Scone Golf Report: September 30

By Lyn Banks

SCONE ladies win the Muswellbrook v Scone Interclub Challenge

It was another huge week of golf for Scone Golf Club hosting the ladies interclub challenge with Muswellbrook on Thursday, a memorial day for Jason Whitehead on Saturday, and the Men’s Foursomes Championships on Sunday. In total 98 competition players, which included 15 visitors, enjoyed the course and the companionship that the game provides.

Twenty ladies enjoyed a great day on Thursday, September 26 playing for the Jason Taylor Interclub Challenge Trophy between Scone and Muswellbrook.  This was the second leg of the challenge with Scone narrowly going down to Muswellbrook in the first round conducted at Muswellbrook Golf Course earlier in the year. The return challenge took place in perfect weather conditions with the course in pristine condition. It appears the weather and the course brought out the best in many of the players with both locals and visitors producing some fabulous individual Stableford scores. Cheryl Clydsdale had an impressive 43 points narrowly beating Noreen Marshall who also played her best round this year scoring 42 points. Both these scores were a terrific help in the interclub results.  

Scone managed 183 points in Round One and 229 points in Round Two for their best six cards, giving them a combined total score of 412 points. Muswellbrook scored an aggregate Stableford of 192 points in Round One and 215 points in Round Two for their best six cards in each round, their final total combined score was 407 points. This resulted in Scone having the honour of winning the inaugural Jason Taylor Interclub Trophy. The new venture has fostered friendly rivalry in the Upper Hunter and we look forward to its continued success.

All prizes were sponsored by Jason and extra nearest the pins and long drives were on offer. The NTP for Division One on the 8^th hole was won by Kim Robinson from Muswellbrook who also took out the Longest Drive for Division 1 on the 9^th. The Division 2 winner of Nearest the Pin on the 13^th was Judy Carmody and the Longest Drive on the 9^th went to Sarah Howey. Ball winners were Pam Minch (M) 39, Helen Keaton (M), Kim Robinson (M) 38, Dordie Bragg 37, Jodie Hinde, Pauline Ramke (M), Julie Leckie 36, Pam Manning 35, Annie Woods and Beryl Taylor (M) 34 points.

In other results Julie Leckie won the The Thoroughbred Trophy for the Best Two of Three Stableford Rounds with a combined score of 73 points, with Runner Up Jodie Hinde scoring 70 points. Our kind thanks to The Thoroughbred Bakery Bar and Restaurant for their generous sponsorship of this trophy.

On Thursday, October 3 the Scone ladies will play an 18 Hole Stroke / Stableford event for the 6^th Monthly Medal sponsored by Melanie’s Jewellers, and it will also be also the 6^th Golf NSW Medal round. Added incentive is the Count Your Putts Wine O’Clock Trophy sponsored by Julie Leckie.

On Saturday, September 28, The Jason Whitehead Memorial Day was held for the Whitehead Family Trophy supported by The Happy Tooth. The 18 Hole 2 Ball Stableford Multiplier and Individual Stableford had a field of 50 players. The winners of the multiplier were Andrew Clydsdale, who is making a return to the game, and new member Josh Whale, who had 74 points together. Scoring on the day was difficult due to strong wind in the afternoon and all the pins being in tricky places. The grade winners were A Grade Matt Hobbs 34 points, B Grade Garry Carter 38 points and C Grade Robert Ryan from Aberdeen on 34 points. Amongst the highlights for the day was an eagle by Clayton Rogers on the Par 5 2^nd hole. On the wind assisted hole, Clayton’s 9 iron second shot from 145 metres finished inside a metre to make his day! Gordon Halliday won the NTP on the 4^th /13^th, whilst James Smart won the 8^th /17^th. Balls went to Paul Smart 36, Ray Langdon 35 (Singleton GC), Stuart Dawson 34, Alan Wood, Clayton Rogers, Graham White, Colin Solway, John Marlow (Karuah GC), Wayne Hedley and Les Cottam on a countback, all on 32 points.

It was also Round 2 of the RJ Lowrie Cup played over 2 Stableford rounds.  The winner was Matt Hobbs with 73 points on a countback from Tony Pringle.

On Sunday, September 29, the men had their turn at the Foursomes Championships. Contested in 3 grades 28 players supported the event. In A Grade, brothers Matt and Will O’Donnell teamed up to score 75 and win the championship from brothers James and Justin Smart on 76. In B Grade, Tony O’Neill and Alan Wood on 86 were 3 shots ahead of Glen Tarrant and Wayne Hedley, whilst in C Grade Les Cottam and Kevin Thompson on 104 had a 2 shot win over George Campbell and Col Solway.

James and Justin Smart were winners of the nett event on 70. They were one shot ahead of Mick Alsleben and Ross Banks, and Tony O’Neill and Alan Wood on 71, with Matt and Will O’Donnell on 71½, these three pairs being ball winners.

In coming events, on Saturday, October 5 an 18 Hole Stroke / Stableford will be played for the Scone RSL Group Monthly Mug. The men’s Club Championships are approaching with rounds 1 & 2 on October 19 and 20, and rounds 3 & 4 on October 26 and 27. The ladies Scone Open will be played on Thursday October 17 and the Hunter River District ladies annual playoff will be held at Scone on October 25.