Winter Pennant Finals
Posted on: 28 July
Winter Pennant Finals
The finals of the Goulburn Murray District Winter Pennant were played at well-presented Rich River course on Sunday (28 July) in what was certainly winter conditions thanks to cold temperatures and stiff breeze.
At the presentations GMGA Secretary David Roberts congratulated all teams who made the finals, thanked all the clubs who participated in the competition and added special thanks to Rich River for hosting the finals and Club Captain Joel Watson and his helpers for the organisation of the day. The standout statistic of the finals was the closeness of all the team matches.
Division Four was played between Tocumwal and Mooroopna. Rod Jackson, new to Pennant this season, got Tocumwal away to a great start, then Jim Mallis and Nick Breslin fought back with 2/1 wins for Mooroopna. Jeff Rogers posted another win for Tocumwal to make the teams equal on two games each. The number one players battled to the eighteenth hole where Nick Sidebottom recorded a one up win for Mooroopna to give them the win. Mooroopna pennant organiser Danny Ralph, not enjoying the greatest health, was recognised by Tocumwal Captain Shane Halloran, in great pennant spirit. The Mooroopna boys “did it for Danny”.
Mooroopna grinners, Nathan Jarrett, Nick Breslin, Danny Ralph, Kevin Newton, Nick Sidebottom and Jim Mallis
Division Three must have loved the cold so much they were last to finish thanks to a couple of nail biters. Peter Stanbrook recorded a 3/2 win to get Cobram-Barooga started, Chris Shannon then got one for Shepparton. Jason Poulter posted a good win for Cobram-Barooga. Michael Hand and Alan Lownder went down the 19th where Hand secured a victory for Shepparton. It was then up to the number one players to decide the match where Shepparton’s Josh Preston gained a victory on the 18th over Glenn Morris of Cobram-Barooga. Congratulations Shepparton, and well done to Shepparton Captain Ken Baxter, who summed up the spirit and sportsmanship of District pennant in his victory acceptance speech.
Happy Shepparton Div 3 team: Chris Shannon, Ken Baxter, Kyle Hippisley, Josh Preston, Michael Hand
In Division Two Tocumwal went through the season clearly on top of the ladder and had defeated Shepparton relatively easily when they met previously. However, as was expected Shepparton were not going to just roll over. John Thompson recorded a win for Tocumwal and then Bailey Clune a win for Shepparton. Next finished Brett Molnar a win for Tocumwal. The two team Captains James Faram (Shepp) and Darren Rowe (Toc) saw Faram score a 4/3 win. Just like Divisions Three and Four, two game wins each. Ian Armour sank a great putt on the 18th to secure a 2up win over Kirk Dalziel to give Tocumwal the Division Two pennant.
From the District Northern Border Tocumwal Div 2: Ian Armour, Nat H Brett Molnar, Darren Rowe, John Thompson.
Some of the best golfers in the District faced off in Division One with Shepparton taking on Rich River on the latter’s home track. However, pennant experience tells us never to underestimate Shepparton. Archer Golding got Rich River off to a blinder with a very strong win. The two Shepparton warriors of Daniel Adem and Luke Dixon were up to the challenge and recorded solid wins and when young Shepparton Captain Bailey Goodall posted a good win it saw Shepparton with three game wins to enable some waving and messages to be sent to Jeremy Rath and Reece Thompson who had gone down 19th trying to decide a win to shake hands and declare their contest a draw.
Record breaking Shepparton Division One: Daniel Adem, Jeremy Rath, Bailey Goodall, Cameron Kearney, Luke Dixon
For a District record, this is now seven years in a row for Shepparton in Division One, plus with three teams in the finals a great club achievement and attitude towards pennant.