LIKE a good cattle stud, genetic selection leads to steady improvement, and this was on show as the latest addition to the Herbert squad charged at the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Course on the long weekend.
Fifteen-year-old Maddox ‘The Ox’ Herbert went on a bull run with 80 stableford points to win Div 3 of the Good Time Charlie’s Cup over 36 holes on Sunday and Monday.
Playing off a handy but no longer 44 handicap, The Ox carded scores of 36 and 44 points, seven clear of runner-up Philip Woodgate (19 handicap).
Karl Fitzgerald (29) placed third on 69 and Garry Gordon (27) fourth on 67 in a Nambucca-wash of the podium.
Liz Hobday (11) won the women’s off scratch stableford with 45 points from runner-up Deidre Fletcher (also 11) on 40.
36-hole nett winners pocketing big coin thanks to Nathan Ison’s sponsorship were Louise Ainsworth (32) on 68, and Tricia Ziebell (27) on 67 on countback from Di O’Leary (16).
Grafton’s Sebastion Cox (2) was on song with rounds of 76 and 69 to win the Vardon event best gross in Div 1 and the Cup, two ahead of runner-up, Horizons’ Steven Slappendel (+1).
In the nett the spoils were claimed by smiling assassin Ken Klem (9) on 137 ahead of Peter Sheridan (10) on 141 and Darrell Flanders (10) on 144.
Yappy but always friendly Dave Rosser (19) was well in the hunt after leading Div 3 through the first day on 37 points before fading on the Monday after sustaining a flesh wound in the mangroves – but in play – on the 14th.
Returning prodigal son, Ashton Herbert, in the big boys’ grade, remarked he was hitting it solid (true), just not quite on line (also true), as he played his third on the 17th from the fringe of the 10th green. That iron rocket went out the back of the 17th so, yes, just a little bit of power on call.
The Good Time Charlie’s event saw a festival-like vibe on Sunday with the punters packing the new beer garden barbecue tables on the banks of the river.
Sandbaggers of Oz Inc. Supremo Colin ‘Wormo’ Wormleaton (9 – there needs to be an investigation) had a one under nett 68 to win the Nambucca Liquor Monthly Medal A Grade stroke competition on Saturday by a shot from Club Champion Graham Watson (6).
A dry and running course and bullish nor’easter made low scoring difficult.
Peter Farrell (6) won the gross with 76.
In B Grade, Geoff Harris (19) manhandled the medal with 68 nett, three clear of runner-up Steve ‘The Iceman’ Frost (14), while Garry Johnstone (15) scored the gross with 87.
Paul McElhinney (23) had the best nett of the day with 67 to claim C Grade, two ahead of Bruce Wilson (22), and Robert Coneybeare (22) the gross with 95.
Daniel Wren zipped the longest putt on the first for the Ecomist prize pack and pins went to Chris Lucas on 5, Watson on 7, Ashton Herbert on 8 and Bryce McCarroll on 15. Wren double-dipped Seinfeld-style, winning the Pizza This Pizza That on 13 and Phillip Frost banked the $50 Pro Pin on the last.
Ball punisher Brodie Johnston can send it close to 300 when things go right, but his 23 handicap is a red flag for inconsistency. After nailing drives on 14 and 17, the excavator operator dug himself a huge hole on the last – a hosel-rocket tee shot into his golf cart ricocheted back, finishing in play on the edge of the causeway on his way to a quad.
Business tycoon Nathan Ison through his Good Time Charlie’s Bowra Street operation sponsored the medley stableford on Thursday 1 October when Wormo was again too virile, taking Div 1 with 39 points from Peter Bush (17) on 38.
Odin Jolly (45) was on fire with 44 points to take Div 2 from Neil Duffus (23) on 39.
An emerging junior for Nambucca, Odin had 48 off the stick round the front including pars on 5 and 7.
Dave Rosser sunk the longest danger noodle on the 1st and pins went to Geoff Goesch on 5, Michael Jolly on 7, John Fortescue on 8 and Drew Glasson on 15. Urpo Ylinen can look forward to one of Steve Ward’s finest after doughing it close on 13 and Stuart Bracken has $80 in his kick courtesy of the Pro Pin on the last.
Shayne Scott’s (41) rich run of form continued on Wednesday 30 September when she carded 40 points to win Div 2 while Thea Kimber (25) had a stellar 38 points for the Div 1 honour.
Susan Barnett pestered the pin on 5, Kerrie Eichorn on 13 and Kimber on the last for the $33 Pro Pin.
Thomas Wattison (14) headed home a small field in the Nambucca Smash Repairs stableford on Tuesday 29 September. 36 points was enough for the triumph. Wattison had eight pars and 40 off the stick in the homeward run which is a good indicator of even brighter things ahead.
Catchya on The Island where the all-ages entertainment is always on tap – from fine dining and coffee inside to carefree hydration on the river deck and party tables on the bank.
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