SMACK: Frank Hanns shapes a drive down the fairway in the 2 Person Ambrose last weekend.

The 2-Person Ambrose Medley played in Saturday’s golf comp, sponsored by Brine Cure, was played in difficult conditions. However the field of 68 players managed to cast aside the heavy ground and wet and windy aerial conditions to post good scores.

The Scratch Winners were John and Steve Betland, whose 64 was a masterful display of power golf which included eight birdies and no bogeys. Scratch Runners-up were Jacob Bernardi and Josh Coulthurst with 68.

The Handicap winners were Isaac Vale and Jake Hemming with 64 ½, ahead of Runners-up Graham West and Duncan Sharpe on 67 ¼.

The ball sweep went to 71 nett. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Men: P Kay, Ladies: H Davidson; 18th – Men: B Thomas, Ladies: Nil. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Alec Edwards, a visitor.

The Sunday Stableford Medley had a good field of players who were determined to make good of the weather, and to score well.

The winner was Jacob Bernardi with 38 points. Runner-up was Stuart French on 35 points. The ball sweep went to 32 points on count back, with Louise French being the lucky one. The NTP’s were not recorded.

Here is a ‘heads up’ on two upcoming events – the Temora Open 15 August with a 2-Person Ambrose on the Saturday, and the ‘Bermagui Week of Golf’ scheduled for 11-19 September. Refer to the brochure in the Pro Shop for details.

Saturday 24 July is a 4BBB Stableford Medley, playing for the Hawke Trophy. Sunday 25 July has a Stableford Medley.

By Short Putt

Saturday’s Men’s golf comp was an 18-hole Stroke sponsored by the B&M Tooth. A field of 67 players traversed heavy conditions making for tough scoring. There were not too many scores that bettered par on either scratch or nett.

Division 1 was won by Laurie O’Connor with a 71 nett, even though he had a double bogey on the last hole. Runner-up on count back was Jonathon Morell with 75 nett, who snuck past Barry Parker.

The Division 2 scores were closer with Robert Scott managing a par on the last to finish with 70 nett, one ahead of Isaac Vale on 71 nett who bogeyed the last.

The ball sweep went to 78 nett on count back, so please check in the Pro Shop. The NTP’s went to: 9th – A Dukes, 18th – B Thomas. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Brad Ashton, who was still quite a way from the hole. There were no visitors.

The Sunday Stableford Medley saw quite a few players out enjoying sunnier conditions, although it was still heavy underfoot ensuring scores were quite unremarkable again.

The winner was Andrew Quirk with 30 points, and quite a variable day. Runner-up was Ethel Coombs on 29 points, on count back from Rob Elsom, a visitor from Wynnum GC in Qld.

Your names should already be in for the LVDGA Mixed 4B Champs at West Wyalong (18 July), but late entries may possibly be taken.

Saturday 17 July is a 2-Person Ambrose Medley sponsored by Brine Cure. Sunday 18 July has a Stableford Medley at home, with the LVDGA event at West Wyalong.

By Short Putt

On Saturday 60 players contested the Mens 4BBB Championships, run concurrently with the daily comp sponsored by HG Duff & Partners. Scratch Champions were the pairing of John Betland and Peter Dawson on 68. Runners-up were Jacob Bernardi and Todd Callaghan on 73. Handicap Champions were Rob Scott and Stuart Thomas with 63 nett, marginally ahead of Dave Tildsley and Jack Dobell on 64 nett.

Daily Comp the Scratch winners were J Betland/P Dawson ahead of J Bernardi/T Callaghan, while in the Handicap the winners were R Scott/S Thomas ahead of C Hanrahan/W Lovatt who finished on 64 nett.

The Sunday Stableford Medley had a small field with the winner Jonathan Morell on 30 points, ahead of Will Lovatt on 25 points.

Forbes Players did well at the LVDGA Champs and Pennants, contested by a field of 107 players. The A-grade Scratch champion, and winner of the Moulder Cup, was John Betland (72) from runner-up Peter Dawson (75) on count back. The Vets Champion was Kim Herbert with 75, on count back.

The LVDGA Pennants was played in two Grades. Forbes team, comprising J Betland, S Betland, D Bayley, A Dukes, P Dawson and S Sallaway, won the A-grade Scratch with 181 points, ahead of Parkes on 158 points. They also won the Handicap Pennants with 194, ahead of Parkes on 188.

Vets Scratch Pennants was won by Forbes (P Dawson, P Cowhan, N Duncan) with 71 points, ahead of Parkes on 67 points.

The LVDGA Champion of Champions, contested by winners of the Club Opens, was won by S Betland with 76 scratch on the day.

A reminder for Club members to clear their Pro Shop account by the end of the month. Also for Forbes Vets players to pay their 2021-22 fees to Lynnie Roberts.

By Short Putt

Saturday saw the return of the Can-Assist Charity Golf Day, after a hiatus in 2020. A near record field of 111 players showed support for the local charity group.

Scratch winners were the group of T. West, N. Corliss, R. White and S. Edmonds with a score of 66 on a count back from J. Roy-lance, M. Little, B. Thomas and S. Sallaway.

Handicap winners with a score of 57 nett were the trio of J. Morell, R. Pike and A. Saar. The best Ladies team prize went to E. Baker, C. Bratton, E. Coombs and J. Hurkett.

The day was also catered for by the Can-Assist team and many prizes were donated by businesses far and wide. A big thanks to all volunteers especially Beryl and Lynnie Roberts who’s assistance on the Leader Scoreboard was once again invaluable.

The lead organiser, Andrew Grierson, thanked all the supporters, the players and the hard working Can-Assist team as well sponsors and golfers for getting behind the event.

There was no Sunday Stableford Medley comp, but there was a comp on Monday. The scores were generally mediocre, but the fun value was high.

The winner was Caleb Hanrahan with 34 pts, ahead of Phil Maher on 33 pts. The ball sweep went to Harry Callaghan and Dan Bayley. There were no NTP’s.

This Sunday we have the LVDGA Championships and Pennants, being played at Parkes. Contact John Betland or Niel Duncan for more information.

This Saturday 12 June is the first of some Forbes Championship events, with the Men’s 4BBB Stroke Championships, followed by the Men’s Foursome Championships, played over 36 holes on 26 and 27 June.

By Short Putt

SHOT TRACKER: Bruce Chandler tees off with a cracker down the centre in the Saturday Stableford comp in Forbes.

Riley Pike used his early start to score 47 points which was good enough to outlast the 61 players in the field and capture the ‘Wilf Hodges Memorial Trophy’.

The Division 1 was won by Luke Flakelar (41 points) from runner-up Paul Pymont (40 points). The Division 2 results followed the Division 1 trend with high scoring. Riley Pike (47 points) was a clear winner from Andrew Quirk (43 points).

On Sunday a large contingent of Forbes players participated in the West Wyalong Open, contested by 99 players. This was the second in the ‘Trilogy of Golf’, with Condobolin Open (Sunday, 30 May) the last to be played. Forbes players featured highly in the prize winners.

The Open Winner, and winner of the ‘Don Hatch Memorial Trophy’ was Steven Betland with 69 Scratch. This is the third year in succession that a Forbes player has won the event.

This weekend has an 18-Hole Stroke event, sponsored by Country Mile Motor Inn. On Sunday there is a Stableford Medley, and the Condobolin Open, open to both Mens and Ladies.

BOOM: George Falvey of Forbes launches one off the tee at Forbes Golf Club.

In cool autumnal weather 164 players competed in the Forbes Men’s Open, with the winner earning an entry into the 2022 NSW Open. This year’s event was sponsored by Forbes Shire, Golfie Hotel and Golf Harvest. At the end of the day four players finished on 2-under, requiring a play-off to decide the winner.

The A-Grade scratch winner, and winner of the Forbes Open, was Thomas Heaton (The Australian GC). Thomas scored a birdie on the second play-off hole, the par-5 2nd hole, to push Joshua Gadd (Penrith) into the Runner-up position.

On the first play-off hole, Will Moody (Avondale) and Joseph Curran (Moore Park) each made bogey to end their tilt at the title.

The B-Grade results saw G Hooper (81 – Forbes) take the Scratch win over S Kirk-man (85 – Forbes). The Handicap winner was G Webb (68 nett) over J Dobell (69 nett), both from Forbes.

The C-Grade results were: Scratch win-ner A Richards (Condobolin) with 86 ahead of N Ryan (Forbes) on 91. The Handicap winner was J Wood (68 nett) ahead of A Quirk) 70 nett, and again both from Forbes.

On Saturday a 4BBB Stableford was played, sponsored by Forbes Livestock & Agency. The field of 116 managed to produce some very good results.

The Scratch winners were Penrith players M Organ and J Gadd with 41 points. Scratch Runners-up were local players J Betland & P Dawson with 40 points. The Handicap winners were D Bayley and A Quirk (both Forbes) with 43 points, on count back from G Webb (Forbes) & L Cotterill (Brisbane) with 43 points.

This weekend has an 18-Hole Stable-ford, with the West Wyalong Mens Open, the second event in the Trilogy of Golf’, on Sunday 23 May.

By Short Putt