By Casey O'Connor
With no rain recorded on the Warwick Golf course for a couple of weeks now the course has dried out and firmed up considerably just in time for the Downs and South Western District Ladies Championship. Players are benefiting from some welcome run on the fairways.
The improved playing conditions have been reflected on the score cards and in last Saturday’s Monthly Medal event almost half the field of 23 played to, or below their handicap.
In Division One Gwen Mills returned 70 nett to win that Medal and the Condamine Club voucher.
In Division Two, Anne Lyons scored an excellent 71 nett.
Danielle Seibel was runner-up in Division One but not before surviving a four-way countback to clinch the voucher ahead of Judy Lester, Mel McLennan and Sam Hinze, all with scores of 72 nett.
Wendy Rhea returned 72 nett and was runner up in Division Two.
The 72 nett players each received a ball in the run-down as did Kath Devereux with the best of the 73’s.
Putting trophies were won by Melanie McLennan (28 putts) and Anne Lyons (30 putts).
Mel McLennan also had the Pro Pin on the 16thwith minor prizes to Gwen, Sam and Vonnie Pinington.
Danielle Seibell scored a rate eagle on the 15th.
She set it up with a sensational shot off her three wood to the fringe of the green for two and then a ‘gobble’ into the hole.
In another eye catching performance, Sam Hinze hit her tee shot on the 13th to within a foot of the hole for the easiest of birdies.
Ladies are reminded to check their Pro Shop balance on the 1Golf site.
The nine hole competition attracted only three players.
Jan Aspinall (14points) won the voucher after a countback from Lois Wilson (14 pts).
Scores were as follows: Div. 1: J Barnes (74), M Adcock (75), A Cox (80), A Payne (82), M Scotney and L Cockram (83).
Div. 2: Y Pinington and V Bennett (73), D Macdonald (75), T Ingall (79), D Evans (81), L Carey (83), J Davis (84), M Wright (87), L Weatherly (91) . Nine holes: G Watts (10pts).
On Wednesday the 11 August, 21 players took out cards in the Coffee Club sponsored single Stableford.
Di Evans enjoyed a return to form carding 35pts to edge out runner-up Janine Stewart after a countback and claimed the Coffee Club voucher.
Janet Davis played her best golf for some time to be in the ball run-down with 34pts.
Vicki Bennett also returned 34pts and along with Annice Payne and Dian Macdonald, (33pts), won a ball credit each.
The Pro Pin on the fifth was won by Anne Lyons, with Janine, Mel McLennan and Kath Devereux taking out the minor places.
A reminder that all Pro Pin prizes now accrue as credit in the Pro Shop.
Six ladies played the nine hole event on Wednesday and the scoring was hot.
At her first start, Helen Daley won with a great score of 21 pts.
She was followed closely by playing partner Jan Byrne (19 pts).
These ladies normally play socially on a Tuesday, so it was great to welcome them to the Wednesday nine hole event.
Other scores on the day were: J Barnes, M McLennan, Y Pinington, and P Eastwell (32), K Devereux and H Olsen (31), M Young (30), J Stiff (29), W Rhea and A Lyons (28), T Bell, J Lester, D Johnston, and M Adcock (27), T Ingall (26). Nine holes: J Aspinall (16), L Wilson, G Watts, and C Abood (13).
The Ladies’ golf clinic being currently held has attracted eight players who are currently enjoying their Thursday or Sunday lessons.
Their first time out on the course this week proved a real challenge to some.
These ladies will however continue to learn and improve their skills.
Members will be asked to assist these beginners and go around the course with them.
The semi-finals for the Lane Cup were decided last weekend and the finals will be played in the near future.
In the first semi Helen Olsen and Mick Banks proved too strong for Donna Keogh and Brendon Landrigan.
The second semi was a real tussle with Danielle Seibel and Slim Eldridge paring the last hole to defeat a valiant Vicki and Terry Bennett.
The final should be an interesting matchup.
On Wednesday 25 August the August Mid-Week Medal has been scheduled.
Nine hole events will be played in conjunction with both days.
Many players have seen their handicaps blow out by several strokes during the past months, so expect to see some good scores in coming weeks.
