The high pressure cells are keeping the rain away and some parts of the course are, rightly, getting as bare as a badger’s bum, but the ground staff are finding some water somewhere for the bits that really matter. Some of the greens have acquired a bit of sand (or is that fertilizer) which made the response to the flat blade a bit on the variable side between holes. In line with the importance of the competition to the history of the Club, there were 22 starters for the first round of Stuart’s Memorial Event.
All of this was nothing for Ben, who was the subject of a fair bit of speculation during the week. His reputation for buying drinks from the first tee had them fighting in the aisles to be in the first group with him and, at one stage, Dennis was despairing as to how he could manage to satisfy all requests. As it turned out, Ben wasn’t short of something to drink (but more of that later) and he put together as spanking round of 79 off the stick for a massive 44 points. No wonder he could manage a smile. The big question is, can he stand the pressure?
The number one pressuriser would have to be Simon who is next in line on the Leaderboard with his score of 40 points giving him a good chance if Ben falters at all. And this result from a man who, a week ago, was despairing and lined up a session with the coach only to cancel out at the last minute because he was ‘too tired’. The question is, could he have been in the lead if he had taken the coaching? And another thing, he scored 40 points and he wasn’t even smokin’. That’s right, not a single coffin nail the whole round although the puffer did get a bit of a work out.
In a tougher school, Rob would have had to accept his score made with a lower handicap on his card but, being a kind hearted social golf club we forgive him his sins (your handicap can change from week to week Rob) and give him the extra point to bring him into a tie for third place with Craig. Rob scored himself a birdie on the 14th after driving onto the green while Craig was in a group of three who all birdied the 17th. The longest putt was Craig at about 1 metre after he lipped out for the Eagle while Porks had the shortest at 50mm having almost made the Eagle as well. Those four birdies contributed in no small way to the total of 13 that were carded for the day. And the Eagle can settle down for another week knowing that her nest is safe.
Harry did make it to his coaching session and the ball striking was generally better although a couple of sconed tee shots did get Gordon excited and licking his lips in anticipation. The golf gods smiled, Gordon went thirsty and Harry played to his handicap for 36 points. JQ rounded out the provisional points table with his 34 points. His potential partner in crime, Pepsi, tried to claim a stroke on the 18th and was relegated from the leaderboard listing as a result.
It showed all the signs of being Ben’s day today as he had his name all over the nearest the Pin markers. Well the BallPin markers, anyway. He managed to keep his ball in front on the 15th but Brendon managed to rain on his parade on the 18th. Brendon also rained on Simon’s parade for the ProPin on the 12th by getting well inside the distance to 1.36m.
Rodger joined us today, as he always does, and showed that he hasn’t learned too many bad habits up at Yarrambat. The putter did have him a bit frustrated today and at one stage he was heard telling how he’d never been a club thrower. Not sure whether he was tempted today or not. Ken also tore himself away from Rosanna to join us today but he did find the undergrowth on more than one or two occasions. Good to see you guys and you know you are welcome at any time. Another occasional visitor was the Beast who is back from his golfing holiday in China and is all excited about ‘panda’ bunkers and explosive powered drivers.
After the round, Pepsi was all tarted up to go to the races but not before he downed several of the drinks that he had been anticipating most of the week. Thing was, he didn’t get them from Ben and they weren’t all ‘free’. On the 15th, Pepsi’s drive smashed so hard into the bushes on the left that it came right back and finished behind the red markers. The other culprit in the group as SOS who took on a tree on the 7th and on the 9th he managed (somehow) to put one into the pond on the left. Needless to say, Pepsi might have missed the first race.
Allan discovered another drawback of riding around on Thunderbird today. he was trying to drink his mug of tea and managed to spill it all over himself. That’s why it is illegal in motor vehicles. Simon went close to a birdie on the 8th today when his third shot hit the pin (quite fast) just above ground level and stopped just past the hole. In a similar vein, Noodles went into the pond on the 17th, skinnied his shot across the penalty area and, if not for hitting the pin dead centre, would have been well and truly through the fence. Then, he calmly sank the putt for par. The other stuff will beat class any day.
Final round of the Stuart Clarke next week and we like to wear our hawaiian shirts to remember Stuart. Come along even if you didn’t play today, just let us know so that he have enough snags for the barbeque afterwards. Groups will be made in reverse order from the Leaderboard with any extras slotted in to the early groups.
Don’t forget that the first round of Matchplay still has to be completed by end of play on 06 April. Second round can be played anytime between now and May Monthly Medal.
Results for Saturday, 16 March 2019
Leaderboard Round 1: 1st Ben Akdag(44) 2nd Simon Powell(40) 3rd Craig Cameron(37) 3rd Robert Priems(37) 4th Harry Boughen(36) 5th John Quinlan(34)
Seniors Leaderboard: 1st Simon Powell (40) 2nd Craig Cameron (37) 3rd Harry Boughen (36)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin12th Brendon Mitchell BallPin No 1 15th Ben Akdag BallPin No 2 18th Brendon Mitchell