Around the greens

BLUSTRY conditions and packed fields made for a lively stretch of competition across the region’s courses, with strong scores and standout moments emerging from Curlewis, Anglesea and Torquay.

At Curlewis, the club’s annual US Masters 2 Person Ambrose on Saturday 11 April delivered a testing setup, with challenging pin placements and back tees paired with winds gusting to 50km/h.

Russell Taylor and Paul O’Leary claimed the overall honours with a score of 63.75, narrowly holding off Cam and Ben Bowers, who surged late with seven birdies to finish just one stroke back on 64.5.

Greg and Heather Bishop took out the mixed/women’s event, finishing two shots clear of Will and Coral Priestly.

A day earlier on Friday 10 April, Curlewis hosted women’s pennant divisions 3 and 4, highlighted by a hole in one from 13th Beach member Helen Larkin during matchplay.

Despite the ace, her opponent Sally Schaller (Ocean Grove) fought back to halve the match on the 18th. Strong scoring followed the club’s autumn greens renovation, with Leigh Edsell producing the best individual round of the week, posting 41 on Wednesday 8 April.

At Anglesea, Wednesday 8 April featured a men’s Stableford competition, with Philip Morgan (13) winning A-grade on 38 points.

Michael Harms (17) and Gerry Canty (32) topped B- and C-grades respectively, both with 39 points, while balls ran down the line to 34 points on countback. Nearest-the-pin winners were Bradley Langford (3rd), Peter Caulfield (6th), John Somerset (13th) and Jarryd McGuane (16th jackpot).

Thursday 9 April saw the women’s Stableford, with Ro Lockyer (14) winning A-grade on 40 points. Heather Jillard (27) claimed B-grade on 39 points on countback and Alanna Boston (44) took C-grade with 42 points. Balls extended to 36 points on countback, with nearest-the-pin honours to Anne Larkin (3rd), Jackie Pearce (6th jackpot), Stewart Elly (13th) and Jane Cotter (16th).

Saturday 11 April combined monthly medal and Stableford play.

Frank Care (9) won the medal with 72, while Tony Speed (4), Paul Hermann (19) and Ian Nancarrow (22) claimed A-, B- and C-grade stroke wins. Stableford honours went to Tom Steven (10) with 39 points in A-grade, Malcolm Steel (20) with 40 points in B-grade and John Macaulay (22) with 38 points in C-grade, with Kitty O’Connor (45) winning the women’s event on 37 points.

Nearest-the-pin winners included Sam Chisolm (3rd), Jarryd McGuane (6th), Brent McDonald (13th) and Malcolm Steel (16th jackpot).

Sunday 12 April’s Par competition saw Craig Daffy (13) win A-grade on +4, Angus Daffy (18) take B-grade on +1 and Jack Nancarrow (27) claim C-grade with +4. Sue Caldwell (43) won the women’s event on +2, with balls to -1 on countback. Nearest-the-pin winners were Dominic Melville-Thompson (3rd), Andrew Daffy (6th), Angus Daffy (13th jackpot) and Peter Gowans (16th).

Torquay’s weekly program produced a steady run of strong performances across multiple formats.

On Monday 6 April, Fred Hansen (15) won A-grade with 38 points, while Neil Henderson (31) impressed with 42 points in B-grade. Lucy Lewis (28) topped the women’s field with 41 points.

Tuesday 7 April featured women’s stroke and Stableford play, with Nicky Bingham (22) winning stroke on 72 and Gail Rooney (31) taking the resort Stableford with 35 points.

Wednesday 8 April delivered one of the best rounds of the week, with Tim Sinnott (7) posting 42 points in A-grade, matched by Carl Anderson (21) in D-grade.

Jason Bannister (10) won Thursday 9 April’s men’s Stableford with 37 points, while Jo Johnson (48) claimed the women’s event with 38.

Friday 10 April saw Brian Baranski (10) win A Grade with 36 points and Bruno Tassone (17) edge B-grade on countback.

Saturday 11 April’s stroke competitions produced low scores, with Murray Bingham (6) winning A-grade on 70 and Les Norman (16) taking B-grade on 69, alongside multiple eagles across the field.

Inge Oliver (20) led the women’s stroke with 73.

The week closed on Sunday 12 April with standout scoring, including Sam Ford’s (17) impressive 47 points in B-grade, while Jon O’Neill (5) secured A-grade with 37. Kerri Valle (35) won the women’s event on 38 points, capping off a high-scoring and competitive week across the region.