District Play 9 Final Completed
Posted on: 21 October
The GMGA District Play 9 Final was contested at Merrigum GC on Sunday 20 October 2019. GMGA President David Roberts and Treasurer Alex Howson organised the field and although many clubs did not participate a good quality field of 28 players “took to the course” at 10.30am, with the women playing the back nine and the men playing the front nine.
At presentation, while players enjoyed a light lunch, thanks to the wonderful Merrigum catering pair of Tash and Jan, GMGA President David Roberts welcomed all players and gave a special welcome to Golf Australia District Development Officer Darren Jackson who joined in play with a group of men club representatives. David also thanked Merrigum President Simon Doherty for the hospitality of the club to host the event and thanked the caterers for the lunch.
In the women’s event Bev Hutchins from Numurkah won with 19 points ahead of Sherryl Curran (Hill Top) 18 points. Treasurer Alex handed out the trophies and Bev and Sheryl took home Golf Australia medals and GMGA pens and Mandy Farram (Shepparton) third on 17 points received a GMGA pen. Nearest the pins for GMGA hat clip ball markers went to Ian Hogeboon (Merrigum) and Sheryl Curran (Hill Top) with balls down the line on 14 points going to Sue Lowe (Nathalia), Jennifer Tomkins (Shepparton) and Nancy Dunn (Nathalia).
For the men Treasurer Alex handed Golf Australia medals to Craig Doherty (Merrigum) 22 points and Zavier Davidson, a junior player (Shepparton) 19 points who, on countback, nudged out Scott Perry (Hill Top) also on 19 points. Ed McQuienn (Parkland) won a GMGA ball marker and pug mark repairer for nearest the pin on the ninth, his first shot of the day! However, no man managed to get on the green on the 200 metre par 3 seventh. The Treasurer, in a great sporting gesture, refused to do a countback for balls down the line and so Travis Worm (Hill Top) 18 points and Peter Stonehouse (Numurkah), Ed McQuienn (Parkland), Graeme Frostick (Nathalia) and Barry Pruden (Numurkah) all on 17 points took home a ball.
Well done to all players for participating in this new event and the great step forward now is that two women and two men will represent the District in the State final. Unfortunately Bev Hutchins cannot attend the final so Sheryl Curran and Mandy Farram will represent GMGA Women, while Craig Doherty and Zavier Davidson will represent GMGA Men; and how fantastic to have a junior golfer in Zavier participating and representing our Association. Good luck to all finalists.
The State final will be played in Melbourne at Metropolitan GC, 3pm assembly on Sunday 24 November 2019. From the State final four players will proceed to the Australian Final in Sydney.