Around the Greens

CLEAR skies and calm conditions helped deliver one of the strongest weeks of scoring across the region this season, with big fields and standout individual performances at Curlewis, Anglesea, The Sands and Torquay.

At Curlewis, a stretch of ideal autumn weather followed a rain-affected March, creating prime conditions that drew 668 competition rounds across five member events and three open competitions.

Saturday 25 April attracted a field of 167 players in stroke, while Wednesday’s 4BBB drew an impressive 153 men.

Two standout rounds headlined the week. Steve Daniel produced 45 points in the Wednesday 22 April pairs event, playing off a six handicap for a 68 off the stick to secure victory.

Deyen Lawson delivered a remarkable front nine featuring two eagles and four birdies to be eight under through nine, finishing with a 64.

In the women’s competitions, Gill Morrison (Monday 20 April) and Sue Morgan (Thursday 23 April) both posted 40 points to win. The club’s hole-in-one jackpot continues to build past $300.

Anglesea’s week began with a men’s fourball par on Wednesday 22 April, where Paul Hampshire and Paul Waldren combined for +16 to win, ahead of David Griffiths and Greg Aimers on +13.

Nearest-the-pin winners were Peter Lynch (3rd), Mark Huglin (6th), Andrew Balazs (13th) and Nevill Henderson (16th jackpot).

Thursday 16 April’s women’s modified stableford produced a close finish, with Jo Murray, Sue Guiness, Julie Barr and Libby Day winning on 105 points.

Denise Pennings, Vicki Lloyd, Sue Gell and Michelle Shaw were runners-up on 102 points on countback. Highlights included a hole-in-one from Helen Amor on the 3rd.

Saturday 25 April’s monthly stableford saw Jim Dickson (15) win B-grade with 40 points, while John Alfano (14) took A-grade on 38 points on countback and Rick Pearson (22) won C-grade with 36. Marg McCarthy (34) won the women’s event with 39 points.

At The Sands, consistent scoring featured across the week. Monday 20 April’s medley stableford was won by Michael Miller (29) with 39 points, while Craig McShane (8) led Wednesday 22 April’s A Grade Par with +2. Thursday’s women’s stableford produced the best score of the week, with Sandra Settle (27) posting 46 points.

Saturday 25 April saw tight contests in the men’s stableford, with Brian Kruger (9) and Bill Mitchell (11) winning their grades on countback, while Michelle Bain (37) claimed the women’s event with 37 points. Sunday’s four-person Ambrose was won by Mike Fleming, Simon Piasente, Gavin Saunders and Phil O’Brien with 56.75.

Torquay’s weekly competitions again produced strong scoring. Cary Callaby (28) won Monday 20 April’s medley stableford with 40 points, while Wednesday saw Anthony McKenzie (13) post 44 points in B-grade and James Deans (8) win A-grade with 42.

Aaron Mucey (11) won Thursday 23 April’s stableford with 40 points, while Carolyn Anderson (39) led the women with 42. Friday’s par event saw John Nestor (26) produce +6 in B-grade, with Erin Blackley (36) winning the women’s competition on +1.

Anzac Day competition on Saturday 25 April featured the Gordon Hepburn Memorial Trophy, won by Sam Colman (19), while David Fischer-Mills (22) and Nicky Quinlan (43) led the Legacy Day events. The week closed on Sunday 26 April with Fiona Tait (35) posting 45 points to win the women’s event, alongside Joe Cengic’s (14) 42 points in B-grade and Jack Heathcote’s (4) 38 in A-grade.