Great way to end the year

By Dennis Fuller
A PAIR of Stableford competitions played in beautiful conditions at Emerald Golf Course has book-ended the new year holiday period.
Glorious weather and picturesque surrounds greeted players on a drying Emerald Golf Course last Saturday for the first Stableford event of the new year.
At the end of the brash and curse, Garry O’Brien (26) from Olinda Golf Club beat the field home with 43 points. He also finished atop the C-grade heap.
Dennis Fuller (13) won A-grade with 38 points, while Dean Shannon played an exceptional round to win B-grade with 41 points.
Brian McCoy on 41, David Mackey and Davis Aitken on 40, Allan Ecclestone and Ian Cranston 39, and Peter Clowes on 37 were also impressive.
Mackey had the longest drive on the first hole and nearest the pin on the 12th, Shannon was nearest the pin on the 13th and nearest after two shots on the 17th, and Ecclestone played a magnificent shot to pocket the pro pin loot on the 18th.
The ladies competition went down to the wire with Jennifer Marsh and Peta Jones tying for the trophy.
Last week’s Obviously False Golf (OFG) was an Ambrose event.
The pairing of Bob Kennedy and Dennis Fuller (7.25) won with a nett score of 61.75 with Mick Petrie and Ken Hill (12.5) next home with 64.5. Kennedy polished off his successful day by winning the putting comp on the 19th.
The last hurrah for 2011 saw McCoy (27) out to spoil the end-of-year party of his competitors as he waltzed in with a whopping 44 points to win both C-grade and overall.
The most unlucky golfer of the day was Leigh Morison (16), whose 43 points were good enough to win B-grade but still not good enough for the top gong.
Captain Ross Martin (12) came in with 40 points to top the A-grade group.
Brendan White’s 42, 40s for Ian Cranston, Stuart Courtney and Ian Scott, and 38 for Mark Johnson and David Mackey also proved to be impressive scores.
Peter Stevens won the long drive on the first while Darryl White was nearest the pin on the 12th, Brendan White the 13th and Mark Starick – after two shots – on the 17th. He also picked up the pro pin cash on the 18th.
The ladies competition saw Davina Aitken sail away for yet another win from an unlucky Daphne Harvey, who finished just one point back.
The final Obviously Flat Golf (OFG) event of 2011 was a 4BBB event.
The clear winners with 50 points were Travis Broadway (13) and Riley Stevens (9) ahead of Jeff Marsh and Leigh Morison on 45.
Players will front up next Saturday for the first VGL Monthly Medal of 2012.