Top of the Town

By DENNIS FULLER

WHAT appeared, to the naked eye, to be benign conditions at Emerald Golf Club last Saturday, proved to be more tricky than expected.
A small but particularly troubled group hit the first tee, ready for the challenge.
When the shouting and tumult had subsided, it was Steve Town (13) who floated to the top to win overall and in A Grade with 36 points.
An arm wrestle ensued in B Grade, but after the scrutinisers gave the cards an exceptionally thorough scrutiny, it emerged that Allan Ecclestone (18) beat Ken Sumsion (25) on a countback when they both managed 34 points.
The rest of the field found scoring at an acceptable level not on the menu for the day and many downcast golfers trudged into the tuck shop after play with little to cause a smile.
Broc Reynold was nearest the pin on the 4th, Ross Martin the 7th, Town the 13th and Ken Hill managed a double on the 12th and the pro pin 18th.
The ladies event turned into a one horse affair, when Leanne Morison gave the other ladies a thrashing to greet the judges and pocket the prize money.
Wednesday’s Overly Frumpish Golf (OFG) was a bisque par event where players had to nominate whether they would use their handicap strokes on either odd or even holes.
Much rumination occurred when this decision was being made.
In the end a draw resulted, with Ken Sumsion (26) and Bobby Kennedy (24) sharing the spoils when they came in with +3. Geoff Whittaker (23) was the best of the rest one back on +2.
Next Saturday is a stroke event which doubles as the qualification round for the club’s Match Play Championship, so the big guns will be out.