BIG-HITTING Michael Cutting took control of the biggest field in more than 20 years when he hit 71 off the stick to win the Mount Gambier Golf club’s stableford event last Saturday.
With 140 facing the starter, it was a packed field, but Cutting proved the master with an amazing round of golf to win A Grade and was the overall best score with 43 points.
Playing off a six handicap, which is quickly going south, he is now a strong contender for a place in the club’s top pennant team next year.
A bogey on the third hole was followed by back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth to make the turn with 35 off the stick and 21 points.
He was quickly Into his stride on the return journey and birdied the par five 11th but bogies on the 13th and 16th set him back a step but he fought back to birdie the tough 17th to collect 22 points after he walked off the 18th.
Runner-up in A Grade was the consistent Richard Gosling, just one point back and had 36 off the stick in another impressive effort.
He picked up birdies on the fifth and 10th holes.
If available, he is another who is in great touch leading up to the next pennant season.
Tod Lillicrap is enjoying a consistent run with another impressive 40 points to win B Grade.
The man with the permanent smile had 20/21 split to win from former champion cricketer Nic Clayton on 39.
Glencoe “mayor” and tennis coach Dave Boyce put together a solid round of 40 points to win C Grade.
He opened with 18 points which included a trio of three-putt bogies after three successive pars and a wipe on the seventh hole, but came home strongly with 22 points.
The highlight was when he nearly holed his tee shot on the 10th, only to see it hit the pin and bounce away from the flag.
His birdie putt sat agonisingly over the lip of the cup.
On 39 points and filling second place was Tony Geddes.
In D Grade John Ritcher was again to the fore with 38 points, winning on a count-back from Jim McPherson with Ritcher’s 22 point back nine being the decider.
McPherson has been in good form since his hole in one two weeks ago.
Leading scorers were Ross Bond 42, Michael Millard 39, David Lightbody, Darren Bilney, Mitchell Handford, Rob McIntyre, Graham Robinson 38, Patrick O’Donnell, Chris Hill, Paul Reade, Shayne Hosking, Jason Mann, Kent Comley, Stacy Fiegert 37, Joe Clements, Barry Kuhl, Haydn Dow, Darren Griffin, Sam Mainwaring, Darren Harding, Tim MacLean, Wayne Elliott 36, Kym Sykes, Jeffery Hodge, Leigh McManus, Jason Millhouse, Jim Leane, Daryl Morgan, Mark Winterfield and Nicholas Atwell 35.
The pro shot on the eighth hole went to John Hopkins and on the 16th to Bob Delgarno.
Birdie balls went to Richard Gosling, Chad Chewter, Cutting, McIntyre, David Douglas, Barry Brook and Dalgarno.
