Vets Golf
By John Dwyer
Spring weather had vets golfers out in one of the best showings for some time with 35 players taking to the Parkes course last Thursday where the in-form Ken Sanderson took major honors - and well under handicap - with a creditable 40 points.
Home town stalwart, the likeable John Pearce led the lefties home to be runner-up with 39 points, usually good enough for first prize. Another to be well liked in the vets ranks, Les Little from Forbes left Parkes with the encouragement award after a hard day's work.
Nearest the pins - 4th A grade Peter Bristol (P) and B grade Allan Rees (F). On the 11th Forbes' Don McKeowen was the A grade winners and Tom Delmenico (P) the best in B grade.
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In the twin-towns shield, Parkes with 16 players to select their best six individual scores compiled 228 to account for Forbes (19 players) on 218 points.
The ball sweep went to 35 points and the winners were: 38 points - Rob Staples, Peter Bristol, Tom Delminico and Joe Davies (P); 37 - Dale Stait (P) and Kim Herbert (F); 36 - Don McKeowen (F) and 35 Nym Dziuba and John Fowler (P).
After play a vote was taken regarding tee-off times for the duration of daylight saving where in future Parkes games will tee-off at 9am, with Forbes remaining at the10am starting time until December.
That means Thursday’s play will be in Forbes with noms from 9.30am for 10am shot-gun start, Parkes on November 14 with tee-off at 9am followed by the Lachlan Valley Open day in Forbes on November 21, noms from 9.15am for a 10am shot-gun.
A reminder – the twin-towns vets Christmas party is on December 5 in Parkes after 18 holes of play.
Parkes Golf Club
By Peter Bristol
November Monthly Medal
The November Telescope Tyres / Hankook Masters Monthly Medal was played on Saturday with our day sponsor being Ron Dunford’s Pharmacy. The Dunford Pharmacy has been associated with the golfie for an extended period and continue to support our endeavours.
A great day for golf saw 80 players tee it up in the final of the Medal season.
In A grade the seasoned professional John Green reigned supreme, with his 77 being the same score as our Lachlan Valley reps Aaron Wilkie and Jack Elliott but John came out on top in the countback. John started off birdie, birdie and thought this would be his day.
He then bogeyed the rest of the holes but parred 9. Then on the back nine he got going with two birdies and only three bogeys.
Aaron had 3 birdies but a double on the tricky 16th slowed him down and Jack only grabbed 1 birdey but 6 bogeys pulled him up. Luke Clarke was being dragged along by John and finished a stroke back, his best round for a while.
There were two good rounds in Lewis McCarthy from Dubbo firing a one under and Zac Kelly, in his first round since breaking bones in his foot, serving up a par round.
In the Net event Mick Smith shot a solid 69 to head home Luke Clarke and John Green by a stroke.
In B grade Wayne Tucker couldn’t wait to get back to the clubhouse after recording an 88. It had a been a while since he got to sit in the boasting chair and remind his fellow players that he was the rooster this week.
It was a good score and 2 clear of Andrew Bament, who is also in good form and headed for greater things. There was a host of players on 92 and the ‘if only’s’ was common talk on the stools afterward. In the Net event Andrew was able to reverse the placings with Wayne albeit requiring a countback, with their 71’s 3 clear of the field led in by Rob Staples.
In C grade the old countback was required again as Peter Picker was able to hold out Matthew Skinner on 90. It’s been a while since Peter has greeted the judges in the top spot, but his round had plenty of merit, including a birdie on 17.
Matthew played a great round with minimal errors off his 29 handicap for the day. In the Net event Matthew had an unbeatable 61 with Peter resting on his 67, which would be untouchable most days.
In the Men’s Medal of Medals for ’24 Matthew Skinner with his 61 was the clear winner and the Putter of Putters was taken out by John Green with 27 putts.
Kaye Inglis found the magic elixir to take out the Ladies prize with her 69.
Kaye can be seen on the course honing her game most days, so well deserved. This also allowed her to win the Medal of Medals for this year. The Ladies Putter of Putters was the queen of the greens Frankie Cock with 32 putts.
The Griffins Leading Edge putting competition was won by John Green recording 27 putts. The Norman family sponsored Wally Norman Vets Medal was won by Rob Staples with a 74 net.
The Nearest The Pins on Saturday were –The Idlerite 1st was Idlerite Tyrepower by Liam Summers at 241cm, the Griffins Leading Edge was Simon Wild at 134cm, the Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete 9th by Aaron Wilkie at 10cm, the Harvey Norman 11th by Peter Bristol at 156cm and the 17th by Mick Smith at 110cm.
Ball winners were Luke Clarke, Lewis McCarthy 70, Brendan Taylor 71, Joshua Duffy, Matt Lawryk, Bernie King 73.
This coming weekend is the NSW PGA Country Championships, and the course will be closed to local golfers. The course will open Sunday afternoon. It is a good opportunity to come and see some quality golfers attempt to take down the Parkes course. There will be a number of PGC players participating.
