Saturday Men’s Monthly Medal
What a Saturday! The October Monthly Medal delivered plenty of good scores, a few surprises, some very handy performances, and—depending on who you ask—a golf course that appeared to have a personal vendetta against putting.
Congratulations to everyone who battled through the conditions and made it around. There were plenty of standout performances across the divisions, with some familiar names showing a bit of form and a few others putting their hands up for some serious bragging rights.
Winners with HC by Division
Division 1
Grant Treloar took out the Division 1 Net with a terrific 66 off a handicap of 8, finishing one shot clear of Sam Benny, who posted 67 off 10. In the Gross, Patrick Tregellas claimed the honours with a 79 off 9. A very tidy day’s work from the Division 1 crew.
Division 2
Graham Hopkins led the way in Division 2 Net with an excellent 70 off 19, edging Nigel Luxton on the countback/placing after Nigel also returned a 70 off 17. Brendon Willoughby claimed the Gross prize with 86 off 15. Plenty of solid golf in this division.
Division 3
And then there was Perce.
The much-loved Perc Dempsey rolled back the years to claim the Division 3 Net with a sensational 67 off 30, with Dave Callard only a shot behind on 68 off 24. Luke Hammond took out the Gross with 92 off 20.
Rundown
- John McLoughlin (26) – 69
- David Williams (25) – 70
- Gerry Martin (19) – 70
- David Von Itzstein (9) – 70
- Luke Poile (24) – 71
- David Harrod (26) – 71
- Joseph Lehkyj (17) – 71
- Michael McKay (17) – 71
NTPs
- Luke Coe (23) – NTP, 2nd hole
- Greg Morrison (18) – NTP, 2nd hole
- Timothy Chivers (10) – NTP, 2nd hole
- Colin Norton (23) – NTP, 7th hole
- Gerry Martin (19) – NTP, 7th hole
- Timothy Chivers (10) – NTP, 7th hole
- Nick Davis (19) – NTP, 11th hole
- Luke Poile (24) – NTP, 12th hole
- Anthony Anketell (11) – NTP, 12th hole
- Michael McKay (17) – NTP, 12th hole
- Sam Benny (10) – NTP, 16th hole
- John McLoughlin (26) – NTP, 16th hole
- Paul Buckland (17) – NTP, 16th hole
Pro Pin & Raffle Winners
- Paul Buckland – $72 Pro Shop Voucher
- Charles Huff – $25 Raffle Voucher
- Graham Hopkins – $50 Raffle Voucher
- David Wallis – $75 Raffle Voucher
Perce Turns Back the Clock
A special mention has to go to one of the club’s most beloved characters, Perc Dempsey.
Perce has apparently been waiting since 1987 for another Monthly Medal victory—roughly the same era when colour TV was still something of a novelty or something but it’s been a long time between drinks. Today, however, the old champ decided enough was enough and put together a cracking 67 to clinch the C Grade Monthly Medal.
And not far behind him was John McLoughlin, just two shots away with a very handy 69 in the overall rundown.
There is, of course, some highly scientific speculation around the club that the absence of Brent “Pres” McLennan may have contributed to these extraordinary scoring performances. We wouldn’t want to start any rumours, but the evidence is… absolutely circumstantial.
Perce is showing some serious form this year and has his eyes firmly set on the Foursomes Championship in a few weeks. Hopefully that handicap doesn’t disappear too quickly, Perce. We might have to poach you for the Ambrose team before someone notices! Make sure to check your letter box on Monday, Garry Dowding will be sending you an invite to the 10:36am Ambrose Team.
Ryan Modini Finds the Eagle
A big shout-out to Ryan Modini, who snagged an eagle on the 6th today and earned himself a sleeve of Pro V1s.
Although, for a brief moment, we were expecting a sleeve of Super Soft Feel Srixons. Thankfully, someone corrected the prize before Ryan had to suffer that indignity.
No doubt Ryan, who has been in some pretty good form lately, knocked it up close and then chipped it straight in. Very classy stuff.
Well done, Ryan! We’re just not entirely sure what happened after that. Whatever magic you found on the 6th seemed to disappear somewhere around the turn and slide rapidly south from there!
The Pins… Seriously?
Now, a word about today’s pin placements.
I actually had to double-check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t Greenkeepers’ Revenge.
Somebody clearly woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, because those pins were absolutely diabolical. Combine that with strong winds and lightning-fast greens and you’ve got a putting experience that was less golf and more survival exercise.
In far too many cases, you finally got the ball heading towards the hole, only to watch it roll straight past, keep going, and eventually disappear off the other side of the green.
It was the sort of day where a three-putt felt like a perfectly respectable result.
Still, everyone battled through, the scores are in, the prizes have been handed out, and nobody threw a putter into the lake… at least not that we’ve heard.
Well played everyone, congratulations to all the winners, and we’ll see you out there next Saturday!
Make sure you book in for the upcoming Foursomes Championship on the 17th October.
Men’s Captain
Patrick