Last Saturday’s Irish team stableford event, sponsored by Paul Thomas and Ken Ryan, was a big hit with 63 players in action. Victor Gaidzionis, Brett Cowling, Rod Kiley and Luke Greenwood made the most of the unique scoring method to claim the win with 100 points. They combined brilliantly, and importantly on the right holes, to win by eight points.

Playing as a team of four, all golfers played out each hole as they would in an individual stableford, but that was where the standard scoring finished. On the first six holes, only the best stableford score of the four players was recorded.

On the next five holes, only the best two stableford scores were recorded. On the next four holes, only the best three
stableford scores were recorded while on the final three holes, all four scores were recorded.

Next best in the competition were Peter Magill, Rob Cheney, Bernard Provan and David Stevenson with 92 points. They were followed by John Green, Mark Kelly, Brian McPhee and Jarrod Kemp on 90. Rod Luyt, John Pearce, Bill Warren and Tom Delmenico finished in fourth position with 86 points.

The last of the voucher winners, also with 86 points, were Ron Hetherington, Trevor Chatman, Wayne Tucker and Lindsay Elliott. Ryan Thornberry won the individual on 40 points. Nearest the pin winners: Chris Goodie – Idlerite-Tyrepower 1st hole -585cm; Ross Smith – Griffins Leading Edge – 230cm; Bernie McCabe – The Dirt Doctor Landscaping 6th hole – 408cm; Robert Cheney – Harvey Norman 11th hole, 90cm (very nearly a hole-in-one, also won the money hole); Peter Magill – Westlime 15th hole – 474cm; Dub Rodgers – Parkes Readymixed Concrete 9th hole – 630cm, and Aaron Wilkie – PJL Group 18th green – 110cm.

By Denis Howard

Forbes golfer John Betland followed in his brother’s footstep and kept the SCT Logistics Parkes Open Golf Tournament crown in the family on Sunday. He survived a three-hole playoff against long-time adversary Robert Payne from Duntry League in the strongest field ever in the tournament’s 43 year history.

After 27 holes of intense golf, Betland and Payne finished on one over par 107 and were forced into a three-hole playoff dominated by Betland. On the first hole both players missed the green and after playing deft chips Betland
calmly sunk his 2.5m putt, while Payne missed from 2m.

On the second hole Betland hit a massive 285m drive, while Payne’s drive missed the fairway to the right. Betland played his third shot to about 5.5m and calmly sank the putt for a birdie 4, while Payne putted for a bogey 6. On the third and final required a miracle and hit a magnificent approach shot finishing some 3.5m from the pin, however Betland wasn’t to be outdone as his approach found the green some 4.5m from the pin.

His birdie putt finished just 30cm from pin and he calmly sank the putt to secure his second SCT Parkes Open Tournament victory after winning in 2011. Betland and Payne said the Parkes Open was one of the premier country tournaments if not the best.

The Parkes Open proved to be one of the closest finishes as six players battled for the honour. After the initial 18 holes defending titleholder Steve Betland opened up a one-shot lead as he turned at 1 under par 70 to lead his brother John by a mere shot. Robert Payne and Justin Sutton of Parkes were one shot back while tournament favourite Mark Hale was a further shot away on 73.

By Paul Thomas

The Parkes Open Golf Tournament will see the strongest field in its 43-year history competing on Sunday. The SCT Logistics 27-hole event has attracted 144 players with 44 of them off handicaps of 8 or less. According to Parkes Golf
Club’s Tournament Director Paul Thomas this has forced officials to change the A grade field from its normal 10 handicap to the lower limit of 8.

The field also includes eight golfers off handicaps of square or better, while over half are off handicaps of 4 and below. The Harvey Norman B grade field will be for players on handicaps of 9 to 15, and the Video Brokers C grade field will be for players on handicaps of 16 to 27.

Three former winners will be playing with titleholder Steve Betland of Forbes, his brother John who plays Pennants out of the strong Moore Park Club in Sydney despite still residing in Forbes, and DuntryLeagues’ multiple winner Robert Payne.

Mudgee golfer Mark Hale will start as favourite slightly ahead of Robert Payne, and the Australian’s James Brownlow with the Betland brothers certain to be in the mix. The local club’s major hopes include reigning club champion Mitch McGlashan and Justin Sutton.

Sydney clubs have again supplied a large quantity of the field and it will be interesting to see how the strong field of visitors handle the undulating and tricky greens. In the minor grades, local players are hoping to gain success with Denis Howard, David Stevenson and junior golfer Lachlan Buesnell the major contenders in the Harvey Norman B grade restricted to players on handicaps of 9 to 15.

By Paul Thomas

Last Saturday’s Parkes Golf Club 18-hole four-ball-best-ball, sponsored by All Settlers Motor Inn, saw a three-way tie at the top with a countback required to determine the victors. Competing for the Keith Mill and Keith Cusack Memorial trophies, a superior back nine holes saw Peter Magill and Warren Blatch come out on top to win the day.

Magill and Blatch were matched by Vince Kelly and Mick Dellaca, and Victor Gaidzionis and Rob Lea, all on 45 points. Magill and Blatch were followed by Kelly and Dellaca, with Gaidzionis and Lea in third. Other ball winners included Rod Luyt and John Pearce (44); Jarrad Kent and Tim Baker (43); Riall Harrison and Justin Sutton, Steve Simpson and Ross Smith, and John Green and Tom Casey (42). Blatch’s blistering round of 43 individual points saw
him win the Fred Cusack Memorial, three points clear of Mick Dellaca on 40.

Parkes lady golfers found the going very tough again last Saturday with conditions not suiting the 12 starters. With a number of ladies competing in the annual western Districts ladies Golf Association Rose Bowl, nobody in the reduced field could match their handicap in the 18 hole stableford event sponsored by Parkes Golf Club.

In another exciting competition, a fourway countback was needed to determine the victor. Winner was Margaret Hogan with 34 points, beating Colleen Flynn, Ann Berkeley and Kaye Jones via a countback. Dale Matthews was the final ball winner with 33 points.

By Denis Howard