Aitken trumps the field

By Dennis Fuller
COOL but fine conditions at Emerald Golf Club last Saturday suited Ryan Aitken (28) to a tee when he won overall and B Grade in a canter with 40 stableford points.
The ultra consistent Allan Ecclestone (17), who has been closing in for a win fell just short with his 39 points, but that was good enough to top the A Grade dais.
Others to do themselves proud without gaining any bragging rights were Ben Balfour with 38 and a gaggle of golfers including David Aitken, Rod Ward and Brendan White all came in with 37 points.
When it came to nearest the pins, Ryan Aitken was nearest on the fourth, Ecclestone the seventh, Martin Yeats the 12th, Dennis Fuller the 13th and Ross Martin picked up the pro pin money on the 18th.
Martin was also nearest the pin after two shots on the 10th as was David Aitken on the 17th.
In the ladies’ comp, Daphne Hunt was a clear winner as she has been showing increasingly good form for quite a number of weeks.
Wednesday’s Outrageously Fiddly Golf (OFG), using OFG handicaps, was a tie between Ben Balfour and Allan Ecclestone who both came in with 33 points.
Contests were suggested to break the impasse, but these peaceful combatants decided to split the bag of gold.
Mark Lothian won the bocce on the 19th to prove that sometimes youth can succeed.
Two teams of four also travelled down to Garfield for their annual plate and it must be reported that they did not star, with one exception.
Riley Stevens (25), a Grade 6 student at Emerald Primary School, was completely undaunted by the situation and playing at an unfamiliar course.
He came in with 40 points to pick up the $100 purse for winning C Grade.
This round has also seen the adjustment to his handicap and next time he stands on a first tee he will be playing off 23.
Next Saturday the qualifying round for the club match play will be played so the fur will surely fly.