Once again the annual Forbes Classic, sponsored by Frank Spice Nissan, was a success with over 150 players competing on each day of the weekend. Players from 37 clubs participated, with some coming from Queensland and West Australia to enjoy the course.

The crowning glory was the win by local player Peter Nixon, the defending champion from 2017’s event. Peter finished the Individual A-Grade Stroke event, held on Sunday, with 71 scratch, skipping ahead of another local Steve Betland (72) and Graham Howland (73) from Dunheved GC in Sydney. Peter turned square with the card and finished his round with a ‘2’ on the last hole.

The B-Grade Scratch winner was Josh Coulthurst (Forbes) who blistered around in 81, off an 18 handicap. He was three shots ahead of Ken Sanderson and Scott Kirkman, both from Forbes. The C-Grade Scratch winner was Tony Stevens (89) from Palm Meadows, near Surfer’s Paradise in Queensland. Runner-up was our own Bruce Squires on 93.

Prizes were awarded to Handicap and Stableford winners and runners-up, as well as the popular NTP’s and Long drives. Peter McDade (Lismore) nearly had the perfect shot on the 9th when his ball finished only inches from the hole.

On Saturday the Classic comp was a 4BBB Stableford. The winners there were Peter Sinclair (Nelson Bays) and Keith McCulloch (Riverside Oaks) with 48 points. Runnersup, sadly on count back, were Phil Duke (Forbes) and Tim O’Malley (Tumut). The full prize list is available in the Pro Shop.

Generally though, Forbes players had success at the top of the grades while many of the visitors scored better than the locals through the body of the grades. All players enjoyed the course and the greens, with acknowledgement to Jack and Darren Clarke and the volunteers who got the course ready.

By Short Putt

Last weekend was the November Monthly Medal, sponsored by Jelbarts Tyrepower, contested by a field of 46 players.

The A-Grade players were really good, with Todd Callaghan declared the winner after his round of 66 nett. Runner-up was Digit McAuliffe with an impressive 69.

The B-Grade contest was close, with Doug Churchill producing a 69 nett to finish ahead of Paul Kay on 70 nett. The C-Graders also did well, where Frank Donohoe led the way with a 70 nett, ahead of Richard Smith on 72 nett.

The ball sweep went to 73 nett, going to: 66 – T Callaghan; 69 – D McAuliffe, D Churchill; 70 – P Kay, F Donohoe; 71 – N McMillan, A McDonald; 72 – W Judge, S Kirkman, R Smith; 73 – P Nixon, B Slack-Smith. The NTP’s went to: 9th – T Callaghan; 18th – S Sallaway.

On Sunday there was a charity day to aid the Currajong Disability Services. This had players from Parkes, Condobolin and Forbes, with many Forbes businesses donating prizes.

The field comprised 56 players making teams for the 3-person Ambrose. The nongolfer teams played 9-holes while the golfer teams played 18-holes.

Prizes were awarded for scratch and handicap scores for the 9-hole and 18-hole players, as well as for NTP’s. The major winners were:

• 9-Hole Scratch winner – M, J and S McGlashen 36 on c/b

• 9-Hole Nett winner – N Hamilton, N Hamilton, M Ruskiss 31.5 nett

• 18-hole Scratch winner – J Kemp, F Latu, M Wood with 65 on count back

• 18-hole Nett winner – J Cutler, G Hooper, T Callaghan 57 nett

By Short Putt

The Men’s Individual Stableford on Saturday, sponsored by a franchise of Grayson, Earl, French and Haley was contested by a smaller field of 50 players but did not lack in hot scoring.

In the A-Division, Phil Duke and Laurie O’Connor both finished on 40 points, with Phil Duke declared the winner on count back. The B-Division was hotter still, with Bede Tooth producing a scorching 46 points and well ahead of runner-up Steve Grallelis on 42.

The ball sweep went to 37 points on count back, going to: 46 – B Tooth; 42 – S Grallelis; 40 – P Duke, L O’Connor, F Donohoe; 39 – A Rees, D Rhodes, T Callaghan; 38 – D Bernardi, B Parker and 37 – R Smith, B Carpenter.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – P Kay; 18th – B Carpenter, where only Bruce converted for a ‘2’. We extend a warm welcome to a new arrival in Forbes, Royce Rutland. He enjoyed his golf but still could not finish without a ‘miss’.

Bob Borger played the shot of the day. His drive on the 11th was so low that it hit the Ladies tee marker in front of him, bounced skywards and only just made the mown fairway.

In Sunday’s Stableford Medley, a small group battled for the honours. The winner was Robert Hey (Parkes) with 40 points, closely followed by Greg Webb on 39 points. The NTP’s went to: 9th – R Hey; 18th – nil. Alas, not a ‘2’ in sight.

Forbes golfer, Digit McAulliffe competed in the NSW Senior Open, held at Thurgoona Club, in Albury. His day 1 score of 76 was quite competitive but his day 2 was ten shots worse, where his 86 dropped him back in the field.

Forbes welcomes its new Golf Pro, Ben Gear, due to start on 26th November. He shall be here to ‘meet and greet’ players during the Nissan Classic.

By Short Putt

The October Monthly Medal, sponsored by Forbes Concrete, was played on Saturday, 6th October with the field of 77 relishing the chance to earn themselves a medal.

The A-Grade winner was Shane Sallaway, with a fine 68 nett. He turned in 38 and then produced a blistering 34 on the back-9 to ensure a great score. Runner-up was Andy Dukes with a nett 70. He too had 38 on the front-9 but then his concentration faltered on the back-9.

The B-Grade winner was Stephen Uphill with a nett 70. His front-9 was ‘easy as’ but the back-9 was a stumble. Mark Watts finished runner-up with a tidy 72 nett. The C-Grader’s saw a tight battle separated by count back. Bruce Chandler managed a nett 73 after a scattered scoring start, and got the nod ahead of Frank Hanns.

The ball sweep went to 75 nett on count back, going to: 68 – S Sallaway; 70 – A Dukes, S Uphill; 72 – M Watts; 73 – P Owen, B Chandler, T Morgan, G Pymont, F Hanns; 74 – B Ashton, D McAuliffe, K Herbert, D Bayley, B Parker, J Coulthurst, P Kay; 75 – M Collits, I Bown, T Griffiths, G Webb and E Gaffney. The NTP’s went to: 9th – D Bayley; 18th – S Sallaway.

The visitors participating included Lee Grierson, John Boyle (Tathra Beach), Peter Owen and David Carmody (both Maroochy River). They enjoyed their time here.

Once again there were ‘if only’ moments. If only Brad Ashton had not scored a triple- bogey, or Lee Grierson had not had a mixed scoring game they may have been winners.

The Stableford Medley on Sunday, 7th October had a good field, with Ray Taylor the winner on 40 points. Runner-up was Julie Hurkett with 39 points.

There was no ball sweep. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Jill Cripps, and 18th – Richard Smith.

The Wallace Cup has reached the semis with matches being: Ash Tucker vs Neil Mc- Millan and Stephen Uphill vs Niel Duncan. The Men’s Club Championships began last weekend and will be played over two weekends combining four rounds of play. On Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st October the club champs continue. Players are reminded that there will be a seeded draw for the top eight in each grade for Sunday’s play.

There are daily prizes (sponsored by Pool Magic) and the big prize at the end (sponsored by Lachlan Commodities), so do not despair if your first game is a shocker.

Players are advised that the course will revert to the local ‘Play the Lie’ rule. The course condition has improved sufficiently to allow a return to our normal local rule.

By Short Putt