Gundagai hosted a New South Wales Veterans Golf Association (NSWVGA), Tournament on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th April. In perfect Autumn conditions on the beautiful Gundagai Course, the tournament was deemed a resounding success with local and visiting players alike, praising the course, facilities and hospitality extended.
The tournament was sponsored by: NSWVGA, PSC Insurance Brokers, Bendigo Bank, Lotts Family Hotel, Woolworths, Bruce Campbell, AgStock and Gundagai Tourist Information Centre. The organising committee members, were most grateful for this generous sponsorship.
Appreciation was also extended to all who contributed in any way by: presenting the course and facilities so well (praise to staff and volunteers); donating; providing the wonderful supply of slices and cakes; volunteering time and help before, during and after the tournament; conducting the event; or playing in the tournament. Both golfers and non-golfers, and even people who couldn’t attend, contributed to the team effort to make this tournament such a success! Well done Gundagai!
Considering the petrol situation, which impacted with many withdrawing over recent weeks, the entry numbers were still very impressive. Players came from as far away as the Gold Coast and over 30 NSW coastal or inland golf clubs. There were 82 players on Thursday and 83 on Friday. Gundagai had 23 players participating, with many of these players in the winners’ circle.
‘Special mention’ to Gundagai’s Ruth Foster who won two major awards following her blistering 44 Stableford points on the Thursday and who backed-up with another impressive round on the Friday.
Another ‘special mention’ to Gundagai’s ever-young Nancy Smith, who was also a prize winner and who celebrated her 96th birthday, three days after the competition. This is an outstanding achievement by Nancy; a wonderful age, still playing 18 holes of golf, and backing up for 36 holes on the second day!
A special feature of Gundagai’s two day tournament, was the chance to win $10,000 for a player who could achieve a ‘hole in one’. This potential prize was generously offered by PSC Insurance Brokers and the hole was the Par 3, 9th hole. Jenny Noden of St George’s Basin, went exceptionally close to winning this major award, being only 9cms from the hole! This award has been kindly on offer for several years by PSC Insurance Brokers and Jenny was the closest anyone has been thus far to winning the large sum.
The following is the list of awards and recipients at Gundagai:
NSWVGA Shield
Ladies’ Winner – Kerry Bray (Camden Lakeside), Runner-up-Teresa Waters (Holbrook)
Men’s-Winner- John Daley (Grafton), Runner- up- Darren Jones (Junee)
Bendigo Bank Cup – 72 hole Event (2 days in Tumut & 2 days in Gundagai)
Winner- Don Maling (Harden)
Lotts Family Hotel 36 Hole Event
Ladies’ Winner- Ruth Forster (Gundagai), Runner-up- Margaret Naylor (Cromer)
Men’s Winner- Steve Shuck (Temora), Runner up- Paul Dean ( Gundagai)
Beryl Monaghan Shield -Best Gundagai Player Score on the Friday
Winner- Ruth Forster
Thursday’s A Grade Stableford
Ladies’ Winner- Julie Berrick (Kew), Runner -up- Louise Hufton (Gundagai),
3rd- Jenny Noden (St George’s Basin)
Men’s- Winner-Peter Cowan (Forbes), Runner-up – John Mason (Howlong), 3rd – Don Maling (Harden)
Thursday’s B Grade Stableford
Ladies’ Winner- Nicole Porter (Gundagai), Runner -up – Nancy Smith (Gundagai), 3rd- Janeace Owen (St George’s Basin)
Men’s- Peter Crane (Gundagai), Runner-up – Brian Naylor (Cromer), 3rd – Jim Graham (South Gundagai)
Friday’s A Grade Stableford
Ladies’ Winner- Gabriella Latanzarini (Shelley Beach), Runner -up- Gloria Davis (Nowra), 3rd- Linda Cowan (Forbes)
Men’s- Brad Wainwright (Gundagai), Runner-up – Gary Wheeler (Kiama), 3rd – Doug Morey (Tumbarumba)
Friday’s B Grade Stableford
Ladies’ Winner- Rhonda Fields (St George’s Basin), Runner -up – Jackie Wheeler (Kiama) 3rd- Lee Daley (Grafton)
Men’s- Ron Moore (Yeoval), Runner-up – Mick Wells (Gundagai ), 3rd – Gordon Whitby (Tallebudgera)
Gundagai Tournament ‘Nearest the Pin’ winners were:
Day 1
2nd hole- Jeff Jones, 4th hole- Dave Bayley, 9th hole- Gordon Whitby, 12th hole-Graeme B, 16th hole-Julie Berrick;
Day 2
2nd hole-J Wheeler, 4th hole-Dave Bayley, 9th hole- Jenny Norden, 12th hole-Nick Jago, 16th hole- Paul Dean.
Gundagai players participated in Tumut in the first two days of the NSWVGA Tumut/Gundagai, ‘Week of Golf’. Helen Pearce was ‘Runner- up’ in the NSWVGA Shield and Bronwyn Annetts placed 3rd in the Ladies’ A Grade Stableford on the Monday and had a ‘Nearest the Pin’ shot on the 17th hole.
The following week, Gundagai players participated in Cootamundra’s ‘Week of Golf’ with Helen Pearce winning the A Grade Ladies’ Stableford event on the Tuesday, and Chris Annetts being A Grade ‘Runner- up’ in the 54 holes event over 3 days of play.
In the regular Gundagai Vets Golf Tuesday social competitions, the following are recent results:
Tuesday 14th April
Winner- Jeff Bourke, Runner-up- Nick Keatinge
Extra competition winners- Laurence Smith & John Knight
Tuesday 21st April-
Winner- Laurence Smith, Runner-up- Bruce Campbell
‘Nearest the Pin’ – Laurence Smith
Extra competition winners- Derek Lotz & Ray Kingwill
In other news: On another beautiful Autumn morning, Gundagai Vets golfers participated in a Front 9 holes Ambrose event on Tuesday 28th April.
The winning team was Brenda Argaet, Bruce Campbell, Ray Kingwill and Chris Annetts. Brenda sank a birdie putt on the 1st hole, as did Ray on the 3rd. Bruce and Chris played consistently well, contributing to the team’s win.
The team of Nancy Smith, Keith Wood, Kay Lotz and Kevin Perter was in 2nd place. A reported highlight was Nancy putting from off ‘the green’, sinking the ball for a birdie on the 1st hole.
Bronwyn Annetts had a ‘Nearest the pin’ shot on the 9th hole, and extra competition winners were: Marie Cooper and Marg Smith.
On Tuesday 5th May, it will be a Stableford event on the back 9 holes, with a meeting time of 9:00am for a 9:30 am start.
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