EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas, they say, and American Ray ‘Houston’ Baker drove that message home when he whaled the field at the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Course.
The 27-marker had 38 points with daylight second in the Nambucca RSL Dolphin Day medley stableford on Thursday, 24 April.
That saw Baker collect the vaunted Dolphin Day shirt as he finished three points clear of the chasing pack.
Jeramy Ashman (13 handicap) took out Div 1 on 35 points ahead of Troy Herbert (3) on 34.
In Div 2, Paul Reid (22) saluted on 34 points, two better than Michael Hart (24).
Reid also claimed the Ecomist longest putt on the first, while Ashman scooped the pin on 5, Martin Turner on 7, and Graham Watson on 15. Glen Crow won the Pizza This Pizza That voucher on 13 and Colin Wormleaton snaffled the pins on 8 and 18, the latter a $55 payday.
On Saturday, 26 April, it was more than moist which played to the cards of fabled mud-runner Chris Knight (11) who posted 12 pars and a birdie to win the Valla Tavern medley par which doubled as the third qualifying round of the Nambucca Skins.
Knight’s 75 off the stick gave him plus-5 for the day, three clear of Sawtell’s Alistair Lane (21). Peter Farrell (5) was the only other player to better his handicap, finishing on plus-1.
Dylan Mann won the pizza on 13 and the pin on 15, with birds on both. Colin Wormleaton smacked it close on 7 while Knight took the pin on 8 and Phillip Frost collected $33 for the Pro Pin on the last.
Bonville’s Susan McWilliam (16) squeaked home to win the Div 1 women’s monthly medal on Wednesday, 23 April, with 75 nett.
The round was also a Golf NSW Medal qualifier for the singles matchplay.
In Div 2, Marilyn McNally (25) reigned supreme with 76 nett, and that total was also enough for Fiona Chaffey to claim Div 3.
Pins on the 8th were won by Deidre Fletcher, Gillian Anderson and Chaffey, with Maxine Townsend pocketing the 13th.
Gross prizes went to McWilliam, McNally and Chaffey, while McWilliam made a day of it to win the putting with just 27 strokes from the flat stick.
Stephen Kimber (19) clocked 37 points to win on countback in the Valla Tavern medley stableford on Tuesday, 22 April, from Kempsey’s Matthew Brennan (9).
Brennan also collected the pins on 5 and 7, while Kevin Mulhall took the 8th and $45 Pro Pin, and Norman Devereaux the 15th.
Stuart Johnson was all amore after scoring a piece of pizza pie on the 13th.
Despite the wet week, a strong and buoyant field enjoyed the second rendition of the NIV Golf ambrose tournament at The Island on ANZAC Day, replete with a party hole and live Facebook stream by the Mann for all occasions.
Meanwhile, Dennis Ashton, Craig Haworth, Geoff McCann, Adrienne Smith and Graham Watson are heading to the Gold Coast (7-11 May) for the Handiskins National Final.
More than $20,000 in prizes and giveaways is on the table – and a further $20k for an ace in a hole sponsored by Peter Lehmann Wines and Staminade.
The gala event is being hosted by the testing Lakelands (a signature course of the OG GOAT Jack Nicklaus) and Palm Meadows clubs.
The Island’s Div 2 and 4 teams in the men’s Mid North Coast pennant competition were washed out from action at home on Sunday, 27 April. The Div 3 side was away at Coffs Harbour and secured an important 3.5 to 1.5 victory.
With one round to go the club’s Div 2 side is trussed and stuffed but on the board with a squared match, Div 3 is chasing hard and the Div 4 lads are finals-bound.
Catchya on The Island if the river doesn’t grab you first.
By Chris KNIGHT
