Matt Thomas added another Deniliquin Golf Club championship to his ever-growing list with a massive 17-shot victory after Saturday’s final round.
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Thomas was ultra-consistent throughout the championship rounds, carding three consecutive sub-par rounds of 69, 70 and 71, for a total of 210.
He was well clear of former club champion and runner-up Vince Kelly on 227, with a further seven shots to another former champion in Jimmy Poka jnr on 234.
In B-grade Geoff Corboy had consistent rounds of 84, 86 and 87 (total 257) to win by three shots from runner-up Terry Howe.
The closest contest was in C-grade, where Norm Purtill scored consecutive championship titles with a three-round total of 284, winning by a shot to Peter Thompson.
In D-grade, Russell Begg had a runaway victory with a three-round total of 287, an incredible 34 shots clear from runner-up Peter O’Brien on 321.
The junior champion was up-and-coming youngster Toby Rae.
The top players in each grade will now contest the match-play championships.
In conjunction with the championships, Saturday’s event was stroke, won in A-grade by Jarod Sommerfeld with an excellent score of net 67, from runner-up Vicki Brunker 69.
B-grade winner was Russell Begg 74 from runner-up Jen Choice 76, and C-grade winner was Prue Grant 69, taking bragging rights from runner-up David Grant with net 74.
Last Thursday was stableford, when the ladies contested the Rita Barnes Goblet.
Linda Brant won A-grade and the goblet with 39 points, from A-grade runner-up Lyne O’Brien 36.
B-grade winner was Ali Ferguson, also on 39 points, from runner-up Yvonne Holmes 38.
On Sunday there was a social day, playing for the first time of the gold tees on a shortened course.
John Radeski obviously enjoyed the change of distance and won the day with 41 points, from runner-up Brodie McQuie on 38.
On Monday the club hosted the Goulburn Valley veterans competition, and best of the locals were Barry Barlow who finished runner-up in A-grade with 36 points, and Des Ramsey who won C-grade with 35.
The A-grade winner Stephen Piggot of Cobram, in accepting his trophy, was effusive in his praise of the quality of our course and the excellent condition it’s in.
Wednesday was the weekly stableford event, won in A-grade by John Penna with an excellent 41 points from runner-up Barry Barlow 36, and in B-grade by David Maraldo with 40 points from runner-up Toby Rae 38.
The next month is going to be extremely busy, with a plethora of events for golfers of all abilities, including those who are new to our great game.
In the coming week we have stableford tomorrow, with the men playing for the coveted Borella Cup.
Tuesday is a 9-hole qualifier, Wednesday is stableford, Thursday is social play for Anzac Day, and next Saturday is the Eastman fourball best ball qualifier.
Sunday, April 28 is the annual Diggers Day, which is a four-person ambrose.
A feature of this event will be the chance for a lucky golfer to win a Ford Ute, which is up for grabs for the first hole-in-one on the ninth hole.
There will be other novelty events, including pitching into a bucket that will be floating on a dam.
So get your team together for a great day out, with 11am assembly for 11.30am shotgun start.
The annual corporate golf day is Friday, May 10, and this year’s special guest is one of Deniliquin’s most famous sporting products, Simon O’Donnell.
The competition will be a four-person ambrose and the $1100 per team registration includes luncheon, golf and dinner.
One of the better causes that our club supports is the MND charity day, which will be held on Sunday, June 2.
Cost is $250 per team which includes all-day barbecue, cheese platter after golf, auctions, MND beanie and a mystery draw for a $200 prize.
So get your team together and support this amazing cause to ‘kill the beast’.
For a social break from golf, why not head down to your club tonight for Friday Night Fun from 6pm with raffles and meals available.
Enjoy a night out and support the club, while also having a great time.
Last week’s results:
Thursday, April 11, single stableford:
A-grade L Brant 39, r/u L O’Brien 36; B-grade A Ferguson 39, r/u Y Holmes 38.
Ball comp: P Chalmers, M Radeski, V Brunker, J Glowrey, R Lawrence, C Hardman, V Seely, J Armytage, c/o 33.
NTP: 9th P Grant. Golden hole F Harrington.
Saturday, April 13, single stroke:
A-grade J Sommerfeld 67, r/u V Brunker 69; B grade R Begg 74, r/u J Choice 76; C grade P Grant 69, r/u D Grant 74.
Ball comp: R Pogonoski, T Bult, H Sutton, L Campbell, G Willis, P Joice, Matt Thomas, D McQuie, B Bourke, I Campbell, J Radeski, Mark Thomas, J Glowrey, D Mitchell, K Leetham, K Wemyss, R Landy, G Corboy, N Purtill, A Gorsuch, M Phyland, c/b 77.
NTP: 2nd D Ring; 5th H Sutton, R Bolton; 9th Matt Thomas, J Armytage; 11th G Willis, W Pearce; 13th J Radeski. Golden hole H Sutton.
Wednesday, April 17, single stableford:
A-grade J Penna 41, r/u B Barlow 36; B-grade D Maraldo 40, r/u T Rae 38.
Ball comp: D Wade, L Pattinson, I Campbell, F Conallin, G Bessell, J Radeski, R Begg, G Davies, P Oddy, G Warren, G Collins, G Baker, N Boswell, K Maher, c/o 33.
NTP: 9 th J Penna, R Landy. Golden hole R Turner.
The Nineteeth Man - Off The Tee columnist for Deni PT.