Numurkah Leader
Casey’s turn to top field
4 min read

CASEY Gamble has been runner-up at the Numurkah Golf Club’s annual tournament several times now, but on Sunday he finally went one step better to win the men’s scratch event with a three over par round of 75 shots.

Dylan Poole finished just one shot back with a score of 76 shots, to finish runner-up.

Sunday’s event was the last of three rounds played by the men to make up the annual event, following on from a fourball event on Friday and the mixed yankee on Saturday.

The event was a terrific success, with 78 men taking to the course on Sunday.

Numurkah’s Will Arnel had the score of the day, to win the B grade scratch event with 77 shots, that netted him down to an incredible 63 nett. Ray Falla  was runner-up with 81 shots.

Tallygaroopna golfer Neville Hosie had the best scratch score in C grade, with 88 shots, finishing ahead of Stephen Thornton with 90.

Sam Robertson brought a touch of colour to his game in the hope that it would freshen up his game ... and it did, his 71 nett good enough to win the A grade nett, although having to survive a countback from Jade Payne.

Martin Harper capped off a good weekend with a terrific 68 nett to take out the B grade handicap, ahead of Allan Newby on 70.

Martin Hill won C grade with 67 nett, ahead of Lee Summerville on 69.

Sunday’s event also concluded the annual Numurkah/Chiltern challenge trophy, which Numurkah had managed to win last year but, despite being closer than ever after the first round at Chiltern last month, couldn’t hold onto it again this year.

There was just one shot difference in the total aggregate scores, meaning Numurkah lost the challenge by just 0.1 on the average score, 147.47 to 147.57.

Down the line balls went down to 74s, to Adam Nicolic, Barry Schmedje, Barry Pruden, Geoff Stone, David Shiells, Sid Roughsedge, Brandan Hosie, Ian Hannaford, Neil Hutchins, David Ludington, Bill Tilley, Mitchell Orr, Hugh Gunn and Brenton Pool.

Nearest the pins prizes went to Jade Payne on the fourth, Allan Newby on seven and Ron Smith on the 18th.

Mooroopna pair Bill Murphy and Rob Frame showed their liking for the Numurkah course with a terrific score of 48 stableford points to win Friday’s fourball event, ahead of locals Bruce Collins and Ian Hannaford with 47 points.

Paul and Will Arnel finished with 45 points, Jack Hepworth and Graham Ashton 44, while Garry/Neville Hosie and Neil Hutchins/John McHale both finished with 43 points.

Bruce Collins, Col McMinn and Bill Padgett won the nearest the pins on seven, 15 and 18, respectively.

Going home to Tongala feeling a bit pleased with a ball in his pocket, John McHale’s Saturday turned into a bit of a nightmare when he and his wife Jan arrived in Numurkah without Jan’s clubs.

Jan checked with John that he had packed her shoes and hat, but didn’t think she needed to ask him about her clubs, but as his clubs were already in the car from the previous day, he didn’t give them a thought. Nevertheless, Jan soldiered on with a set of hire clubs and the pair managed to win a ball.

Brandan Hosie and Tracey Clouston won the day’s scratch event with 76 shots, ahead of Alan and Nola Dalton with 81.

Ian and Julie Hannaford just sneaked in to win the handicap event by less than a shot from Martin and Karen Harper, with 68 nett.

Balls went to Graham and Lauris Ashton 70.87, Neville Smith and Jeanette Adams 71.12, Grant Duffy and Pippa de Bondt 71.62, Jan and John McHale 72, and Barry and Helen Schmedje with 73.62.

Margot McGrath and Alan Dalton won nearest the pins on the seventh, and Nola Dalton and John Smith had the best shots to the 18th.

The Wednesday nine hole chicken runs are also under way for the summer season. Last week’s winner was Charlie Hooker, with 37 nett, on a countback from Marcus Luxford.

That’s one week down, to start a busy October. This week it’s the two day veteran’s classic on Thursday and Friday, followed by a Mawsons Quarries and Concrete monthly medal on Saturday.

This will also be the star medal play-off, and dinner will follow in the club bistro. Everyone is welcome to join in, it’s could be a great opportunity to come along and try the new menu.

The annual presentation night function will be held the following Saturday, and everyone is urged to get their names on the list to attend.