Good luck to all the boys heading down to the beach for this year’s Punters Club golfing odyssey.
Gordo got the beach theme going a week early by forgetting his putter and borrowing a Cleveland Huntington Beach from the pro-shop and putting the lights out with it, 23 points on the front and 15 on the back.
Meanwhile, Andrew V, who has been known to take an interest in golfing statistics, reported his best ever putting round with his trusty Odyssey blade.
He knocked Gordo off by a shot for the win.
In doing so, Andrew has shot to the lead in the “all ages” Championship passing by the other Andrew who is now in second, with Gordo surging past Brendon and Targe into third. Gordo has also surfed a wave past Porks into the lead in Harry’s favourite Order of Merit race.
Andrew V has also joined Matty in equal first place in the Seniors Championship, although he’s dropped down the pecking order in the Eclectic because the Eclectic includes a handicap factor. In losing 2 shots from 16 (16.3) to 14 (14.4) after his win this week, it reduces Andrew V’s net Eclectic score. Peps, Porks and Nalin lead the Eclectic.
A LONG WAY TO GO
Of course it is early days in the Championship / Trophy races. Counting our two-week majors as “2 rounds” we have completed 12 rounds of our 52-round season (23%).
In AFL terms we are at about three-quarter time of Round 6, which this year includes Carlton vs Collingwood on April 16. You don’t win too many Premierships in April.
In Round 6 of 2024, eventual premiers Brisbane kicked 4 goals 13 points in their loss to Geelong and sat 12th on the ladder with 2 wins (8 points) from their 6 games.
Currently sitting in equal 12th place on our Championship table are JQ and Kenny on 8 points. Can they do a Brisbane 2024?
If it was the Melbourne Cup, we’d have travelled less than the first 800 metres of the 3,200 metre race.
Who might do a Cross Counter (2018) or Kiwi (1983) and come from the back of the field to win the 2026 Ivanhoe Men’s Golf Club Melbourne Cup?
Or better still, Wotan at 100-1 odds in the 1936 Melbourne Cup.
Of those with points on the board, currently bringing up the rear of the field are Raj, Steve G and Marc.
Any backers for one of those three at 100-1?
MANGO BUNKERS
There’s a rumour the Kenny mango scene might have got stuck in another bunker, but there were plenty of takers for this week’s potentially final offerings.
Thanks for the ride with the mangoes over the years Kenny! My mango loving mum says an especially big thank you!
Fellow playing partners in the first group SoS and CJ also want to say big thanks for the jug you supplied via your swish on the first, which apparently went down very well with the audience watching.
Payment in mangoes was accepted.
Heath also supplied some entertainment on the first, hitting his drive adjacent to the 13th green. No problems though. Two neat shots from there and a couple of putts saw him start with a no fuss 3-pointer.
SOS PAINTING PICTURES
Of the 9 birdies across the field today none was more spectacular than SoS birdieing the 5th for the second week in a row.
Asked by Brendon at the presentation to talk us through it, SoS got all enthusiastic and said “I hit one shot, then another and then the third shot went in the hole.” He knows how to paint a picture for the blog our SoS.
SoS’s continued good form (37 points) was good enough for third place on his own, followed by four blokes sharing fourth on 36 (Craig, Nalin, Porks and JQ).
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
Marc played well for 35 points and was left ruing a four-hole stretch of 1-pointers from the 11th to the 14th. What might have been.
Ditto said Porks who was on world record pace standing over a shortish birdie putt on the 13th and heading for a personal best. Fout putts later, the double bogey 6 for 1 took a bit of wind out of the Porks sails.
Of the others, honourable mentions to players with 30+, Steve G (34) Brendon and CJ (33) and Rob (31). The 20 something strugglers were Raj, Wazza, Michael, Heath, Kenny and Targe.
Bobby started in the field of 19 members but decided to call it quits after the 13th. Some serious family medical issues in Bobby’s world at the moment. Our thoughts are with you Bobby.
We also had a visitor to make it 20 players, Gavin, who normally plays on Saturday afternoons but needed an early tee time this week. Nice bloke, but guessing he will stick with Saturday afternoons.
NO BALLS MICHAEL
Marc won the ball on the 7th with a great 5 iron a few inches closer than Michael had earlier hit one of his only good shots of the day with a 4 iron.
Porks knocked off Michael for the ball on the 18th, taking the inside NTP as well with a shot to 3.17 metres to the always difficult back pin.
Porks also won the Pro-pin money on the 15th. There are rumours the tax office are avid blog readers and have Porks lined up for a tax audit this year.
HARRY’S BACK!
Harry is back in town and will be resuming normal duties from next week. Seems like he’s been away far too long. His Assistant Apprentice Handicapper and blog writer needs a Bex and good lie down.
Results for Saturday, 21 Feb 2026
1st Andrew Vogan (39) 2nd Gordon Hill (38) 3rd Stephen O’Sullivan (37) 4th Craig Cameron (36) 4th Ryan Porker (36) 4th John Quinlan (36) 4th Nalin Samaranayake (36) 5th Marc Phillips (35)
Seniors Results: 1st Andrew Vogan (39) 2nd Gordon Hill (38) 3rd Craig Cameron (36)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 15th Ryan Porker BallPin No 1 – 7th Marc Phillips BallPin No 2 – 18th Ryan Porker