TWO NAMES TOPS THE STANDINGS
Sixty-six starters teed off in the past week’s Sporters event in Warwick. Despite the burden of playing with “Two Names” retired plumber Cec Watts topped the standing with a score of 39 points.
Dan Bowles (38 points) got the nod for the runner’s up spot following a count back but it was crowded on that rung of the ladder. Ron Munro, Tim Plemming and Ray Dudley (all on 38 points) each had to settle for a ball each in the run down.
Also sharing in the run down were Paul Dautzenberg 37 points, Josh Manwaring and Laurie King both on 36 points. Troy Alsford, Greg Carey and visitor Steven Clare on 35 points and Garry Adcock on 34 points (c/b).
After a self-imposed injury lay off of many weeks Rob Farrell celebrated his return to golf with a win on the pro pin 13th collecting $25, Shaun Campbell picked up $15 and Mick Payne $10.
Greg Carey scored nearest the pins at the fifth and seventh; Gunter Nicklich at the 11th and Dan Bowles the 16th. Geoff Lee after hitting the pin on the 9th left himself a very short birdie putt to take the prize however that elusive “Ace” is still waiting for Geoff. That’s a tough way to miss out.
The highly anticipated Sporters Shoot Out was played on Wednesday (15/3) be sure to check the results in next week’s paper.
ANDERSON AND WATERWORTH LEAD THE WAY
Stanthorpe Golfers played a stroke event on the second Saturday of March. The competition was also the second of three rounds of play for the club’s Pike Trophy. Steve and Sandy Kay sponsored the round and provided the trophies. A good field including API social golfers in town for the weekend turned out for the round.
The rain forecast for Saturday day did not eventuate and all competitors completed their round in comfortable conditions.
There were some good results returned in the men’s event but none better than Josh Anderson’s nett 67 which took the honours. Although only new to competition golf, Josh has been playing socially for some time and the result is an indication of how well he strikes the ball.
Junior member, Hamish Adam, continued his good form to take out the runner’s position up after a countback with Nat Marano, with both players returning nett 68.
Nikki Waterworth was back in form and finished four shots clear of the field to win the Ladies event with a score of nett74. Waterworth has been very consistent of late and her score mirrored last week’s result. The runner up was Helen Jones in with nett 78.
Men’s pin shots were claimed by the winner, Josh Anderson at three, Richard Reardon at 12 and Matt Burgess at 17.
The Ladies pin at three was not claimed. Jennifer Sparkes collected at 12 and the Ladies winner Nikki held 17.
Pro-pins went to Simon Shannon at 1/10, Scott Constable at 5/14 and Mark Hendry at 9/18. The birdies nest at hole two was not won.
In the run down, a ball to Nat Marano (68), Max Hunter and, Doug Henderson (69) for the men and Lyn Ludlow and Jennifer Sparkes both with nett 79 for the ladies.
The third and final round of the Pike Trophy will be played next Saturday. Although played over three rounds, only the best two rounds of each player will be used to find the winner. As in previous years, those players who have a good score on the board already are most likely to take the honours however those players who may have had a tardy start have one more round to figure in the final result.
This Saturday (18/3) is another stroke round, the final for the Pike Trophy. The sponsor is club member, Mark McCosker, who is also offering the Nuffield Cup for the winner. There is a Time sheet for the event is on the board.
RAIN CAUSES CANCELLATION
The forecast heavy rain arrived in Stanthorpe on Sunday and caused the cancellation of the Sporters annual Maureen Bates Memorial Day.
A date for the rescheduled event has not yet been released.
Regular Sporters will be hoping for kinder conditions this Sunday. Tee off is now at 8.30am and everyone is welcome to join the regulars for the nine-hole hit.
LUDLOW WINS MIDWEEK
Only a small field played the ladies single Stableford mid-week round in Stanthorpe last week. Lynette Ludlow returned 33 points and claimed a win in the competition. Helen Jones was runner up with 30 points. Linda Kelly won the pin shots at the 12th and 5/14th. Lyn Ludlow won the pin shot at the 17th.
MALLET PLAYERS IN WARWICK FOR FRIENDLY
Several members of the Stanthorpe Mallet Club played in a Friendship day at Warwick on Tuesday (7/3).
Dorothy Gartery and Tricia Davey played Pauline Smith and Julie Grayson. Smith and Grayson took the lead and had a healthy lead of three hoops early in the game however with five peels and two consecutive hoops Gartery and Davey soon narrowed the gap. In a close finish Gartery and Smith won the game 26 – 21.
Jenny Tunbridge took on experienced Warwick player Tony Hinde and although Tunbridge managed three peels, Hinde went on to win the game by a comfortable margin. The score was 26 – 12.
Lesley Grayson and Heather Widderick played Margaret Lawton and Sharyn Roser. Roser scored one peel. Following the morning tea break Pauline Smith took Widderick’s place. The final score 16 to 12 and a win to Grayson and Widderick/Smith.
It was an enjoyable morning for the visitors.
On the home court in Stanthorpe, two games of Golf Croquet were played on Wednesday (8/3)
In the opening game Jennifer Gleadhill, Liz Ellway, and Di Wren played Pauline Inglis, Shirley Page, and Bev Sullivan. Ellway, Wren and Sullivan all scored four hoops. The final score 10-6 in favour of Gleadhill, Ellway and Wren.
In the second game Ellway and Wren were joined by Sullivan and played Gleadhill, Inglis and Page. Both Sullivan and Wren played well, scoring four and six hoops respectively as the team cruised to an 11-3 win.
The week wrapped up for the Mallet players with Gateball played last Friday (10/3).
The day opened with Joy Newman and Pauline Smith playing Les Williams. Scores were neck and neck until the last couple of plays. Williams scored one Agari in the game and managed to sneak home with a 9-7 win.
In the second game Williams joined Joy Newman with Pauline Smith playing a lone hand. Williams and Newman scored three balls through hoop three. Smith prevented the pair from scoring two Agaris at the back end of the game, however it was not enough to take a lead in the game and Williams and Newman went on to score a 12-8 win.
IRISH FOUR BALL A CRAIC
The annual Irish Four Ball event is one of the most popular on the Warwick Women’s Golfing Calendar.
It is always great fun and very well supported and is one of the few team matches the ladies play these days and despite quite hot and humid conditions last week 32 ladies took to the course all dressed for success in green or orange or a combination in a nod to the Irish theme.
Congratulations to Melanie McLennan, Trish Bell, Anna Cox, and Di Evans who took the honours with a score of 84 points. Filling the runner’s up spot was the team of Majella Kahler, Anne Lyons, Kath Devereux, and Di Johnstone.
It was a closely contested day, with only six Stableford points separating the field.
The pro pin on the fifth was shared by Ann Tomkins, Marg Adcock, Jill Barnes and Annice Payne.
The pro pin on the 11th was shared between Tub Inglis, Anna Cox, Melanie McLennan, and Di Johnston.
Well played ladies and may the luck of the Irish stay with you all.
RAIN ON HOLD DURING SATURDAY’S PLAY
On Saturday the Warwick ladies played the third round of the Warwick Golf club championships. The forecast of heavy rain held off for the field of 25 women. The leaders at the end of round three were Sam Hinze (A grade), Liz Cockram (B Grade), and Lois Wilson (C Grade).
Congratulations to the winner and runner up in Saturday’s comepitition. The trophy was sponsored by Anna from AOK Clothing.
The winner after an awesome round of 70 nett was Liz Cockram. Marg Adcock was the runner up. Her score 71 nett.
This Saturday (18/3) the Ladies will be playing a 4BBB Medley event, which is also the qualifying round of the Lane Cup. Please note that only mixed teams are eligible to qualify for the Lane Cup. This event is kindly sponsored by Brown Nolan and Watt Accountants. The club appreciates their sponsorship and support.
Wednesday is the Ladies Mid-Week Monthly Medal. This sought after event is kindly sponsored by Club Warwick RSL, one of our long-time supporters of women’s golf in Warwick and their support is greatly appreciated.
WEATHER SMORGASBOARD FOR FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
The final round of the Warwick Golf Club Championships were played on Sunday.
It was a day that had it all and will be long spoken about. There was sunshine, rain, and lightning.
It doesn’t happen often but tee off saw the heavens open and send down an almighty downpour. Only the keenest of golfers teed off in pouring rain, to continue their fourth round to complete the Championships.
Not long into the round, the Committee called all the players in, and suspended play due to lightning strikes, to ensure the safety of all players.
It was sensible move when you consider a golfer on the Watima Golf course in Brisbane was struck by lightning when the same storm hit Brisbane.
Jill Barnes pulled out some of her best golf of the four rounds, to win the Sunday’s event. Jill returned a card of 74 nett. Di Johnstone was another player who trudged around the soggy course. Her score of 78 good enough for runner up in Sunday’s round. Awesome work Ladies. All players that finished their four rounds, especially the final round, deserve a medal for their perseverance.
With the championships wrapped up for another year the Ladies acknowledge and thank the Women’s Championship Sponsor, Wickham Freightlines.
Results :-
Ladies Club Champions- Samantha Hinze with a total score for four rounds of 317 gross (86/71/78/82).
Runner up Club Champion- Margaret Adcock with a total score of 360 gross (88/90/85/97).
B Grade Champion- Liz Cockram, with 391 Gross (98/95/92/106.)
Runner up B Grade Champion- Jill Barnes with 397 Gross (98/103/101/95)
C Grade Champion- Wendy Rhea final gross score of 471 (117/118/109/127)
Veteran Champion (over 55 years of age) – Margaret Adcock – 360 Gross
Veterans nett – Roslyn Darton – 314 nett (74/72/80/88).
A Grade nett was won by Danielle Seibel with 314 nett.
B Grade nett was won by Di Johnstone with 312 nett.
The Carol Russell Memorial Trophy was won by a very surprised Melanie McLennan, who played good steady golf for the four rounds with a total nett.
MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS
The weather was kinder to the golfers on Saturday than the predicted forecast and there were some excellent results in the third round of the Club Championships.
The day belonged to Al Matthews who shot a fine round of 85 for a nett result of 66 Nett. Al just saw off Simon Macdonald who finished with 67 Nett.
Figuring in the rundown were Michael Watt; Jesse Harris; Charlie Morrison; James Saunders; Kris McLennan all on 68 nett; Duke Maloney; Wayne Watt; Shaun Campbell and John Brandon (69) ; Mitchell McLennan, Josh Hynes and Wayne Walters (70).
Josh Mainwaring shared the Pro Pin spoils with Kris McLennan and Allan Matthews at the 13th.
Simon Macdonald was NTP at the fifth; Slim Eldridge at the seventh; Kris McLennan the ninth Rod Hansen the 16th and Wayne Watt the 11th.
The weather was very disruptive during the final round of the Championships on Sunday. Unfortunately no individual scores for the final round of the Championship or overall scores are available.
Kris McLennan is the 2023 Warwick Golf Club Men’s A Grade champion.
Rod Hansen was the winner of the B Grade Championship.
After an excellent round on Saturday Al Matthews went on to win the C Grade championship.
WEATHER FORECAST KEEPS SLASHERS AT BAY
Unfortunately, the threat of inclement weather put a “dampener” on attendance at Sunday’s Langham Slashers Social Golf competition.
13 brave souls teed off on the “Back Nine” bright and early at 6:30am. Despite the forecast and the threatening skies conditions were ideal for golf.
Sunday’s winner was Peter Balfour with a Nett 23 and claimed the Birdies Bar and Grill Voucher. Runner up just one shot back with nett 24 was Doug McBeth. Mark Simmonds had the Best Gross round of 44.
Laurie King had the Longest Drive on the 12th fairway while Graham Olsen scored the least number of Putts requiring just 14putts for his nine holes.
Nearest to the Pin went the way of Peter Seidel at the 11th. Gary Teunis had success at the 13th however the elusive 16th remained unclaimed.
Leigh Nisbet began like the proverbial “house on fire” only to fall in a heap and ended up winning both the prestigious “Ollie Ball” for Most Putts (18) and the Bradman Ball for the Highest Gross (45).
At the conclusion of the round, a putting competition was held on the 18th Green. Wayne Wells was the eventual winner and claimed his $10 voucher for the effort.
There will be no competition next Sunday as the course is closed to members and guests from 6am – 2.30pm for a Golf Australia Pennant event.
Members of the Langham Slashers social group are reminded that the monthly RSL Dinner Evening will be held next Saturday night commencing at 6.30pm at the Warwick RSL.
If you are interested in joining the Langham Slashers for an enjoyable morning of
social golf call 0408 949 979 for more information or simply “front up” to the Sunday morning round which will be on 26th March. Tee off is 6.30am.
VALE JOY BOWLES
Members of the Warwick Ladies Golf Club were saddened to learn last week that one of their own, the beautiful Joy Bowles, had passed away following a very short illness. Joy will be sorely missed by all, but especially her Tuesday morning friends. Joy first joined the ranks of the Associate Golfers in 1977 and was an active member up until
three years ago, when she decided competition had become a little bit too much for her. She did however enjoy playing social golf with a wonderful group of ladies on a Tuesday morning.
Joy enjoyed many successes over the years, but one of the biggest and perhaps her proudest moment was winning the Presidents Foursomes in 1991 with her daughter Leah, who at the time was a promising Junior golfer.
Mother daughter wins are a very rare, especially in the Warwick Club. Joy also won the B Grade championship in 1998. She was very proud to know her name was engraved on the B grade Trophy. Joy also had success in the Presidents Foursomes along with long-time friend and golfing buddy Marge Burley, not once, but twice. The pair going back-to-back in 2002 and 2003.
She also won the J.D. Rowland foursomes with friend, Janet Davis, defeating two very skilled golfers Margaret Adcock and Cheryl Sternberg.
On of Joy’s favourite events was the Summer Cup which no longer exists. Many current members began their golfing careers playing the Summer Cups. Joy won the event many times, including 1980, 1981, and 1985.
In addition to an excellent golfer, Joy was also an extremely skilled seamstress and for many years looked after alterations for many members.
Joy was always there to offer advice whenever she was asked. She always gave her honest opinion, and it was always valued even if was a different opinion to many.
Joy was a very active member, whether busy baking, making sandwiches, creating beautiful items for the club’s annual goose club, or selling raffle tickets.
The members or the club will miss Joy Bowles greatly and send their condolences to Roy, Brent and Leah.
“We, (the members) know how much your hearts will be aching”.
RIP Joy Bowles
