The November Monthly Medal round, featuring the Medals of Medals round for 2022, had 82 players on the course at the Parkes Golf Club.

Jack Elliott, with a one over par round 72, took out the A grade by two strokes from Aaron Wilkie. Joe Van Opynen, was back on 77. In the nett event, Jack won with a fine 69, just beating home both Michael Thomas and Joe Van Opynen on 70.

In B grade Aaron Drabsch, shot a low 83 to take out the scratch from Nym Dziuba on 86. Aaron was also too strong in the nett event with his 68 holding out Matthew Clarke on 71 with Nym back on 73. 

In C grade Ryan Edwards had to survive a countback with his 91 to take out the scratch. The unlucky player being Wayne Tucker. In the nett event Bruce Symonds shot an impressive 68 to be 1 clear of Ryan and 3 clear of Wayne.

In the prestigious Medals of Medals, Michael Thomas was successful in A grade, David Speakman picked up the B grade award and Bruce Symonds took out the C grade. 

In the Griffins Leading Edge putting competition Jack Elliott hit the magical 26 putt number. The Wally Norman Vets Medal was won by Gordon Pritchard which was the first time he’s claimed this prize. The Putter of Putters for 2022 was taken out by Jack Elliott.

The eagle’s nest was raided with two eagles recorded. Big hitters Anthony Riach and Michael Thomas were able to get to the par 5s in two and knock the putts in.

Ball winners: Joe Van Opynen, Michael Thomas 70, Jim Kuntze, Aaron Wilkie, Wayne Tucker, Matthew Clarke 71, Beau Tanswell, Brian Hogan Snr 72, Garry Philips, Peter Picker, M.Skene, Graham Cooke, Wayne Powter, Anthony Riach 73.

In the President versus the Captain, David has a slender lead of 3 points over Cath 366/363.

In the Ladies event Leone Stevenson was the winner on 39 points beating home Anita Medcalf by a point with Judy Fisher a further point back.

The Parkes Golf Club held its annual 27-hole Foursomes Championship on Saturday. The club also had a successful Breast Cancer Awareness Day, co-ordinated by Leonie Stevenson. 

In the men’s division 1 Aaron Wilkie and Joe Van Opynen were the winners with a 113 only 6 over par for the day. In division 2 the pairing of Ross Smith and Wayne Parker won the event for this year.

In the men’s A grade nett Ian Hendry and Peter Bristol took out the event and Ross Smith and Wayne Parker were successful in the men’s B grade nett. 

In the ladies A grade Anita Medcalf and Dale Matthews were winners in the scratch in front of Kathy Jeffress and Kristine Smith. Anita and Dale won the nett event 4 clear of Cathy Kelly and Colleen Staples. In the ladies B grade scratch Kaye Inglis and Jenny Hoy were successful. Kaye and Jenny also won the nett event. 

The Nearest The Pins this week were: Idlerite Tyrepower 1st by M.Skene at 244cm, the Griffins Leading Edge 4th by Joe Van Opynen at 275cm, the Dirt Doctor Landscaping 6th Colleen Staples at 270cm, the Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete 9th by Anthony Riach at 197cm, the Harvey Norman 11th by Damien Noll at 93cm, the Westlime 15th by Steve Betland at 300cm and the Central West Glass 18th by John Betland at 45cm. The lucrative 6th hole was won by Colleen Staples at 270cm this week. 

For the ladies Jenny Hoy won the B grade 4th, Colleen Staples won the 6th and Jacqie Charlton claimed the C grade 11th. 

Ball winners were: Ron Hetherington and Trevor Chatman 108.5, Michael Thomas and Max Keith, Peter Magill and Brendon Simpson 109.5, Ben Howard and Anthony Riach 111.5, John Green and Luke Clarke 111.75, David Stevenson and Craig Matthews 112.

This weekend is the Telescope Tyres & Batteries/Hankook Masters Monthly Medal. Griffins Leading Edge Putting Competition in conjunction / Wally Norman Memorial Medal. Final of the Medal of Medals Sponsor – Parkes Betta Home Living; Final of the Putter of Putters Sponsor – Griffins Leading Edge.

By Peter Bristol

The Forbes golfers once again donned their wet weather gear in order to battle the course and somehow produce a good score.

Saturday was changed to a Stableford Medley due to a very wet course. Thirty golfers were keen to post a score, although nine players did not finish.

It was still very competitive with a count back required for the winner and runner-up. Neil McMillan was the first in with 38 points, having set the pace on the back-9 with 22 points. A little later James Earl (Shortland Waters) carded 38 points but his back-9 was less fruitful, handing the winner prize to Neil.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Bede Tooth; 18th – Nil. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Jacob Bernardi who was ‘eagle-eyed’ and put his ball to 1.34metres, the best shot for a few weeks.

The Ball Sweep went to 32 points, with a big gap between the prize winners and the remainder of the field. The lucky ones were: P Cowhan, R Webb, J Coulthurst, K Herbert, B Tooth, J Bernardi, B Parker and A Alley. The lone, but successful, visitor was James Earl who wandered around in shorts and rain jacket.

There was no Stableford Medley on Sunday due to very wet conditions.

Players please note that with more inclement weather forecast and expected overland water flow a decision on the golf for this weekend to be made and players notified. The club championships will be postponed until early December. Please keep in touch with the Pro Shop.

By Short Putt

The Forbes golfers took advantage of the good weather to enjoy the course and get some early games in, ahead of a busy family weekend.

The men’s comp was the Monthly Medal 18-hole Stroke, sponsored by Forbes Concrete, and pursued by 57 starters.

The A-Grade was won by Alf Davies with 70 nett, on count back from Andrew Dukes. Andy tried his best, finishing with a birdie, but Alf had two birdies on the back-9 to keep his edge.

The B-Grade was won by Anthony Alley with 71 nett, on count back from Tony Cogswell and Niel Duncan. Anthony had the better back-9 of all three.

The C-Grade comp was won by Tony Travers (The Coast) with 71 nett, on count back from Dave Bernardi who was awarded the medal.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Paul Pymont; 18th – Andrew Dukes. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Peter Dawson with a shot to 1.6 metres.

The Ball Sweep went to 75 nett on count back, with six players in the toss but only two successful. The visitors included Tony Travers (The Coast) and Neil Morris (Pacific Dunes), with Lee Grierson (Wollongong).

By Short Putt

The better weather encouraged golfers onto the course, only to find many challenges resulting from the rising water which altered the way many holes were played.

Saturday’s Golf NSW KENO 2-person Ambrose, sponsored by Golf Harvest, had 30 pairs of players competing in the men’s, ladies and mixed categories. The winner in each category qualified for a regional final.

The men’s category had 23 pairs vying for the honour. Playing at the back of the field, the pair of Tom Toohey and Harry Callaghan scored well and putted even better to record 65.25 nett. Runners-up, and eligible to also go forward because of the number of participants, were Sandy Paterson and Reg Murray who scored 67.25 nett.

The ladies category had five pairs and the winners were Nicole Death and Veronica Rebellato with 67.5 nett. Helped by a good handicap, they were streets ahead of the remainder of the field.

The mixed category had two contending pairs with only a half point separating them. The pair of Warwick and Jean Judge took the honours.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – ladies: L Kennedy, men: B Carpenter; 18th – ladies: C Duncan, men: H Callaghan. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Jordan Brett.

The Ball Sweep went to 69 nett, being distributed to: J Brett/C Hanrahan, S Paterson/R Murray, S Grallelis/J House, D Rhodes/M Brindle, B Chandler/S Uphill, R Webb/P Tisdell, A and L Alley. 

The Sunday Stableford Medley did not take place because of rising water.

This weekend we have a 4-ball Ambrose Medley sponsored by Alby Callaghan, and on Sunday the Annual VW Scramble.

By Short Putt

The Parkes Prostate Cancer Group is having an ‘Awareness’ Charity Golf Day on Saturday, 8th October on the renovated course. The day includes a longest drive competition for men and women, nearest the pins and a few other surprises. 

Paul Lewin of Bugman has stepped up to help sponsor the day, as well as the Parkes Services Club. (More about their sponsorship next week.) Funds raised on the day will be used to invite prostate cancer specialists to Parkes meetings and will increase the possibilities to have more Prostate Cancer Nurses in our area.

“The support of ‘Bugman’ is greatly appreciated and goes a long way in promoting our cause,” said Michael Lynch of the Parkes Prostate Cancer Group.

Only a handful of Forbes golfers endured the conditions on the weekend to play their competition games. On Saturday the Men’s comp was changed to an 18-hole Individual Stableford. Division 1 was won by Phil Wells with 31 points. Runner-up was Dave Earl on count back from Neil McMillan after both scored 29 points.

The Division 2 players had the advantage of more handicap to play with. The winner was Nick Ryan with a scorching 42 points. A long way back was runner-up Bede Tooth with 35 points.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Glen Hooper; 18th – Phil Wells. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Nick Ryan. The Ball Sweep went to: Rob Scott (31), Dennis McGroder (30) and Neil McMillan (29).

The Sunday Stableford Medley winner was Walter Bergmann with 30 points. There was no ball sweep. The NTP’s were a mix with nobody hitting the 9th, but Jesse Hamilton grabbing the 18th.

It is the Parkes Open this weekend, and hopefully the weather will not affect it.

At Forbes it is the Golf NSW 2-P Ambrose Medley tomorrow, and a Stableford Medley on Sunday.

By Short Putt

The Saturday Men’s golf Individual Stableford, sponsored by Gunns Traffic Control, had a field of 54 starters in Forbes.

The Div-1 winner was Jack Dobell with 39 points. Runner-up was Kim Herbert with 37 points.

Div-2 was won by a player in good form, Reggie Murray with 40 points, the best of the day. Runner-up was Matt Coles with 39 points.

NTPs: 9th – Matt Coles; 18th – Greg Webb; 3rd Hole Super Pin – Matt Skene with a shot to 2.46m.

The Ball Sweep went to 33 points on count back. 

By Short Putt