THE 21st GEM Easter Tournament at the Blue Lake Golf Links will be remembered for the record numbers that graced the public course.
Competitors came from Dartmoor, Naracoorte, Heywood, Portland, Mount Gambier, Thaxted Park, Port MacDonnell, Grange (SA), Queens Park, Barmera and West Lakes to chase the honours for the annual event.
With 224 golfers contesting the two-day competition, in the end it was home club member Bryce Cutting who claimed the coveted perpetual trophy.
Cutting made a welcome return to competition golf to claim the honours for the best 36 hole nett score of the weekend, with rounds of 60 and 65 for a total of 125.
The best off-the-stick score for the two days was taken out by another club member Anthony Williams, who recorded a three-over-par 73 on Saturday, followed by an impressive one-under-par 69 Sunday for a two-round total of two-over 142.
There were many highlights from the weekend including Michael Watts in A Grade along with Tim Bates, but none better than 11-year-old Callum Harvey who excelled in C Grade, to claim the best off-the-stick and nett, along with the overall prize for the nett division.
Manager Bill Burley said he was pleased with the way the weekend ran.
“The course was in good nick and the visiting golfers were impressed,”
“It was good in the lead up to the senior PGA and hopefully some of those players will come back for that as well.”
Burley said he was surprised with the big turnout for the tournament, which was well above previous years.
“There were probably 60 more than we normally get, but it all ran really well,” he said.
“Everyone played their rounds in under 4.5 hours, which was good for the course.
“The course held up really well which was good.”
Saturday results
Monthly Medal: Bryce Cutting 60 nett.
A Grade – Best nett: Jason McCrae 65, Tim Bates 66, Michael Watts 67 c/b; Best gross: Marc Dalton 72, Trevor Smith 73 c/b, Tim Bates 73 c/b.
B Grade – Best nett: Adam Dunn 65, David Adkins 66 c/b, Bob Storey 66 c/b; Best gross: Bryce Cutting 78, Larry MacLean 82 c/b, Bob Storey 82 c/b.
C Grade – Best nett: Richard Humphries 62, David Thompson 66, John Robertson 67; Best gross: Richard Humphries 87, John Robertson 91, Josh Ransom 93.
Women – Best nett: Fay Price 69, Helen Stratford 70, Bev Pascoe 71; Best gross: Helen Stratford 94, Di Perryman 96.
Veterans men – Best nett: David Dowie 67 c/b, Ros McMahon 67.
Ball run down: Larry McLean, Matt Jennings, John Howard, Ros McMahon, David Dowie, Roger Gale, Mario Mancuso, Niki Collins, Col Ferguson, Callum Harvey
Nearest the pins: Noel McLoed, Stephen Smith, Ray Patching, Lyn Annand.
Pro-shots: Noel McLeod, Bryce Cutting.
Long drives: Fourth hole – Bob White, Bob Storey, Richard Humphires.
Long drives: 18th hole – Jason McCrae, Sean Pudney, James Parker, Jennifer Foster.
Sunday results
Best nett score of the day: Michael Watts 62 nett.
A Grade – Best nett: Tim Bates 65, Josh Gale 67 c/b; Best gross: Anthony Williams 69, Setio Shanahan 70.
B Grade – Best nett: Wayne Dunford 65 c/b, John Millhouse 65; Best gross: Bryce Cutting 82, Bob Storey 83.
C Grade – Best nett: Callum Harvey 63, Dyllan Lane 67; Best gross: Callum Harvey 92, Richard Dean 94.
Women – Best nett: Lyn Annand 71, Bev Pascoe 77; Best gross: Sian Ruis 96, Jennifer Foster 97 c/b.
Veterans men – Best nett: Wayne Dunford 65 c/b, John Millhouse 65 c/b.
Ball run down winners: Bryce Cutting, Niki Collins, Bob Storey, Setio Shanahan, James Eastick, Anthony Williams, David Whitehead, Stephen Harvey, Adrian Wallace, Troy Bates.
Nearest the pins: Roger Gale, Bryce Cutting, Brenton Speck, Jennifer Foster.
Pro-shots: Anthony Williams, Brett Perryman.
Long drives: fourth hole – Sean Sawyer, Sean Pudney, Dyllan Lane.
Long drives: 18th hole – Eddie Ruis, Rob Ellis, Brenton Speck, Jennifer Foster.
Overall winners GEM aggregate
A Grade – Best nett: Michael Watts 129, Tim Bates 131; Best gross: Anthony Williams 142, Setio Shanahan 146.
B Grade – Best nett: Bob Storey 133, John Millhouse 134; Best gross: Niki Collins 169, Larry MacLean 172.
C Grade – Best nett: Callum Harvey 131, Kevin Mansell 143; Best gross: Dyllan Lane 193, Richard Dean 194.
Women – Best nett: Lyn Annand 145, Bev Pascoe 148; Best gross: Sian Ruis 184, Di Perryman 193.
GEM Trophy – Overall nett aggregate: Bryce Cutting 125.
Hole-in-one cash jackpot $612.
