Parkes Phoenix

Golf Open Entries Close Today

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Entries for this this year’s SCT Logistics Parkes Open Golf Tournament on 16th and 17th September close today.
Although entries have not been as forthcoming as in previous years, Tournament Director Paul Thomas is happy with the standard of players who will be contesting the 27-hole championship event on Sunday, 17th September.

Paul believes Mudgee’s Mark Hale will start as the favourite ahead of the Australians James Brownlow, while defending titleholder Steve Betland of Forbes will have his followers, as will his brother John. There is also DuntryLeagues’ Robert Payne who will test the mettle of the top hopes as will the local hopes in club champion,
Mitch McGlashan, and Justin Sutton.

The Harvey Norman B Grade title should be a tight affair with players off handicaps of 10 to 16 will contest this division, and the Network Video C Grade will cater for players on handicaps in excess of 17.

The veteran golfer brigade will battle the Keith Clarke Scratch Division for a trophy donated by the Asquith Golf Club, while Mayor Ken Keith will sponsor the handicap section. The John Leister Memorial trophy is for the player who returns the best 18 hole handicap score across all grades, and D’Aquinos will sponsor the first hole in one and the nearest the pin awards.

By Paul Thomas

Strong Field For Parkes Open

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This year’s SCT Logistics Parkes Open Golf Tournament on 16th and 17th September is playing out to be one of the strongest in its history. Tournament organiser Paul Thomas believes the event will once again have a capacity field.
The club has received in excess of 80 entries already, and with entries still to come from several of the major players plus regular contingents from reciprocal clubs such as Northbridge, The Coast and Duntry League in Orange, a capacity field of 160 players is within in reach.

Defending titleholder Steve Betland has indicated he will try to preserve the title he won convincingly last year on a saturated course that saw the event cut back to 18 holes as heavy rain came close to forcing its abandonment.

Multiple winner Duntry League’s Robert Payne has indicated his intention to return and attempt to win the title he has dominated over the past decade and a half. Both Betland and Payne will have to overcome quality opposition including a host of current top line state players. These include another former champion John Betland of Forbes, Mudgee’s Mark Hale and Andrew Best, Asquith’s Dave Morgan, current Pymble Champion James Conran along with Cowra’s Peter Kirwan, Duntry Leagues’ Andy Campbell and the Dubbo duo of Ross Horrocks and Errol Toomey.

Local golfers Justin Sutton and Mitch McGlashan are also up as contenders. Nominations for the prelude event the
Atlas Copco Australia Open Four Ball Best Ball Stableford in both scratch and handicap sections are on target to give the club a field of over 200 players.

By Paul Thomas

Major Sponsor Tees Off For Parkes Open

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National Logistics Company SCT Logistics have gleefully accepted the Parkes Golf Club’s invitation to sponsor Parkes’ premier golfing event, the 2017 Parkes Open Golf Tournament on the weekend of 16 -17 September. Tournament Director Paul Thomas of the Parkes Golf Club said he and the Golf Club were delighted to welcome back SCT Logistics as the club’s major naming rights sponsor for its sixth year.

SCT Logistics have been involved with the annual Parkes Open Golf Tournament for the past eight years, having been the naming rights sponsor to the prelude event, the 18 hole Fourball Best Ball Stableford in 2010 and 2011, before becoming the major naming rights sponsors in 2012.

In making the announcement, Paul Thomas and SCT Logistics State Finance Controller Bill Wakim were thrilled that the sponsorship agreement had been signed. Bill stated that his company has had a strong relationship with the club over the past seven years as well as providing regular contributions to local sporting bodies.

He said he was delighted to sponsor one of the town’s premier sporting events which will again gain exceptional strong support from throughout NSW. The tournament regularly attracts class players from across the Western Area and it also gains much exposure and attention from leading Sydney clubs and other areas of the state.

GOLF: Countback Required To Decide Winners

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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

Tucker Wins Low Scoring Event

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On a day where only half a dozen golfers either beat or played to their handicap, Wayne Tucker stood out to claim a one point victory in the Mike Richardson Me- morial Shield at Parkes Golf Club last Saturday.

Sponsored by Richardson Dental Surgery, the 18 hole stableford was played on a course that proved too tough for the majority of the 50 starters. Tucker used the early conditions to shoot an excellent 39 points, too good for the rest of the field.

Ball winners went down to those golfers on 33 points. Saturday’s event doubled as the third round of the Handiskins which sees nominated golfers vying for a spot in the four-person final. The finalists play a skins game with club vouchers up for grabs on every hole, and a chance to com- pete in the national final in Queensland.

Anthony Riach virtually assured himself of a berth in the local final with his 37 points. Three more qualifying rounds remain as competition heats up.

In ladies golf, Junior Ladies Club Cham- pion Kasey Fay-Rice continued her mete- oric rise through the ranks with an impres- sive one point win in an 18 hole stableford sponsored by Judy McCabe.

Kasey shot a very good 37 points to beat Sue Holman, who finished with 36. Lynne Guise finished third with 34 while Colleen Flynn, Barbara Donnelly and Ann Berkeley all scored 32 points.

Parkes Golf Club men will have their last chance to qualify for this year’s IGA Scratch Shoot-out this Saturday. Played in conjunction with the Telescope Tyres and Batteries Monthly Medal, the sixth and fi- nal qualifying round is the last chance to get into the 19 person field.

The shoot-out sees 19 players tee off the first hole and the golfer with the worst score eliminated each hole. Last year’s event, which is a favourite with members, was won by Joe van Opynen who beat Mark Kelly.

While Telescope Tyres and Batteries sponsor the scratch awards this Satur- day, Central West Glass are sponsoring the handicap events. The Griffins Leading Edge putting competition will also be held in conjunction.

By Denis Howard

 

Baker And Conroy Shine

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Winner Glynis Conroy, with men’s winner Tim Baker and Sue Holman.

Victories by Tim Baker and Glynis Conroy were some of the highlights of a day of fun filled golf last Saturday.

Tim won the Denis Howard-sponsored 18 hole Stableford for men, while Glynis not only won the Ladies 18 Hole Club-sponsored Stableford, but was also victorious in the second round of the Handiskins qualification.

In the men’s premier event Tim not only surprised himself, but he dented the reputations of his fellow playing partners Peter Dixon, Robert Hey and Mark Kelly when he fired a brilliant 38 points to win the prestigious Cooke Cup. He was just one point clear of runner-up Anthony Riach.

Ball winners from the competition went to 37 Laurie Wakefield, 36 Justin Sutton, Pe- ter Boschman, Tim Burke and Peter Bristol, 35 Rod Luyt, Ron Hetherington, Mark Kelly, Brian Hogan Snr and Col Barker.In the ladies competition Glynis Conroy and Sue Holman shared the limelight as Conroy relied on Holman to gain victory after recording 39 points.

Conroy was also one of a good contingent of ladies who contested the second qualifying round of the Handiskins Championship.

The other highlight from the round was the performance of Sue Holman in the nearest the pin awards as she not only took out the Parkes Services Club-sponsored 11th hole for consecutive weeks, but she managed to add the Railway Hotel 15th hole to her collection.

Other nearest the pin victories saw Cathy Kelly take out the Lyn Rogan-sponsored 1st hole, Lorraine Maxwell the Parkes Pharmacy 4th hole and Glynis Conroy the Telescope Tyres & Batteries 6th hole.

Medcalfs Are Champion Naggers

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After an altercation with a quad bike three weeks ago and with no practice it was a wait and see situation for Tom Medcalf and his wife Anita in last Saturday’s 18 hole Medley 4-Ball Best Ball Stableford for the coveted Naggers Trophy.

Despite the accident Medcalf performed exceptionally well and not only did the likeable Trundle farmer take out the Naggers Trophy, but he also managed to take home a nearest the pin. The Medcalfs returned a solid 43 points to take the major award.

In the Sadie Hawkins award it was a rare victory for John Pearce and Rod Luyt who cruised to a solid one shot victory over Col Barker and Shen Taranto with 45 points.

Club Captain Paul Thomas informed members at the prize giving that effective immediately the club had made a major change in playing conditions that would allow players the opportunity to contest the following Saturday’s event by playing the designated com- petition on either the Monday or Friday prior to the scheduled event. This change will not affect championship events when players will have to contest the event on the designated date of play.

Thomas also said all golf balls won in either a nearest the pin or ball competition should be collected from the Pro Shop.

Saturday’s nearest the pin awards went to Peter Magill, Warren Blatch,Tom Medcalf, Steve Edmonds, Rod Kiley, Brian McGee and Glen Buesnell.

Ball winners from the Medley competition went to 44 Col Barker and Shen Taranto, 43 Chris Goodie and Dub Rodgers, Steve Edmonds and Anthony Riach, 42 Ron Hetherington and Lindsay Elliott, Brian and Dale Matthews and suriving the countback were Michael Smith and Liz Matthews.

The annual 27 hole Mixed Foursomes Championships will be played on Sunday, 18th June sponsored by Liz Matthews.

By Paul Thomas

Remarkable Day At Golf Club

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Despite the 30ml of rain on Friday evening, a great field enjoyed a remarkable day sponsored by D’Aquinos and Parkes Cellars last Saturday.

Members also contested qualifying rounds of the Handiskins and Pybar Handi- cap Challenge, as well as the Ian Pinniger Memorial trophy. In this event players contest an 18-hole 4ball aggregate Stableford with Glen Buesnell and Marty Woods tak- ing home the major trophy and the Ian Pin- niger Memorial Trophy. They recorded 75 points, with Buesnell contributing 41 individual points.

Robert Cheney topped the leader board in the Individual event with 39 points.

Despite the women still feeling the effects of a gruelling three days at the Western Districts Championships, a reasonable field contested the D’Aquino’s sponsored day. The 18-hole 4ball aggregate Stableford was won by sisters Lynne Guise and Kaye Jones with 65 points to edge out Frankie Cock and Margaret Hogan by three shots.

On Wednesday the ladies will contest the Parkes Sportspower 18-hole Stableford, which is also the second round of the Pat Turnbull Salver run over seven rounds with the player who records the highest score from four rounds declared the winner.

On Saturday is the 18-hole Medley 4Ball

Best Ball Stableford.

By Paul Thomas

Golf Club Championships A Tight Race

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Nothing separates the leading players in this year’s Terry Bros Furniture & Floor coverings Parkes Golf Club Championships after the opening two rounds last weekend. Reigning club champion, Justin Sutton, and Mitchell McGlashan currently share the lead at even par 142 after 36 holes.

At the end of Saturday’s opening round McGlashan snared the lead after a solid 1 under par 70, while Sutton returned a solid even par round of 71. During Sunday’s sec- ond round Sutton bounced back with an- other par round, while McGlashan returned a one over par round of 72.

Chasing the leading duo is John Green with 11 shots adrift on 153, and Joey Van Opynen in fourth position on 155.

Peter Bristol leads the B Grade after rounds of 89 and 83. Last year’s runner- up Michael Smith is three shots back after rounds of 87 and 88, while pre-championship favourite Dub Rodgers is only 4 shots off the pace with Dave Whitfield.

Veteran golfer and one of Parkes’s favourite sporting identities, Laurie Wake- field shares the lead in C Grade with Duncan Constable after both players recorded 179 shots.

Veteran golfer and defending veterans titleholder Robert Hey has a comfortable 10 shot lead over Ian Phipps in that divi- sion, while Lachie Buesnell is a comfort- able leader in the junior section.

In the overall handicap division only a handful of shots separates the leading ten players with Duncan Constable currently leading a frenzied pack of chasers on 139 just 1 shot clear of Tim Lasserre and Pe- ter Bristol, while Phil Bishop and Laurie Wakefield are just one shot further back on 141.

The final two rounds will be played this weekend with players also vying for the eight positions in the respective three grades of the club’s matchplay champion- ships to be played in conjunction with Saturday’s third round.

By Paul Thomas

Charity Day Huge Success

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The annual Northparkes Mines charity golf day last Saturday was a huge success with 119 players contesting the 3 Person Ambrose event for the benefit of CanAssist.

Mitch McGlashan, Ben McNaughton and Dave Chambers recorded the day’s best scratch score of 11 under par 60 to make them clear winners.

In the handicap events Allan Sharpe, Craig Dillon and Michael Dellaca dominated with a great 58 nett, while the ladies team event went to Lesley Fisher, Colleen Staples and Glynis Conroy successful on 68 nett.

Toby Webb, Sam White and Aaron Buesnell with 60 5/6 nett took out the event restricted to teams with a mixture of handicapped and non-handicapped players.

The novelty events saw wins to Troy Thomson, Kaye Jones and Toby Webb in long drive competitions, while nearest the pin awards went to Richard Hamilton, Steve Edmonds, Ian Ward, Denis Howard and Ben McNaughton. The ladies’ awards went to Janelle Thompson, Colleen Staples, Frankie Cock and Margaret Hogan.

Tomorrow the men will contest the opening two rounds of the annual championships and the ladies will play an 18 hole Stableford.

By Paul Thomas

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