By Ian Callen
RACV golf members celebrated Australia Day on course with a final practice round in preparation for an eight week ‘Team Golf’ tournament. Seventy two golfers will be teeing up for their respective teams, with the ultimate goal; to hold the inaugural “Tormey – Taylor Shield” aloft on that final day in April.
Captains of TEAM RAEL, RIDDELL and NICHOLSON agonised over a second ‘player’ draft during the week in order to finalise their playing list, after Chief Steward McIntosh; ruled to extend the tournament to 4 April. A decision he made to ensure all season pass holders had the opportunity to participate in the event.
His changes however, did not alter how the six points on offer each round will be determined; it remains, an aggregate of the best six scorecards returned by each team. Although his ruling means a ‘round’ will now include three competition days; starting from the Thursday, to include Saturday, finishing on the Tuesday.
As a result the playing lists have increased to 24 players per team and so changes have been made to the weekly Stableford competition.
Captains are now required to nominate a player per hole (18) and then carefully consider, six sub-players, ranking them; one to six.
With the extra playing days, the rules state that the first day played will be applicable to that round: and sub-players must be utilised in accordance with their ranking and only when a golfer having been nominated for a particular hole is absent or fails to score on that hole.
Or, if the sub-player fails to score, the next ranked sub-player can be used. A sub-player, can only be used once per round.
Having performed poorly the previous week, Team Nicholson’s leadership group made significant changes to their line up, placing greater emphasis on the team rather than individuals.
Captain Laurie Tormey, was pleased with Thursday’s result, “It was a solid team performance and hopefully a confidence booster for the list moving forward”, he said
The outstanding round of the day came from the left hand powerhouse ‘Ian McMinn’. His round of 78 for a nett 63 was the best of the day. “I only hope I haven’t peaked early” McMinn said with a chuckle.
Team Rael Captain Steve Oates on the other had a different view, “The most pleasing aspect of Ian’s game, is that it just gets better and that is what we will be focusing on as a team from this point on,” he said.
Team Riddell’s Captain Malcolm Moore was pleased with the way his list has come together.
“With the inclusion of Peter Monk and the availability of Tom Handasyde towards the back end of the tournament… I think we are contenders now,” Moore said
Final Practice Round Results
TEAM NICHOLSON:
Geoff Hopkins. 69/79
Tony Druit 68/78
Laurie Tormey *70/86
Peter Gebert 69/86
Neil Ackerman 69/71
Ian Callen 71/88 = 416 shots
TEAM RIDDELL:
Steve Cubela 65/74
Malcolm Moore * 68/79
Tony Battaini 71/87
Mark Donovan 74/96
Billy Gordon 73/92
David Egan 69/78 = 420
TEAM RAEL:
Steve Oates * 75/85
Ian McMinn 63/78
Don Stevenson 67/82
Rob Johnston 76/96
Alistair Lee Archer 78/102
Greg Urquhart 74/86. = 434
Alba Paloma Cafe “Stableford” Results:
Team Nicholson 43 Stableford points
Team Rael 41 points
Team Riddell 29 points
FINAL TEAM LISTS
Team Riddell
Steve Cubela (th)
Malcolm Moore (th) *
Max McIntosh (th)
Tony Battaini (th)
Dale Phillips (s)
Peter Monk (s)
Darren Edwards (s)
Ken Bradbury (s)
Roger Jones (th)
David Hutchins (th)
Mark Donovan (t)
Billy Gordon (th)
Doug Smith (tu)
Peter Doyle (th)
Geoff Cooper (tu)
David Egan (th)
Shane O’Brien (s)
Brian Kidston (th)
Allan Litchfield (th)
Casey Adams (s)
Alex Ward (th)
Paul Harmer (th)
Tom Handasyde (s)
Team Nicholson
Geoff Hopkins (th)
Tony Druit (th)
Alan Davidson (th)
Simon Caldicott (s)
Chris Handasyde (s)
Andrew Body (s)
Laurie Tormey (th) *
Peter Gebert (th)
Jan O’Brien (th)
Mitch Hay (s)
Garth Wiley (tu)
David Chipperfield (s)
Lyn Phillips (th)
Robert Gilbert (tu)
Ralph Keable (th)
Ian Callen (th)
Bruce McMicking (th)
Rod Paykel (th)
Neil Ackerman (th)
Greg Whimp (th)
Manfred Hennig (th)
David Pitcher (s)
Fred Lloyd (th)
Rob Hennessey (tu)
Tony Reid (s)
Team Rael
Glen Newberry (s)
Tony Purdie (th)
Steve Oates * (th)
Ian McMinn (th)
Kennith Emslie (tu)
Brenton King (s)
Mark Jackson (s)
Josh Handasyde (s)
Don Stevenson (th)
Rob Johnston (th)
Alistair Lee Archer (th)
Ian Milgate (th)
Peter Henry (tu)
Graham Stephens (th)
John Lloyd (th)
John Stanhope (tu)
Greg Urquhart (th)
Gerry de Bont (tu)
Alan Larkin (tu)
Beau Haye (tu)
Sydney Anderson (th)
Rob Reid (th)
Peter Davidson (th)
Trevor Barr (s)
Denotes:
Captain *
(th) Thursday Player
(s) Saturday Player
(tu) Tuesday Player
