Shepp and Toc gain pennants
Posted on: 3 August
On an extremely pleasant day for golf and an absolute contract to the previous week the Division Three and Division Four Goulburn Murray District pennant finals were played at Mooroopna Golf Club on Sunday 3 August with players thankful for the week’s postponement.
Division Three saw Shepparton matched against Cobram-Barooga which resulted in the closest and most incredible finish for the entire season, with the last two individual matches going beyond the standard 18 holes.
Ash Lardner (Shepparton) led off against Greg Brooks with the Cobram-Barooga Captain registering a 2 up win. Shepparton team Captain Mick Shiels evened the scores with a 1 up win over Andrew Cossar. Then in the most unusual scoring of the day Greg Mentha from Cobram -Barooga who openly admitted he had a “day out” took a great 7/6 win over Ryan Gleeson. The number four players Ricky Lancaster and Rob Anderson were square after 18 holes from a determined fight back by Shepparton’s Lancaster and eventually it was Lancaster who managed the win on the 20th hole. Two individual matches each with one to come and Steve Tonks and Molly Ryan were still level after 18 so back down the first again where it was Tonks of Shepparton who snared the win to give Shepparton the Division Three Pennant.
They are a happy team at Shepp, Ash Lardner, Steve Tonks, Ricky Lancaster, Ryan Gleeson, Mick Shiels
In Division Four another Murray River team Tocumwal took on Hill Top Tatura. During the season they had played each other at Hill Top where the home team took the win which was Tocumwal’s only defeat of the home and away season.
Like Division Three this proved to be characterised by very close individual matches. Neck and neck all day it was Tocumwal’s Phil Howe who overcame Mick Trevaskis 1 up. Then Rod Jackson and Joe De Ieso were locked together after 18 after a great fight back from Jackson being down early and then Jackson finally won on the 20th hole. Two to Tocumwal. Rob Young from Hill Top was like Rod Jackson in the previous pairing and was down early and fought back to gain a one up win for the Tatura team. Tocumwal Team Captain, the consistent Shane Halloran was against Hill Top sponsor Tim Webb, and it was Halloran who took a 2/1 win. Randell Jakeman was a bit too accomplished for Hill Top’s young Tanz Dellar and took a 3/2 win. In the final total of scores Tocumwal took the pennant 4/1.
Tocumwal team are smiling: Rod Jackson, Phil Howe, Shane Halloran, Randell Jakeman, Glen Hyde
At presentation GMGA Secretary David Roberts thanked Mooroopna GC for hosting the finals with special thanks to Danny Ralph and Peter Van Tigglen who did most of the host club organisation. Thanks, were also extended to Shane Halloran for his setting up of the computer scoring system and to David Love and Barry Cryer of Nagambie for assistance with the draw and for entering all the scores for the season. Each of the team captains reiterated the thanks and added praise to their teams for their effort. Representing your club in pennant is one of the best things any golfers can do.