John Green snared his first Pybar Handicap Challenge played in strong westerly winds on Sunday. One of the favourites Ian Phipps was the first of the field of 19 players to succumb on the 1st hole after a chip off with Brian Hogan. Chip Offs were to be the order on the majority of the first nine holes as Warren Blatch, Victor Gaidzionis, Brian Hogan, Robert Cheney, Wayne Butler, Bernie McCabe, Lachlan Buesnell and Cameron Butler found themselves looking on by the half way mark.
After lunch the remaining ten players ventured out with one aim to survive. An errant second shot by Michael Smith saw him go out, and on the Par 3, 11th hole defending titleholder, Ross Smith found the green side bunker. Mark Kelly was next to go as he floundered on the Par 4, 12th hole and on the Par 5, 13th hole the trees on left ended the Colin Barker run. After several near escapes Chris Goodies’ luck deserted him at the 14th hole in a chip off with Denis
Howard. Howard’s luck ran out on the Par 15th hole as he ran up a double bogey.
With just 3 holes remaining it was down to four players: last minute substitution, John Green, Phil Barnard, Joey Van Opynen and David Stevenson. The sledging started in earnest and it was Stevenson who was first to be eliminated in a three way chip off. At the 17th event favourite Joey Van Opynen inexplicitly missed a short putt that was to end his hopes. This left Barnard and Green to battle it out on the short Par 4, 18th hole and after both players recorded solid pars they faced a daunting chip off that saw Green come out tops. Event sponsor Paul Rouse of Pybar Mining congratulated both players on their success.
Australian cricketer Jeff Thomson will be the special guest at Sunday’s 3 Person Ambrose fundraising event for the Central West Autism Awareness & Special Needs Awareness Group hosted by John Holland Construction Contractors. The day starts at 10am with an entry fee of $40 per team player including lunch. A charity auction will be held at the end of the day. Items include various sports memorabilia.
By Paul Thomas