Whilst he may have finished runner-up in grade in Tuesday's Kempsey Veterans Golf Club Gold Medal Day, reigning Club Champion (ie nett-wise), Hilary Dew, was decorated with the coveted medallion to further add status to a booming Year 2021.
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Dew's 1-over par 57 off-the-stick round did reduce to a 52 nett and it stood the test victory wise despite fellow A-grader John Daley "coming from the clouds" (so to speak) with a stunning 51 after handicap deduction.
Gold Medal Day rules have it that the final field being made up of qualifiers from the Monthly Medal Stroke events starting in January. Unfortunately for John he was a non-participant in the final listings.
Surprisingly quite a lot of the 44 starters for the 14 holes of serious stroke play handled the slushy conditions that prevailed from the recent Big Wet. Actually it was a credit to the Club's greenkeeper, Graham Croad, along with fast-learning apprentice, Brett Hutley, that the course was rated playable.
Carts were permitted and there were plenty of no-go areas, but there is any amount of hard toil ahead for the return to normality. The course was looking a picture and fine weather is certainly being asked for.
In B-grade it was John Wright being right back to his best and there was no real challenge to his 50 nett, although Ron Ingall was two strokes back when the cards were checked.
Wright really revelled in the soft going and there was certainly no happier club-mates around when his name was semaphored on the board.
The Best Of The Day award was claimed by C-grade winner, Dennis O'Brien, who, with his "unfashionable" grip and stance (so to speak) did sign off for a 7-under 49 nett. Somehow he hits the ball sweetly and there's that nice draw that sets up the next shot.
"It all does stem from a bad shoulder injury long ago," the man himself says.
And Dennis had two strokes to spare in the end and it was the Club's 95-y-o elder gentleman, Milton Riggs, figuring strongly with his 51 nett.
In the putting rider it was Hilary again outstanding with simply 18 putts and Wayne Simmons and Craig James led B and C-grade with respective counts of 20 and 22.
Ball competition winners: 51 Mr Riggs; 52 Dew, Ingall; 53 Terry Smith; 54 James, Simmons, Leo Wright; 55 Mal Blanch, Leo Smith, Ced Rudd, John Inder
Nearest the pin at the Alan Macdonald Memorial $100 Third Hole in One were Dew (A) and O'Brien (C), with Blanch (A), Ingall (B) and O'Brien making it a double. Ingall's shot was well within the mystical metre radius and worthy of six brand-new Srixons.
Chip-ins were performed by Simmons (2), Robert Johnston, Peter Thompson, Bob Garner, James and Mr Riggs.
A 14-hole Stableford dominated by the front nine is scheduled for this Tuesday and naturally visitors to our Nature's Wonderland are invited to take part. Tee-off is 9am.
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