Saving Private Ryan from fear of being rundown
EXPERIENCE on a course tighter than a banker’s wallet proved helpful for a Queensland invader at the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club on Saturday.
Six-marker Simon Neil hails from the unheralded but testing neighbourhood Ashgrove layout just five clicks from the Brisbane CBD at The Gap and he returned 70 nett to take the men’s A Grade Monthly Medal sponsored by Nambucca Liquor.
Johnathon Zirkler (4 handicap) found rare time out from running the Island club as General Manager for a swish and his 71 nett secured the runner-up prize.
Strong supporter of the club, Brad Fortescue (5), swept the gross with 77.
In B Grade, Paul Ryan (16) thought he’d be run down with 67 nett but it was more than enough for the medal from runner-up Henny Oldenhove (19) on 69. Steve Frost (15), who’s been running into some form, took the gross with 86.
Heather Gray (28) saluted in C Grade with the best nett of the day in 66, one ahead of Steven Wall (30).
Eddy Penrose started his round cheerfully but came unstuck on the 5th tee when he found he couldn’t skip an object across water with the same skill as Huckleberry Finn. The red mist closed in and he declined a drop on the forward astroturf mat of shame. Further calamity ensued as he wracked up a hextruple on the short par three but dodged a moose by half-an-antler.
Gregory Smith banged in a snake on the first for the Ecomist prize pack and pins went to Paddy Byrne on 5, Darrell Flanders on 7, Neil on 8 and 15, and former club champion Greg McCoy was lasered in to collect the Pizza This Pizza That on 13 and the $75 Pro Pin on the last.
Penrith Golf Club’s Robert Connell (5) was seeing cups Cleary clearly to post 40 points and win the Dolphin Day embroidered brag shirt in the medley stableford presented by Toyota Genuine Service on Thursday 30 July.
Connell had 13 pars and back-to-back birds on 4 and 5 for a very tidy 70 off the stick.
Steve Frost was again to the fore winning Div 1 with 34 points, one better than Matt Dyer (13). In Div 2, Peter Thompson (18) was onsong with 38 points to head home John Starr (22) on 36.
Deb Booth (41) secured the Div 3 dance with 36 points from runner-up Don Lavery (33) on 35.
Writing their names on the nearest the pins cards were Clinton Lavender on 5, Kerry Cooper on 7, Tristram Edwards on 8 and Connell on 15. Col Wormleaton will dine like a king after boxing the pizza on 13 and sweet-swinging Stuart Johnston collected the $90 Pro Pin on the 18th.
It was the D9 bulldozers to the fore in the single stableford on Wednesday 29 July, the event sponsored by the Scott family and doubling as a Top 10 qualifier.
Good golfers Sue Brooks (14) and Henny Oldenhove (19) don’t muck about as they plough their way past slower but happy to wave-through groups.
Brooks carded 43 spanking points for the Div 1 win in a round featuring 10 pars, a bird on 15 and 77 off the bat.
Oldenhove was runner-up with 36 points, recovering strongly after a lamentable start.
Judith Boyle (35) was too good in Div 2 with 37 points on a countback from Heather Gray (28). Robyn Jones (35) saluted in Div 3 with 37 points, one better than Lillian Lukins (34).
Jan Harris and Oldenhove shared the pins on 5, Coral McCann was closest on 13 and Lukins pursed the $42 Pro Pin on the last.
Macksville Mitre 10 stepped to the plate as sponsor of the medley stableford on Tuesday 28 July. David Bartos (20) added another chapter to his purple patch run with 36 points for the W.
Flagstick magnets were Skye Lacey on 5, Michael Tarleton on 8, Tiffany Paul on 13 and Kempsey’s Colin Habgood will hit his son up for $26 after scoring the Pro Pin on 18.
From raffles to great coffee, affordable golf on a championship layout and restaurant food with stunning views – make a beeline to The Island Golf Club.