Scone Golf Report: Feb 29

By Lyn Banks

Saturday, February 29 was a very pleasant day for golf at Scone. Forty five players headed out during the day for the 18 Hole Individual and 2B Stableford kindly sponsored by Graham Brown and Scott Shann. Some players found it a lot easier than others as they obviously located the fairway more frequently! Great work has been done on the rough during the week after the area had dried out enough to get mowers onto it. The early players had a gallery and a few friendly waves from the walkers of the Scone Bypass. Apparently the view of Scone Golf Course from the new road is sensational.

Alan Wood was the star of the day as he had the best individual score of 40 points and when combined with Steve Morse they were clear winners in the 2 Ball event. Their 47 points was three ahead of Ross Banks and Brad Hockley, and Tony O’Neill and Jeff Harrington. The individual winner was Les Cottam who had 39 points.

The NTP’s provided some excitement for those involved. Two jackpots went off, that is, shots finishing inside 1 metre resulting in the pool of balls for each hole. On the 4^th and 13^th Matt Hobbs’ shot to 0.69m got him 6 extra balls whilst Tony O’Neill’s shot to 0.64m on the 8^th and 17^th scored him the maximum of 12! Nice shots gentlemen.

In a tough day out many players got balls in the ball comp which they thought they would never get! They went to: Alan Wood 40, Les Cottam 39, Brad Hockley, Jeff Harrington 36, Julie Leckie 35, Steve Morse 33, Ross Banks, Phil McGuirk, Elric Biddulph, Charlie Wintle, Gordon Halliday, Lyn Banks, Matt Hobbs 32, George Davison, Kerry McLennan, Col Solway, David Druce 30, Stuart Dawson and Jock O’Connor 29 points on a countback from four players.

In the Summer Shield, which is the best three stableford scores out of four rounds, George Davidson had rounds of 36, 36 and 39 to finish on 111. He edged out George Campbell and Jake Teague who both finished on 110.

On Saturday, March 7 an 18 Hole Stroke / Stableford round will be played from the blue tees for the Scone RSL Group Monthly Mug. Entries for the Kevans Knockout have been extended until March 7 with the first 64 players to nominate being included in the draw. The first round is to be completed by April 4.

In the Hunter River District Pennants on Sunday, March 1, the Senior team again had a long trip this time to Dungog for the final round of the series against Kurri. Unfortunately they missed out on the semi-finals after going down 2 and ½ to a ½, finishing third in their group. Charlie Wintle and Col Solway squared their match but Charlie Manning & Red Palmer and Steve Morse & David Druce suffered losses.

In round 5 of the A Grade competition Scone lost to The Vintage at Branxton 3/2. The number 1 and 2 players both had good wins, Mac Dawson 2 up and Matt O’Donnell 5 and 4. Brenan Reeves, Matt Hobbs and Mick Alsleben however found their opponents too strong. On Sunday March 8 Scone play Cypress Lakes at Singleton.​

In the ladies Hunter River District Pennant round 1 on Monday, March 2, Scone will play Muswellbrook at Cypress Lakes. The team consists of Lyn Banks and Julie Leckie who will play the scratch matches, whilst the other four players of Dordie Bragg, Jodie Hinde, Cheryl Clydsdale and Annie Woods will contest the handicap matches.

It was a cool and overcast start to golf on Thursday, February 27 at Scone for the ladies 18 Hole Stableford. Most of the players found the going very difficult especially if they were off the fairway. The winner and runner up prizes were kindly sponsored by Skin and Beauty by Kylie. Lyn Banks had a great round in the conditions to have 35 points and win the day from Runner Up Julie Leckie who had 28 points. Ball winners were Lyn Banks 35, Julie Leckie 28, Dordie Bragg, Jodie Hinde 26, Marie Murray 25 and Narelle Rutter 23 points.

Next Thursday, March 5, the ladies play the first Monthly Medal round sponsored by Melanie’s Jewellers. It will also be the first round of the Golf NSW Medal which is contested in divisions and involves the best three out of six nett scores during the scheduled rounds.