THE future of golf in our region is alive and well, according to those involved in the Victorian Primary Schools Championships.
Werribee Park Golf Club recently hosted a regional final and the calibre of the youngsters playing came to the fore with great scores returned by those who will take part in the state final later this year.
Young Westgate prodigy Zak El-Kurdi was first in the boys’ section followed by Jack Marlins and Werribee Park’s Jack Harris.
In the girls’ division, Michelle Marcola, Sophie Crockett and Jaymie McPherson will tee off in the final. Although the event is played over nine holes with a modified scoring system, it is a great credit to the players and their clubs to be selected to take on primary school golfers from all over the state.
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IS it possible that a four-person ambrose competition will become a thing of the past? I have been reliably informed that there is a push to outlaw the competitions as being illegal as each group has no marker.
The idea stems from the changes the Australian PGA made to its Holden Scramble format, where the event is now played by two groups of three to give each a marker, and not a group of four as it was when it first started. Most find that the three-person format with a marker from the opposing three works better than the original of four bandits teaming together.
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GOLFERS in the West were saddened last week following the death of Peter Waite.
As a former vice-captain of Kooringal and a long-standing and popular member of Medway, many mourned his passing. It could be a fitting tribute by both clubs to name their annual challenge trophy the Peter Waite Cup.Those of us who knew and respected Peter offer our sincerest sympathies to Joan, Debra and Peter Junior on their loss.
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WITH the regional final of the Holden Scramble to be played at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club on Thursday 5 October, the club held its heat of the event last week, and considering more than half the field were visitors, it was teams put together by club members that took the first three placings. Tony Monahan, Michael Smith and Mark Gamble were first, Stephen and Suzie Gately and Allan Richardson were runners-up and Caroline Button, Stewart McCauley and Adam Mallabone were third.
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I PLAYED in the highly successful Portarlington Golf Club Carnival of Golf recently and caught up with former Yarraville Club Golf Club members Brian and Sue Hazell, who now make Portarlington their home. Both have taken their golf to a new level and Sue has become “hooked” on the game. They send their regards to their friends Yarraville. Brian said his golf had improved, he was still envious of Sue’s recent hole in one and the fact that she now had one up on him.
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THE Altona Lakes Golf Club will conduct its annual presentation day on Saturday 7 October, and all of the interest will be in who will get the coveted Tiger Woods trophy. The trophy, awarded annually to the club member with the best averages in the medal rounds, is a magnificently framed caricature of Woods by Sydney artist Tony Rafty and also a cap signed personally by Woods and valued at $15,000.
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THERE would be mixed feelings in the Parry household after the Eagles gave the Western Bulldogs a caning. Craig Parry is an avid Western Bulldogs supporter and his father Tom, who now live in Western Australia, is an avid Eagles supporter. On Saturday night it was hard to stop Tom grinning like a Cheshire cat.
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IF you would like to nominate anyone as the Star Golfer of the Month or have any information about feats on the course or news from your club, then contact me on phone/fax 9749 2481, mobile 0409 381 192 or email beggolf@optusnet.com.au
www.sanctuarylakes.com.au