots struck the wires, so he got to replay them.

The Sunday Stableford Medley field was small due to the hot weather. Ray Taylor won the day with 35 points. There was no ball sweep, but the NTP’s were snaffled easily. The 9th went to B Carpenter (for the 2nd week running), while the 18th went to R Taylor. The condition of the course has improved over recent months and held its own through the summer. We will be trialling a “Play the Lie” rule for the month of February, to be applied to all men’s competitions, and likely for the Sunday Stableford Medley. The Sixes competition will retain its ‘Preferred Lie through the Green’ rule, while the ladies and vets will make their own ruling.

The Playoff for the AAA Cup was completed on Sunday. This is a points competition held throughout the year with points awarded to place-getters for each of the main competition games. Andrew Dukes finished in top spot showing the value of consistently high performances with a sprinkling of wins. The top- 12 points scorers competed in an 18-hole playoff. Phil Maher was 3rd on count back from
Lee Grierson, Peter Dawson finished in 2nd spot (bridesmaid for the second year), and Andrew Dukes took top honours. The prize for the Best Overall Points Average went to Steven Betland (110.38) ahead of Andrew Dukes (103.31). And the prize for the Most Games Played went to Scott Kirkman (33) ahead of Bruce Squires (31).

By Short Putt

Saturday’s play was an Individual Stableford sponsored by Kenny’s Baa-Moo-Oink. The field of 57 players were keen to snare themselves a ham. The A-division was dominated by Todd Callaghan who managed two very fine 9’s of 37 each amassing 40 points. Peter Grayson could only lament the missed opportunities in his round of 38, with two wipes. The B-division saw Brett Slack-Smith, who played early and posted 41 points, finish ahead of Stuart French with 40 points. The ball sweep went to 35 on countback, including those above plus: 38 – Bruce
Squires, Peter Barnes; 37 – Steve Grallelis, Barry Parker; 36 – Paul Kay, Niel Duncan, Michael Wood Jnr; 35 – Rob Webb, Peter Dawson, Jeff Haley, Peter Cowhan. NTP’s: 1st – Scott Kirkman, 18th – Garry Johnson. Scott got his Sunday’s play was the Stableford Medley with a small field but strong contest, this was won by Phil Duke with 38 points, closely followed by Dave Rhodes on 37. There was no ball sweep, and only one NTP. That was on the 18th taken out by Laurie O’Connor.

The semi-finals of the Wallace Cup were played and contested by Dan Bayley vs Ian Bown, and Lee Grierson vs Marty Cahill. Dan was victorious over Ian, while Marty was fortunate to score a win before Lee could gain an advantage on the longer final holes. On Saturday the annual presentations were made to Men’s and Mixed competition winners from the year’s events. Undoubtedly the highlights for the Ladies were the accolades to Julie Hurkett and Briana Duncan for their success. For the Men Doug Churchill stood out as a prolific receiver of many awards.

Tomorrow is a Stableford Medley, and again on Boxing Day, while on Saturday, 31st December will be the Canadian Foursomes. The New Year starts with a Stableford Medley on 1st January. I wish you all a Happy Christmas and enjoyable New Year, and look forward to seeing
you on the course in 2017.

By Short Putt

The Medal of Medallists 2016 was contested last Saturday by 20 of the 26 eligible medal winners with Shane Sallaway the best with his 69 nett. Frank Hanns came home with 70- nett in second place. In the December A-Grade Medal, Kim Herbert led the way scoring a 68 nett. He was nervous with a fast finishing Shane Sallaway (69) in runner-up position. The BGrade Medal saw Rob ‘Spider’ Webb finish with 70, just ahead of Bruce Carpenter on
nett 71.

In C-Grade, Bruce Squires (70) battled Frank Hanns (70) with the count back in Bruce’s favour. The NTP’s went to: 9th – S Sallaway; 18th – D Rhodes. The ball sweep went to 73 nett on count back distributed to: 68 – K Herbert; 69 – S Sallaway; 70 – P Maher, R Webb, B Squires, F Hanns; 71 – B Carpenter; 72 – J House, G Pymont, P Kay, L Grierson, B Collie, A McDonald, R Borger, B Slack-Smith; 73 – S French.

Sunday’s Stableford Medley was won by Ron Morris with 38 points. Second place went to Bruce Carpenter with 35 points. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Barb Drabsch; 18th – Tony Cogswell. There was no ball sweep. Nor were there any 2’s. Tomorrow is the Stableford Ham Day and Sunday the 18-hole Stableford Medley.

Over the festive period we have Stableford Medley’s on 24th, 26th December and 1st January, and the Canadian Foursomes on 31st December.

By Short Putt

Professional golfer Daniel Newton will be at the St.George Flood Relief Charity Golf Day at the Forbes Golf Club on Sunday. The day is held to raise money to restore the Forbes golf course and support local farmers impacted by the catastrophic September floods in the area. Daniel will be running the day with the Chairman of the Forbes Golf Club Andrew Mcdonald and St.George Forbes Branch Manager Andrew Kerr.

St.George Branch Manager Andrew Kerr said: “The Golf Day will be an important day for our community after a difficult few months. We invite players of all skill levels to take part in what promises to be a great day, with prizes on offer and a chance to improve your golf skills,” said Andrew.

Forbes Golf Club Chairman Andrew McDonald said many people in Forbes and the farming community had suffered major setbacks as a result of the prolonged rain and flood conditions experienced during the year. “We are very grateful for the support of St.George Bank in holding this Charity Day to assist golf course restoration and to help community members via Lions Club. Please form and nominate teams to play in what will be an enjoyable day of team golf for players of all standards,” said Andrew.

The fee is $35 per person to play and includes refreshments around the course, as well as a small meal after play. Time: 10.30am arrival for a shot-gun start at 11am.

After the 3rd and 4th rounds of the Forbes Golf Club Championships last weekend, Steve Betland claimed the A-Grade Championship title. He held his good lead to finish 11-shots clear of Mike Wood in second place. In the A-Reserve, Doug Churchill finished on 331, six shots ahead of Phil Maher.

The B-Grade produced a real bolter. Peter Grayson leapt into the lead with Barry Parker close behind after three rounds, but on the final day Ian Bown produced a sublime round of 80 to take the honours by seven shots over Paul Pymont. The C-Grade proved to be an easy walk for Anthony Alley. He was tied with Stuart French after the 3rd round, but managed to finish 12 shots ahead of Ron Morris. Doug Churchill won the Veterans Championship ahead of Phil Maher.

In the Saturday daily competition Niel Duncan (67 nett) finished ahead of Phil Maher (69). The B-division went to Garry Collits (64) with the best nett score of the day, ahead of Craig Barret (68). The Sunday daily competition A-division was taken by Ian Bown with 66 nett from Doug Churchill (72 on count back). Andrew McDonald won the the B-division (70) followed by Milton Cartwright (72).

The complete list of champions:
A-Grade Scratch: Winner – S Betland (287); R/up – M Wood (308)
A-Grade Handicap: Winner – S Betland (nett 291); R/up – M Wood (292)
A-Reserve Scratch: Winner – D Churchill (331); R/up – M Wood (308)
B-Grade Scratch: Winner – I Bown (340); R/up P Pymont (347)
B-Grade Handicap: Winner – I Bown (nett 280); R/up – C Barrett (287)
C-Grade Scratch: Winner – A Alley (385); R/up – R Morris (397)
C-Grade Handicap: Winner – A Alley (nett 282); R/up – M Cartwright (313 c/b)
Veteran Scratch: Winner – D Churchill (331); R/up – P Maher (337)
Veteran Handicap: Winner – I Bown (nett 280); R/up – D Churchill (283)

By Short Putt

The Forbes Golf Club Championships is still wide open in all grades after two rounds of play last weekend. The A-Grade is led by Steve Betland with rounds of 69 and 70. He is slightly ahead of Mike Wood who scored 74 and 73. Doug Churchill leads the A-Reserve group on 162 followed by Bruce Carpenter on 169 and Phil Maher on 171. In B-Grade Ian Bown is equal leader on 170 with Peter Grayson. The C-grade leader is Stuart French on 185 who overtook
Anthony Alley on 192. Ron Morris is also on 192.

The NTP’s on Saturday went to: 9th M Spice; 18th M Wood. An additional incentive was the Pro-Pin on the 3rd won by Terry Sharpe. The Saturday ball sweep went to 72 nett on count back: 67 – Anthony Alley, Andrew Dukes; 68 – Doug Churchill; 69 – P Maher, D Rhodes, I Bown; 70 –T Sharpe, C Barrett, S Betland, M Wood; 71 – M Collits; A
Rees, D Mylecharane; 72 – B Shine and P Grayson. The Sunday NTP’s went to: 9th R Taylor, 18th M Cahill. The Pro-Pin went to Steve Betland. The ball sweep went to 72 nett on count back: 67 – F Hanns; 68 – Stuart French; 69 – Lee Grierson, Mike Wood; 70 – Doug Churchill, Barry Parker; 71 – Steve Betland, Peter Grayson, Laurie O’Connor;
72 – Paul Pymont, Jeff Haley, Scott Kirkman.

The final two rounds will be played this weekend.

By Short Putt

This weekend will see one of the best field of golfers ever to contest a tournament in Forbes with 13 players on handicaps of three or less nominated for the $5,500 Nissan Classic. Players this year are from as far afield as the Gold Coast to all points across NSW. Tee off on both days for first players start at 7am with the last at 1.30pm. Spectators are welcome.

Chairperson of the Classic committee, Randal Grayson said support from sponsors was again excellent. Saturday evening a calcutta will be conduced with the cream of A grade players involved. “Come over and you never know you may end up with the winner. Last year’s winner collected close to $2,000,” Randal said. Last weekend’s results: A grade winner Phil Duke with 73 nett on a count-back from Todd Callaghan (runner-up), Peter Grayson and Ray Taylor.

Paul Kay scored best for the day, 72 in B grade and on a count-back from Jeff House. Tom Edols led C graders home with 73 nett from Ron Morris, 75.

By Short Putt