by  “Peg Legge” 

THE 33rd edition of the Des Cockayne Memorial Hoax Triples was run and won last weekend by former Numurkah local Greg “Trotts” Trotter, who made a triumphant return to his former club, returning a 54 hole total of 216 to win from Garfield’s Tyler Booth on 219.      

Not only did Greg win the major prize, his two sons Matt and Brady finished third and fifth respectively to make it a great weekend for the Trotter family. 

Trotter is on the golfing comeback trail, having given the game away following his shift down to the Colac area some 10 years ago and he accepted the winner’s trophy in his usual humble fashion.

The event was conducted at the Tocumwal Golf Course on Saturday with the second and third rounds played at the Numurkah Golf Course.

Both courses played on the weekend were presented in excellent condition and were a credit to their respective greens staff.   

This years event attracted a good field of 49 players from 11 different, clubs which included interstate and overseas competitors.  

Our intrepid golfers commenced their quest for golfing glory in fine breezy conditions  on the President’s course at Tocumwal, and the winner and round one leader was Brady Trotter, who recorded a brilliant nett 65.

Brady, along with sibling Matt and father Greg, as mentioned earlier in this article, were making a welcome return to the area after a golfing hiatus for some years.

Runner up was Sunbury youngster Tyler Booth, whose 70 was good enough to win a three way countback, with Greg Trotter plotting his way around the course returning a solid nett 70 to snare third position.  

Dual triples winner Nick Ludington showed his liking for the event with another great round of one under par 71, nett 70, to be in fourth place, with Alan “The Little Champ” Dalton lurking in fifth place with 72 .

Dave Ludington squandered a few strokes of his way to a workmanlike 73, with a host of players on nett 74.

A few of the pre tournament favourites, including defending champion Anthony Sanders, Brett Wildes, Steve Piggott and Colin McMinn, all had days they would rather forget, returning scores of 81, 77, 81 and 77 respectively. 

The second round was played on the Numurkah golf course under slightly cloudy skies, but conditions were perfect for good scoring.

Unlike other years, tournament organiser Dave Ludington decided to make the players run the gauntlet of his sound effects on the Sunday, rather than on the last day.

Some players said the music and shenanigans helped them, while others were less complimentary.

The winner on day two was Gary Blackburn, who came back from an horrific nett 85 on day one to return a brilliant nett 68.

Some unkind observers mentioned that the alien that we all suspected had inhabited Gary’s body some years ago when he was having good scores had returned, but whatever it was it sure worked for him. 

Runner-up was Neville Smith who, like Gary, bounced back from a shocking nett 98 at Tocumwal to post a solid 71.

It was great to see Dave Dell, who has had his fair share of health issues in recent years, take third place with a solid 72.   

After 36 holes, Brady Trotter was still in the lead, albeit by just one shot on 143 after shooting a nett 78 on day two, although he did have to play on a handicap 10 strokes skinnier than the one he had on Saturday.

He had Alan Dalton and Nick Ludington hot on his heels on 144, with Tyler Booth two further back on 146.

Greg Trotter was holding it together on 147, with Dave Dell and another of the Trotter clan, Matt, on 148 .

The evergreen Trevor Sprunt rounded out the top eight on 149, with the rest of the field too far back to mount a serious challenge. 

 The third and final round at Numurkah saw perfect conditions again greet the starters, with just a slight breeze for the players to contend with. 

Overnight leader Brady Trotter was struggling to adapt to his lower handicap and was dropping back from the lead.

Alan Dalton reached the turn in 44, shots which just about scuppered his chances, but Nick Ludington was only one over and right in it, as was youngster Tyler Booth, with just nine holes to play.

In the group behind, Greg and Matt Trotter were also hanging in there, with Trotter senior doing just that bit better through nine holes.

Ludington’s challenge effectively ended at the par five 13th, where he recorded a triple bogey eight and, with no other serious contenders, it was left to Greg Trotter and Tyler Booth to fight it out down the stretch.

At the end of the day, Trotter proved to be a bit too steady and recorded a terrific score of 69 to both win the day’s event and the Hoax triples for 2020, with a score of 216.

Greg, who now plays at the Beeac Golf Club, was very chuffed with his win and mentioned that the demons of past rounds at Numurkah, which had tormented him, did not eventuate to allow him to claim the title. 

It was also another terrific Hoax performance from Tyler Booth, whose score of 219 got him the runner-up prize.

He has recorded a few top 10 finishes in recent years and his moment in the sun may yet eventuate.

Matt Trotter finished with a solid 73 to claim third spot on 221, in a good effort from the sweet swinging builder supervisor who now resides on the surf coast.

Also on the same score was Nick Ludington, who put in yet another top tournament, especially having to give so many shots away  over the three days. Nick can be well pleased with his efforts and now turn his thoughts to his impending marriage to Zoe Davies on Saturday week.  

The third member of the Trotter clan, Brady, claimed fifth spot with the score of 222, and was probably a bit stiff to lose so many shots off his original handicap after day one, but that is one of the nuances of the new system when you don’t have a lot of cards recorded.

After opening with an horrendous 85, Gary Blackburn stormed home with rounds of 68 and 70 at Numurkah to pinch sixth place on 223, to just edge out Brandan Hosie on the same score.

A former winner, Hosie is another player who has performed well year after year in the Hoax and, but for a couple of unlucky breaks late in his final round, could have finished a few spots higher.

The good news story of the weekend was Dave Dell who, after suffering some serious health issues in recent years, played very solid golf to claim eighth position, also on  223.  

Alan “The Little Champ” Dalton had his best finish in some years and was the best performed left hander in the field, finishing in ninth position on 223 from Garfield  visitor Darren Booth, who rounded out the top 10 on 224. 

The NAGA award was won by Jason Brun from Yarrawonga with a less than exemplary score of 253 but, as it was his first triples appearance, we will cut him a bit of slack.

The family challenges saw the Dells, with the assistance of Gary Blackburn, defeating the Fleets by a whopping 44 shots, but their joy was short lived as Team Ludington managed to relieve the Dell family of some booty to the tune of 12 shots.    

As usual with any Hoax Triples, there was a lot of banter between the players and it all kicked off on Friday night with a lot of players talking up their chances and placing  some outrageous wagers between themselves. 

There was lots of bad golf played, with quite a few players recording some big numbers, but everyone played the game in the right spirit and gave it their all. 

Neville Smith compiled a Bradmanesque score of 113 off the stick on Saturday while Ronnie Smith also raised the bat with an even 100.

Ron did cop quite a bit of flack about his score including, having 20 or so of the field salute him with a march past to the tune of Kamahl’s “100 Children” at dinner  on Sunday evening, but the Numurkah club captain took it all in his usual good manner. 

Col Stone, whilst teeing off the10th tee at Numurkah on Sunday, managed to strike the timber border on the garden bed in front of him to see his ball ricochet onto the bowling green, much to the delight and mirth of those lucky enough to witness this extraordinary feat.

Not sure if the bowlers who were on the green at the time were as amused.  

There was a pirate theme for the weekend, and there were some lovely costumes on display, especially, but as usual, the Fleet clan of Wes, Dan and Bill, who stole the show with another brilliant display.

Not only did they look the part, complete with their pirate outfits, but also constructed two vessels, although I am not sure whether either of them were entirely sea worthy.

There was a also a special award given out to Barry Pruden, who unfortunately lost his phone in Howlong Golf Club’s swimming pool on a recent golf trip there.

Yet again the Fleets were to the fore, coming up with an innovative “ISWIM” replacement phone which was presented to Barry, although I don’t think he will be making or taking too many calls on it any time soon. 

Hugo Avery also received an award for bringing up 5000 nett hits quicker than anyone else in triples history.

Hugo managed it in only 21 events, averaging 111 off the stick, nett 81, in a sustained display of hacking, setting a mark that may never be threatened. 

Numurkah member, fine musician and Hoax competitor Jack Thomas, together with band mate Justin Boschetti, penned a parody song about some of the characters that played in the Hoax to the tune of the Proclaimers’ “500 miles”.

It was played with lyrics on the big screen to the large crowd assembled on Sunday evening at the club and received a rapturous reception. With a bit of air play this could go to the top of the charts.    

All in all it was a successful tournament again, and most of the players enjoyed themselves socially, catching up with old friends and indulging in some good natured stirring over the course of the weekend.

Next year will see the 34th running of this time honoured event, which will once again see 50-odd hopefuls try their luck at securing that elusive trophy, in what should prove to be a very interesting tournament once again with plenty of tomfoolery mixed in with some great golf once more.