He was the favourite from the outset and Hilary Dew, despite a disappointing final round on Tuesday last, did become the Kempsey Veterans Golf Club's champion for the Year 2020.
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Dew did lead from barrier to box (so to speak) when back on March 3 he posted a 1-over par 57 and backed up some more than three months later on June 30 with a 62 off the stick.
The noted local racehorse owner-trainer who says he has a love for racing and a round or two of golf per week, sort of struggled in the third round of the 42-hole contest and signed off for a 9-over 65.
His overall 184 was there to be bettered and it was Graeme Dyet who tried valiantly to bridge the gap and reduced the margin to just three strokes at the finish.
Dyet gained some solace when he snatched the nett title with his 2-under 166 after handicap and just the one from a nevertire Peter Hatton.
It must be made known that the reigning champion, Ian Rudd, took no part this year, whilst former title-holder, Graheme Martin, played in just the one round.
But it was a popular win for Hilary and he deserves all the glory that goes with becoming a Club Champion.
In B-grade Ron Ingall made it back-to-back titles with his 222 gross that held off a fast-finishing Mark Townsend by two strokes and Ingall again took the double.
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In isolation - well, sort of for quite some time - it does appear that the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't stolen the goodness from his game. Ron's 3-under 165 nett was the best of all!
Brian Stringer gets a mention for his 173 nett to finish in second place.
Our eldest elder, Milton Riggs, who is about to have his 94th birthday, claimed the C-grade championship with a 239 gross, even though he did have a disastrous round on Tuesday.
Mr Riggs claimed he "lost it completely" (his words), but his total stood 16 strokes from his nearest challenger, first-round leader Graeme Irving.
Last week's 14-holes stroke, being the first Tuesday of July, also included the Monthly Medal and in A-grade the winner, Graeme Dyet, had to be content with the $20 voucher having already been a medal recipient.
It was Chris Gorman receiving the token that earns entry into the Gold Medal Day field come December and it was really a just reward as he, too, had also finished on 55 nett only to lose it on a countback.
Back into action once again and appearing to be fully fit, Chris Hudson won the B-grade medal and first prize-money with a 54 nett and on a countback with Mark Townsend,
Steve Cameron captured the C-grade honours, also on a countback, with his 56 nett and you can guess who was the unlucky one. Good to see the younger ones getting into the winner's listings!
In the putting contest that always supports the medal play, Gorman's 20 count was easily best of the day, whilst Bruce Morris and Mr Riggs won their grades with 23 apiece.
Nearest the pins at the third hole were Dyet (A), Townsend (B) and Cameron (C) and at the eighth Townsend clinched a double for the day.
Tuesday sees the annual Bill Quinn Memorial Shield Stableford being staged and a good field is expected following successive weeks of stroke play.
All visiting veteran golfers are invited to take part and sound advice is to give the Club a ring on 65626291 to book a start and/or cart. Tee-off is before 9.30am.