'Twas March Monthly Medal Day and the first round of the Club Championships and what a fine day for the now well-and-truly retired local doctor (of medicine) to produce - most probably his finest form of old.

For not only does he have the coveted medal in his keeping and qualifies for Gold Medal Day come December, Peter shares the lead with two other A-graders in the title race.

He well knows that he will have to pull a rabbit from the hat (so to speak) to become the 2019 champion as Ian Rudd and Graheme Martin, past champions, did also record 60 gross rounds.

Today's scores will certainly be more than interesting and the outcome of this 14-hole stroke, with the front nine dominating to make a difference. will bring plenty of reckoning from those so-called form pundits.

With a hamdicap of seven Peter's 53 nett was best of the day, however Ron Ingall also excited things with a 70-53 score to be best of the B-graders.

The "Beranghi Boy" is a clear leader by three or four from his nearest challenger and it is virtually daylight from the rest.

In C-grade Dennis O'Brien sort of overcame a somewhat wayward approach to the ball to post a 77-56 scoreline and he was absolutely a deserved medal recipient. He's got 11 rivals in pursuit.

"Twas good to see 44 starters tee off for the Kempsey Heights Bowling Club-sponsored Monthly Medal event and the larger than usual field was a booster for the Club Championships.

And surprisingly, to say the least, in the break-up A-grade boasted a 19-strong line-up, 10 of whom did figure in the day's ball competition; there were only 11 handed out!

New Bridgestones42-hole to: 54 Hilary Dew, Ced Rudd, Bob Garner; 55 Terry Hyland, Max Gleeson, Les Booth; 56 Robert Dykes, Graeme Dyet, Graham Schasser, Kevin Hopping, Martin.

Putting: (A) Schasser 19; (B) David Tolman 20; (C) Barry Pearson 22.

Nearest The Pin: 3rd hole (A) Ian Rudd, (B) Tolman, (C) Steve Cameron; 11th hole (A) Ced Rudd, (B) Garner.

Chip-ins: Chris Hudson, John Inder, Greg Mayhew, Wayne Simmons, Barry Brown, Pearson, Dew.

Our financial officer, Robert Johnston, was once again a stand-in em-cee and he did thank Graheme (Martin), John (Inder) and Chris (Hudson) for getting the barbecue going again. "The rolls were really good," he quipped.

"Happy Birthdays to Terry Smith and Michael Hinchcliffe and I am so pleased that Jack Tolman has received that medal he won in November. And Hilary and Ian had eagles today, too."

Johnno also told that our president, Alan Macdonald, along with the Club's oldest elder, Milton Riggs, are both recovering well from several mishaps. Maybe the boss will be with us again today, eh?

Stop Press: Now for those readers who don't know, it was our very own Hilary Dew (H. R. results wise) the trainer of $26 (25/1) winner Court Appeal in the third race at Forster-Tuncurry on Saturday.

Won by 2.5 lengths his 5-y-o Court Command-Aquatic Drive bay gelding did. What odds Hilary in our championship race...only one back is he!