By Ian Callen
RACV’s Thursday Competition day allowed team captains the opportunity to test the capabilities of their respective playing lists.
Enthusiasm for the upcoming tournament is through the roof; evidenced by the unusually high number of members staying on well after play, discussing golf.
Had the four points been on offer Thursday, Team Rael and Riddell would have shared them; their top six scorecards returned 210 stableford points, with Team Nicholson 10 in arrears.
The result was not lost on ‘Nicholson’ Captain Laurie Tormey who immediately engaged long time confidant Tony Druitt as team ‘Statistician’ to discuss strategy before the final ‘Australia Day’ practice round next week.
The Team Tournament series will tee off Thursday 2 February.
To celebrate the opening of the tournament, two golfing stalwarts, affectionately named; Alan ‘Harley’ Davidson and Ralph ‘Evil’ Keable will compete to decide who’s golfing trike is the quickest.
The ‘dash for glory’ will start from the practice putting green to the clubhouse. Peter Doyle will act as the ‘Starter’ tossing a coin to decide who will start first and Dickie Taylor will be in charge of the stop watch at the Clubhouse finish line.
As talk of the time trial began to circulate amongst members, it wasn’t long before bets were being placed and eventually; discussion lead to a protest being lodged. It was claimed that ‘Evil’ was the lighter of the two and as such his electric cart wouldn’t be under equal load.
Steward Max McIntosh immediately intervened declaring; Keable’s cart will have to carry an extra bucket of sand.
Practice results for Team Riddell:
Steve Cubela (38) Max McIntosh (37), Mark Donovan (36), David Hutchins (35), Malcolm Moore 32 and Rennie Mathieson (32).
Practice results for Team Rael:
Rob Johnston (39), Greg Urquhart (38), Steve Oates (36), Kennith Emslie (33), Peter Henry and Ian McMinn (32).
Practice results for Team Nicholson:
Ian Callen (41), Alan Davidson (34), Jan O’Brien (32), Laurie Tormey (31), Geoff Hopkins (32) and Tony Druitt (31).
This weeks Alba Paloma ‘vouchers’ went to the playing list of ‘Team Nicholson’ congratulations to you all.
A captains meeting will be held Thursday to discuss a proposal to ensure all members (no matter the preferred playing day) are given the opportunity to participate in the Team Golf Tournament if they choose.
A second draft can now be expected in order to finalise playing lists by 6:30pm Wednesday 1 February.
