The Men’s Comp on Saturday, 19th January was the fifth running of the Australian 2-Person 2-Club Ambrose Medley Championship, sponsored by Cahills Footwear. There were 50 enthusiastic players scrambling for the national title.

This format requires teams of two to be very inventive with their shot making, whilst using unfamiliar sticks. The winning pair did just that, with John Zannes and Dave Rhodes finishing on nett 58. They manufactured 11 birdies, three bogeys and four pars on a day when everything went just right.

Runners up were Andy Dukes and Mike Spice with 60 nett, having finished on the same scratch score but being beaten on handicap. They did pick up other prizes, snaring the NTP on the 1st (A Dukes) and 12th Nearest to Pin 2nd shot (M Spice). Other prize winners were: NTP 3rd – S Kirkman; NTP 9th – D McAuliffe; NTP 18th M Watts; longest drive – J Zannes. The ball sweep went to 66.5 nett: 58 – J Zannes/ D Rhodes; 60 – A Dukes/ M Spice; 62.5 – L O’Connor/ D Mylecharane; 65 – D McAuliffe/ R Besgrove; 66.25 – R Webb/ P Tisdell; 66.5 – R Borger/ D Churchill.

Some fantastic shots were played, with getting onto the green from the wrong fairways.

There were also some bad shots, with one pair fluffing both drives on the 6th with the best drive not reaching the ditch.

Sunday dawned with promise of good weather, but it soon turned oppressive, leading to a small field in the Stableford Medley.

The scoring was good, Bruce Carpenter winning on countback from Steve Betland, both on 40 points.

There was no ball sweep. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Steve Betland; 18th – nil, they all missed. The 2019 CWDGA Pennants, commenced on the 3rd February with the first round being played at the Ex-Services Club. We wish all teams good luck.

By Short Putt

The Men’s Comp on 12th January was an 18-hole stroke event, sponsored by Rob Allen’s Livestock Transport, with 62 players enjoying the weather. During play, Max Haley especially enjoyed the 18th hole where he recorded a hole-in-one. As usual he was quite calm about it.

The A-Division winner was Dan Bayley, with 63 nett that was most satisfying as he had all his touch on display. Runner-up was Niel Duncan, who also had a good score finishing on 65 nett to once again be a ‘bridesmaid’.

The B-Division players were also well below par. Steve Grallelis was pleased with his game finishing on 69 nett to win. Runner- up was new member George Falvey who did well on the back-9, finishing with 70 nett.

The ball sweep went low, going to 70 nett on count back: 63 – D Bayley; 65 – N Duncan, P Maher; 66 – P Nixon; 67 – Mike Wood; 68 – Max Haley; 69 – K Sanderson, P Grayson, R Taylor, S Grallelis, A McDonald; 70 – M Spice, G Falvey, S French, D Churchill, J Haley. The NTP’s went to: 9th – S Kirkman, 18th – M Haley. The visitors included Lloyd Cotterill (Brisbane GC) and good mate Kevin Crapp (Russell Vale GC) and Stuart Hayes (Murrumbidgee). Mike Woods scored an eagle on the 2nd to start his round, while Neil McMillan lost the head on his wedge while playing a shot on the 7th, thus causing him to manufacture shots all day.

The Sunday Stableford Medley had a good field of 12, where the top scoring continued. Paul Kay was the winner on 37 points, on count back from Barb Drabsch.

The ball sweep went to 36 points, being collected by Ethel Coombs, nudging out four players on 35. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Ray Beacroft (The Grange); 18th – P Kay.

One player on the 15th tee had his ball hit the ‘Betland Tree’ and return almost directly to his feet. That mucked up his score.

The 2018 Wallace Cup was completed in 2018, with Neil McMillan victorious over Stephen Uphill. What was anticipated as an even contest, with both on the same handicap, turned into a comfortable win to Neil by 6/5.

A “New Rules 2019” presentation was the previous week and was well attended.

There is a large amount of material available, so get your handbook and any questions answered by Ben at the Pro Shop.

The 2019 CWDGA Pennants, commence on 3rd February with the first round being played at the Ex-Services Club. Please advise Ben or Stevie G if you are willing to play.

The 2019 Programme Book will be available in early February. A Programme for February will be displayed in the Pro Shop.

Also remember that the 2019 NSW Vets Programme Book is available at the Pro Shop.

Saturday, 19th January was the Australian Championship 2-Person 2-Club Ambrose, sponsored by Cahill’s Footwear,  followed by the Stableford Medley on the Sunday.

Saturday, 26th January was an 18-Hole Stableford, with a Stableford Medley on the Sunday. Also on the Sunday was the final of the AAA Cup, sponsored by AAA Septic Services. Read more about this in coming editions.

By Short Putt

On Saturday, 5th January, amidst strong winds and hot temperatures, the Men’s Monthly Medal was contested by 64 players, sponsored by long-term stalwart Linden Byrne.

The A-Grade winner was Kim Herbert, with 69 nett and just ahead of runner-up, Peter Dawson with his 70 nett. They pushed each other all the way.

The B-Grade went to Dale Rogers (Peak Hill) with an excellent nett 69, while Phil Duke was runner-up with a consistently constructed 70 nett. However, because Dale is a visitor and thus ineligible, the medal is awarded to Phil Dukes.

The C-Grade saw Frank Donohoe take the honours with his 74 nett. Runner-up was Les Little finishing with 75 nett.

The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count back: 69 – D Rogers, K Herbert; 70 – P Duke, P Dawson; 71 – N McMillan, B Everest, M Cahill; 72 – J Zannes, M Haley and 73 – C Dwyer, P Kay, P Maher; D Churchill, F Donohoe, Michael Wood, P Grayson, R Nixon.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – P Nixon, 18th – K Herbert. Visitors who joined included, from Parkes – M McGlashan, L Buesnell and from Peak Hill – A Brownlow, D Rogers.

The Sunday Stableford Medley saw a field of nine players get out and enjoy themselves.

Once again Peter Grayson was the winner, edging home with 34 points. Runner-up was Brendan Chambers from Parkes, with 33 points.

There was no ball sweep. The NTP’s were stolen by Parkes players, with the: 9th – B Chambers; 18th – J Van Opynen.

Prior to Christmas the final of the Wallace Cup Handicap Match Play was played. It was a solid performance by Neil McMillan to win, relegating Stephen Uphill into runner-up.

By Short Putt

The men’s comp was the December Monthly Medal, sponsored by Central West Diesel, with 64 players competing and many of them producing good scores.

In the A-Grade, Dan Bayley certainly had his A-grade game going, finishing with a 75 scratch, 70 nett. Dan won on count back from Richard Nixon who also finished on 70 nett. The B-Grade produced a masterful score by Max Haley who carded a nett 69.

Brodie Hodges was runner-up with 70. Denis Culley dominated the C-Grade and the day with a 67 nett. Ethan Gaffney was runner-up on 69, when an ‘8’ blemished his card.

The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count back, going to: 67 – D Culley; 69 – E Gaffney, M Haley; 70 – B Hodges, D Bayley, R Nixon; 71 – B Thomas, P Cowhan, B Squires, P Grayson; 72 – S French; 73 – C Alley, P Tisdell, R Borger, B Hazell, I Bown; 74 B Slack-Smith.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – C Alley; 18th – T Callaghan.

The Sunday Stableford Medley had a small following, where the winner was Peter Grayson, who managed to wrangle 35 points. There was no runner-up or ball sweep.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – P Grayson, signed off by Ethel Coombs, and Ethel got the NTP on the 18th, signed off by Peter.

By Short Putt