Thompson wins on countback

By Dennis Fuller
BEN Thompson (21) turned in a fabulous round of golf at Emerald Golf Club last Saturday to win over-all on a countback from the unlucky Andy Smith (12), who could boast about being one under the card after nine holes.
Smith’s nine pars in a row were still not good enough but allowed him to win A Grade by a considerable margin.
Thompson headed the C Grade list, probably for the last time, as the handicapper will be quite gleeful in pruning his 21 strokes.
The consistent Leigh Morison (14) headed up the B Grade list with 35 points.
John Fisher and Paul Farmer both had 35 points, while David Jennings, Wayne Degering and John Carvill all had 34.
Smith was nearest-the-pin on the 4th, Peter Stevens on the 12th, Graham White on the 13th and Martin Yeats picked up the pro pin on the 18th.
The shot of the day belonged to Kameron Geeves who aced the 7th – a beautiful hole in one.
The Café Marte cappuccinos were won by Andy Smith on the 10th and Andrew Cruikshanks on the 17th.
The ladies’ event was won by Lyn Ward (40) with a strong 37 points.
Wednesday’s Overly Faded Golf (OFG) was won by Leigh Morison with a net 69 from an unlucky Mark Lothian on 70.
The putting competition on the 19th hole was won by Ian Scott after teaching all others the finer points of overland putting.
The Alex Wee trophy for the 4BBB club championship was played off between the pairing of Jeff Marsh and Graham White against Ben Balfour and Dennis Fuller.
After a torrid affair, when there was never a difference of more than one hole, Balfour and Fuller won one up.
Emerald Golf Club won it’s first pennant title in it’s first year in the Victorian Golf League, defeating Dorset five matches to two at Werribee Park Golf Course, with wins to Ryan Hocking, Peter Stevens, Ross Martin, Dean Shannon, Steve Town and losses to captain Greg Horrocks and Geoff Isherwood.
This is the first pennant win for the club since 1990 so celebrations are continuing. Greg Horrocks gave a very gracious acceptance speech in front of a packed Werribee Park Golf Club.
Next Saturday, players front up for the monthly VGL medal competition.