By Ron Hottes
The V.V.Vs:
A smallish field played on Monday 31 March with a result coming for Vicki Hottes, with a solid 17 points posted.
This wasn’t expected, as Vicki had been grizzling on about the inconsistency of her game.
Well, no holes scratched suggest that consistency has returned.
Annelies Duivenvoorden grabbed the runner up prize, after a tight countback, with 16 points scored.
Wednesday 2 April was the Stroke and M. McGrann bag-day qualifier:
Stroke can make some of our regular midweek players freeze, whilst others thrive on the extra challenge it throws out there.
Jack Sheehan certainly thrived by recording a Nett 68 to easily win the day, meaning he qualifies for the playoff, and has earnt the top voucher in B Grade, on offer.
The runner up in this grade was that hot young golfer in Angus Hall, who also recorded a Nett 68, but lost in a tight countback.
Balls only reached down to 72 here.
In A Grade, Neil Leckenby flew home with a Nett 69, to just beat Seth Spenceley, who posted a Nett 70.
Balls here reached down to 74.
There were 4 only NTP winners because Hatty did his usual trick, and grabbed 2 of them, for excellent tee-shots on both the 1st and the 9th.
Captain Whitehead grabbed one on the 3rd, Ross Machar took home the one offered on the 12th and Steuart Hawke won the 15th NTP.
TWILIGHT: On Thursday 3 April, Warburton G.C. held its iconic Twilight Shootout at our beautiful course, which as usual, was in impeccable condition.
10 qualifiers started on the 1st hole, which is a sight to see.
In other words, 10 tee shots played, 10 approach shots played, 10 anxious and nervous players all putting out, in their turn.
Our first elimination, most unfortunately, was young 13-year-old tyro, Manny Humphris, which clearly disappointed many of the 40 plus observers who wanted to see this future star progress further than the 1st hole.
But to his great credit, and that of his proud parents in attendance, Manny accepted his fate with great maturity and grace.
Well done anyway, Manny, and at your age there will be many more chances.
Ironically, another future star, young Angus Hall, was the next to be eliminated on the tough Par four second hole.
This was ironic because Angus was easily the top qualifier.
The next elimination was Paul Osbourne, another surprise because Ossie had competed in three of the last four shootouts, but his previous experience did not help him this time.
By then, the top three qualifiers had departed, meaning like we say about the footy, “finals are a whole new ball game”.
Our unique shootout is very different to the Home & Away Twilight season.
Two players who can hold their heads high were our two lady members competing, because Deb was only the 4th elimination and Georgie lasted even longer being the 6th eliminated .
We take up this fascinating story now after Georgie sadly left us.
This left four players to battle it out over the closing holes.
The next to go was a newbie to this event in George Brown.
George surprised everyone, and mostly himself, to get that far, (although RJH insists that he would have won if RJH had caddied for him).
Clint Toohey, playing off the ridiculous handicap of three was finished on the difficult Par five, eighth hole.
Clint is a previous club champion, (from 2023), and performed brilliantly considering he only had one handicap shot to play with over the nine holes!
This left our two survivors to battle it out for the ultimate shootout prize: cold, hard cash.
Luke Patrick, from the famous Patrick clan, is our Pennant Captain, and he clearly was walking on air after the Warby team had just, last Sunday, won the Division Two GPV pennant, (defeating The Valley 5-2 at Devilbend), and now returning to the top Division One group.
Luke had to contend with Troy Veenker, another newbie to the shootout experience, on the ultimate deciding hole, the seemingly harmless but tricky Par three third hole.
The two sprayed their tee shots, but were both safely on for 2.
Troy was further away, putted first and stroked his smooth putt up to within a tap-in for a 4 for 2 points, (playing off a way too generous handicap of 17).
Luke, also like Clint, a low handicapper off 4, needed to sink his metre & a bit-long putt, to force a play-off.
Unbelievably, Luke just missed his putt to the left, giving him only 1 point as he had no shot to include.
This left Troy receiving congratulations all round as the winner for his first shootout title.
Well done, Troy and to both boys for creating a truly dramatic finish, (I might add, in near-darkness), to another edition of the WGC Twilight Shootout.
Saturday 5 April.: Stroke and monthly medal:
Earning his first monthly medal, young golfer, Jaiden Lever, blitzed the field of 50 plus with a superb Nett 62.
This was five shots better than the next best Nett result, showing how impressive that effort was.
Jaiden picked up both the medal and the B Grade top voucher for his troubles.
The B Grade runner up was Peter Bell with a solid Nett 69.
Here the balls reached 73.
In A Grade, Troy Murphy, posting a fine Nett 67, had a day out, earning the top prize and an NTP on the 3rd hole.
Sean Kennedy took the runner up honours with a Nett 68, and balls made it down to 72 here.
The Other NTPs went home with Ben Lever (1st), David Wappett (9th), Stuart Patrick (12th) and to Josh Hin (15th).
