Inaugural Don Smith Memorial winners Glynis Conroy and Cathy Kelly successfully defended their mantle as Fourball Medley Champions when they scored a convincing three shot victory in last Saturdays Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete sponsored 18 hole 2 Ball Medley Stableford event at the Parkes Golf Club.
Conroy and Kelly crushed the excellent field of 41 pairs when they combined to record a mammoth 49 points to be 3 shots clear of runners up Robert Cheney and Dave Stevenson.
The victory saw the leaders combine superbly as they achieved a great 24 points on the front nine holes and then added a further seven holes of 3 pointers and two holes of 2 points in accumulating a whopping 49 points. A score that was unable to be achieved by any other combination.
In accepting the Don Smith Memorial Shield from Daryl Smith, Kelly stated that they were ecstatic in accepting the Shield for the second occasion and for the men it only meant agony, as the victors have already stated they will be back to defend the title in 2015.
Prior to the Presentation of trophies both Club President Ross Smith and Captain Paul Thomas emphasised the outstanding contribution that the late Don Smith had achieved as a member of the Parkes Golf Club that eventually saw him awarded the honour of Life Membership.
Don’s two children Darrell and Jenny and the Smith family were at the club to mark the occasion. As eldest member, Darrell in representing the family stated "it is an absolute honour and pleasure to speak on behalf our late father. We thank the club for their thoughts and commitment in honouring our beloved father".
Judy McCabe on behalf of Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete in awarding the days' trophies said she had had the pleasure of playing with the winners. Whilst they didn’t know how they had finished they were excited with their score and McCabe stated that her business would continue to sponsor the event.
In another mark of remembrance former playing partners namely Rick Glover, Ron Klein, Garry Phillips and Joe Goodie sponsored a sideline event for left handed golfers that saw Graham Cooke with 40 points named as the winner. On behalf of his fellow sponsors Rick Glover stated that the event would become an annual award on the day.
Ball winners from the days' Two Ball Best Ball were 46 Robert Cheney & David Stevenson, 45 Ken Cobcroft & Michael Kable, and Robert Hey & Graham Cooke, 44 Rick Glover & Joe Goodie, Vince Kelly & Sue Holman, Troy Hopley & Michael Hopley and Robert Hey & Wayne Powter. Surviving the countback on 43 were the Wayne Parker & Ross Smith combination.
In the Nearest the Pins the sharpshooter’s were certainly in action again as Bill Warren took out Idlerite Tyrepower sponsored 1st Hole at 590cms, Ross Smith Medcalf birdied the Griffins Leading Edge 4th Hole from just 204cms after a superb five iron, Robert Cheney birdied the Dirt Doctor Landscaping 6th Hole after a superb seven iron finished 258cms from the pin whilst on the Harvey Norman 11th Hole Peter Magill once again missed a golden birdie chance when his putt lipped the hole after he finished 194cms away from a Hole in One and on the final Par 3 the difficult Westlime sponsored 15th Hole Sam Turner Jewell managed an easy Birdie after a solid seven iron finished just 100cms from the pin.
On the final holes of each nine in two shots saw Peter Boschman dominate on the Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete 9th Hole when he hit a glorious eight iron to just 284cms of the pin and on the Parkes Heavy Mechanical Repairs 18th Hole Ian Phipps survived all challengers when he fired his wedge to just 162cms of the pin in recording a birdie as both players claimed two balls each.
HANDISKINS QUALIFYING
Members also contested the final qualifying round of the Handiskins “Skins” competition and it was lady golfer Kaye Jones who heads the qualifiers list when her three best rounds of the five rounds saw her amass 114 points. Closely behind Jones was the fast finishing Robert Cheney on 112, with Troy Hopley in third place just one point back. Rounding out the finalists is junior golfer Sam Turner on 110 points.
The final which will be played on Sunday 31st August commencing at 9am will see these four players attempting to win part of the $1200.00 prize pool in which they all play the 18 holes with each hole having varying amounts of prize money up for grabs and if a hole is squared the jackpot carries forward to the next hole or until it is won.
A hole is won by the player who records the best nett score.
Parkes Captain stated that this was the first year the club had participated in this style of competition and from the interest shown it definitely won’t be the last.
The event is played under similar conditions to these types of competitions played by the professionals.
PYBAR HANDICAP CHALLENGE
The following players have all qualified for the final of the Pybar Handicap Challenge which will be contested on Sunday 14th September commences at 9am.
All players who are listed must complete the acceptance letter which is available at the clubhouse.
The players in order of qualification are Jim Buckley, Sam Turner, Troy Hopley, Robert Cheney, Graham Cooke, Graham Turner, Phil Barnard, Wayne Powter, Tom Medcalf, Michael Mitchelson, Glen Buesnell, Brien McPhee, Colin Barker, Allan Jewell, David Stevenson, Roger Larsen, Brian Hogan Snr, John Green and Vince Kelly.
The reserves in order are Mike Wood, Paul Morgan, Ron Klein, Mark Job and Peter Dixon.
Players are advised that acceptance letters must be returned to the club prior to 5pm on Friday 29th August. Any player who hasn’t accepted by this date will be replaced by one of the reserves.
SCT LOGISTICS 2014 PARKES OPEN TOURNAMENT
Entries will be received for the annual SCT Parkes Open Tournament weekend from this Friday. The entries must be on the official Entry Form which are available at the club or from the clubs website and they must be accompanied with the appropriate fee.
All members are advised that entries for the prelude event the Atlas Copco Open 4 Ball Best Ball must also be done on the Entry Form and any players who wish to book a Golf Cart or who would like to Tee off at a particular time must note this on the Entry Form.
Associated sponsors of the 2014 SCT Logistics Parkes Open Golf Tournament are Atlas Copco Australia, Harvey Norman, Video Ezy, Parkes Mensland, Reflection Jewellers, local mayor Ken Keith OAM and the Asquith Golf Club.
Entries close for this event at 5pm on Friday 5th September, 2014 or once the field is full.
RULE OF THE WEEK
David’s ball lies on the green; prior to putting can David repair the bird damage on his line of putt?
Answer: No
Under Definitions – Abnormal Ground Conditions.
Bird damage is an abnormal ground condition and cannot be repaired prior to putting.
However if a ball is on the green, a player is entitled to free relief from an abnormal ground condition if it intervenes on the line of his putt, and may place his ball at the nearest point that avoids the bird damage. This point may be of the green, in which case the ball must still be placed, not dropped. If the ball originally lies off the green a player is not entitled to repair bird damage on the green or to take relief if it intervenes on his line of play.
JACK BURCH 4 BALL HANDICAP MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Members are reminded that Round 3, 3 matches of the annual Jack Burch 4Ball Handicap Matchplay Championship must be completed by this Sunday.
The match committee have ruled that there will be no extensions in times for this and other club matchplay events as they feel that players have significant time to organise and play these crucial matches within the dates specified.
FRIDAY NIGHT MEALS & RAFFLES
Members and their invited guests are encouraged to go out to the club on a Friday evenings and sample the wonderful dishes available at the 19th Hole Restaurant.
Meals are available and can be ordered between 6.30 and 8.30pm with the club also conducting its Friday Night raffles from 6pm with the draws commencing at 7.30pm.
The duty Committee member this Friday is Colin Barker.
THIS WEEKENDS COMPETITIONS
This weekend members will contest an 18 hole Stableford for the Byrne Clothing Companies trophy on Saturday with the starters being Garry Phillips and Ron Klein and then on Sunday it’s a 9 hole Medley Stableford for a club trophy and for members wishing to travel, Condobolin will host its annual Open Tournament this weekend and proceedings commence on Saturday with a 4Ball Stableford and then on Sunday it’s the clubs Open Tournament.