As we reach the (hopefully) halfway point of this latest (forced) hibernation, and binge watch 14 hour broadcasts of The Open, I realise we have been remiss with some recent updates.

 

Firstly:

 

 

Hearty congratulations to the 2021 Foursomes Champions, Jas Kooner and Darren Kershaw, with rounds of 79 and 80 to finish on 159,  6 shots clear of the nearest rivals. It looked as though the may have had some competition from Thabo and Calvin, but that pretty much fizzled out with a 9 on the 6th hole after putting two balls, and very nearly a third, out of bounds off the tee.

Dark horses Jack Leonello and Codin Cretu-Petra snuck quietly into second place with some solid, if at times way too chatty, golf.

 

The battle for the Nett Championship was a closer affair, with early leaders on (nett) 71 Neil “Potato Cakes” McGlinchey and Tony Evans. Sitting second, only 1 back, was the pairing of Jason Mullin and Ashley Crawford. A number of pairs were within 8 shots of the lead, and could close the gap with a solid second round, including Jack & Codin on 74, Minh and Brian Hou on 74.5, Rob Para and ‘Big D’ Denis Bonin on 74.5, ‘The Last Boy Scout’ David Morley and Rod ‘Biggles’ Heideman on 76 and Mark Bernhardt and Martin Pearce on 76.5.

 

As the round results came in Dave and Rod carded a solid 75, Rob and Denis fell back with a 79.5, defending champions Dale and Stuart but made a late (but all too late) charge with a 73, Minh and Brian returned a 76, and Mark and Martin took the early clubhouse lead with a second round 71.5.  All were anxiously waiting for the final groups, with the first round front runners Neil & Tony and Jason & Ash, to come in. The proshop staff grew concerned when the final group were not sighted on the 18th and the light was beginnjng to fade and a search party was hastily organised. Eventually, they were sighted on the last – nearly 1½ hours after the 2nd last group had finished.

 

Jason & Ash had failed to back up their 1st round heroics as they crumbled under the weight of expectation – raising the bat and tumbling down the leader board. Neil & Tony put together a pretty solid 2nd round, but after falling nearly 6 holes behind the previous group, the last group were all assessed a one stroke penalty, under Rule 5.6a.

 

The final placings s asq w Mark Bernhardt and Martin Pearce winning with a total of 148, with Neil and Tony 148.5, Jack and Codin 149, Minh and Brian 150.5 and David and Rod 151.

 

Congratulations to 2021 Nett Foursomes champions Mark Bernhardt and Martin Pearce.

 

 

This year saw the inaugural Winter Challenge, initially planned for 3 stableford rounds across the 3 different courses, gold, blue and white.

 

As the result of Covid impacts upon the syllabus, and to minimise the organisation and coordination required it was held on the gold course only this year.

 

After 2 rounds there were only 2 stand out front runners Gilbert Lamoureux with rounds of 36 & 37 Ferdi Cokelek with rounds of 37 & 35.

 

Gilbert held his form, with a final round 36 for a total 108,  while Ferdi failed to score on 2 par 3s (5&12) to fall short on 32 points, total 104.

 

In an event designed to test one’s ability to play sustained, consistent golf, Gilbert proved that all that practice does make perfect. Well done to the 2021 Winter Challenge winner Gilbert Lamoureux.