By Ron Hottes
Warburton is celebrating a new Club champion. Michael Batten won the title after shooting a combined 3-round score of 220. This pipped 10-time winner, Paul Mason by 2 shots. Michael’s last-round score of 75 was good enough to see him overhaul Paul in the last few holes. Well done, Michael on your first Championship win. The Nett Open winner, Shane Campbell, won that distinction only after a very tight countback from Clint Smallman. Both boys finished on Nett 212.
The B-Grade winner this year is Paul Osbourne, another first-time winner. Ossie’s gross 249 easily accounted for the rest of the field, as Lance Atwell came in seconf on 259, (mainly due to a superb last round of 79/67 but it still wasn’t enough) The Nett winner in this Grade was Ken White. You wouldn’t believe it, dear readers, but Ken was declared the winner after a 3-way countback. The unlucky runner-ups were Geoff Sharp and John Hall, also of course on 212.
Chris Leighton won the C-Grade title by a massive 31 strokes. His 257 would have seen him come second in B-Grade, such was his dominance here. Allan McDonald was officially the runner-up with 3 rounds totalling 288. Jack Sheehan, a relatively new member to our Club, is the C-Grade Nett winner with 212, followed by Kevin Conway on 217.
In the Ladies’ events, Meredith is again the Open Champion, with a total of 249, whilst Jaqui Hall won the Nett scoring 222 over the 3 rounds. Jaqui is a dual winner, also snaring the B-Grade title, with a 285 total. Great job, Mrs. Hall. The runner-up was Ineke Degraaf with a 311 total but Ineke did not walk away empty-handed. Her Nett 219 just outdid Jaqui’s 222! A newbie member, Deb Hamment, took home the C-Grade prize with a gross 335, comfortably accounting for the runner-up, Merilyn McDonald, with a 366. Sue Barratt’s Nett 240 won her that trophy.
Finally, folks, the Seniors title went to Meredith-Nursey with a 2-round 164 total. (If you qualify for this event, Ms. Nursey, then retirement must be on the horizon). David Wappett was the runner-up to Meredith with a 172. And, finally, the Senior’s Nett winner is John Hall, who won on a tight countback from Kevin Conway! (Mind you, J.H. doesn’t play like a Senior, we may need to check his birth certificate) And it would be most improper not to announce that Seth Spenceley is the junior champion for 2023.
And so, we now start practising for the 2024 Championships, only a full 12 months away. Surely that’s enough time to prepare to shoot 3 consistent rounds. Good luck and a hearty congratulations to all 2023 winners.
