IT WAS everything to play for as a 30-strong women’s field took to the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Course.
The Wednesday, 30 April, event was a medley stableford, eclectic and Top 10 qualification round.
26-marker Lyn Grose bagged pars on 7, 12 and 18 to notch 35 points – the best score of the day – to take out Div 2.
That was five points clear of runner-up Judith Boyle (27 handicap).
In Div 1, Deidre Fletcher (15) carded 33 points to pip Dianne O’Leary (16) on countback.
Fletcher’s steady eddy round included six pars while O’Leary birdied the 3rd.
Nearest the pins on the 8th went to the Kerries, Eichorn and Jackson. Boyle snaffled the 13th and Glenys Thompson the $32 Pro Pin on the last.
Fletcher’s good form rolled into the following day as she took out Div 1 of the Valla Beach Tavern medley stabled with 39 points.
That was one better than Graham Watson (7) who is enjoying a purple patch not seen since pop star Prince turned himself into a symbol.
Watson had a slick 74 off the stick, including 11 pars and nothing worse than a bogey.
Barry Hinton (24) also had a big day out with 38 points to salute in Div 2, one ahead of runner-up Dennis Ashton (22).
Colin ‘Wormo’ Wormleaton orchestrated a grandstand finish with an ace on the 18th, winning the $70 Pro Pin and a trophy, Debortoli wine and a box of balls for the hole-in-one.
Stuart Johnston collected the Ecomist longest putt prize on 1, while pins went to Heath Blain on 5, Andrew Donovan on 7, Bryce McCarroll on 8 and Kai Burkinshaw on 15.
The well-named for golf circles Peter Thompson scored the Pizza This Pizza That prize on 13.
On Saturday, May 3, rain scuds and a heavy track applied the brakes to the scoring in the Nambucca Liquor men’s Monthly Medal stroke round.
Graham Weary (12) was full of his usual chirp as he terriered around in the best gross of the day, 80, for a stellar 68 nett to win A Grade.
Nathaniel Beverley (10) was next best with 70 nett while the gross prize was taken out by Graham Watson (6) with 82 off the stick.
John Morgan (16) had 79 nett to win B Grade on a countback from Peter Thompson with Phillip Frost (14) winning the gross with a dogged 95 off the bat.
C Grade also saw a dead heat – Bryce Pike (30) carded 69 nett to win on a countback from Ben Venner (27).
Christopher Lucas (21) nailed the gross with 91 shots.
Weary got the putt from afar on 1, and Watson the pins on 8 and 15. Scott Burley was closest on 5, Peter Farrell on 7, and Garry Johnstone scored the pizza voucher on 13.
Michael Reid was all agrin after nabbing the $50 Pro Pin on the last.
The Mid North Coast men’s pennant regular season came to a damp close on Sunday, 4 May.
The Last Rites were read for Nambucca’s Div 2 side with the match called off at Kempsey, while the club’s Div 3 side is also Mad Monday-bound, defeated 3-2 at The Island by South West Rocks.
Garry Johnstone capped a mighty first year in pennants with a win, while Dave Rosser and Allan O’Brien squared their matches.
Nambucca’s Div 4 side went down 4-1 away at Frederickton after a string of tight scraps. Jai Wassens got the ‘W’ for The Island after phoenixing back from five down.
The young Div 4 side is through to the finals though and are the last men standing for the club in a rain-hampered season.
Catchya on The Island if the river doesn’t grab you first.
By Chris KNIGHT
