JEFF Hodge had a day to remember during the Mount Gambier Golf Club’s stableford competition on Saturday.
In a field of 130 he not only topped the A Grade scores, but had a hole-in-one on the 16th.
As a result he also picked up the entire $1200 in the hole-in-one kitty.
Despite the long weekend there was a strong field facing the starter and it was Hodge who commanded most attention when he walked into the clubhouse to a standing ovation.
A popular member, Hodge plays off a seven handicap which is now under threat.
He had 39 points and his tee-to-green shots were immaculate.
He took the count-back from Adrian Ballintyne, who has just moved back into A Grade after a short stint in B Grade.
Best score for the day came from former president Tim Driver who took out the B Grade honours with 41 points.
He had a birdie four-pointer on the first to make the turn with 22 points and despite a wipe on 11 and a one-pointer on 18, he netted 19 points on the run home.
Grant Harvey was back in the winner’s list with 39 points to finish runner-up in B Grade.
He also had a birdie on the first and most of his good work was done on the front nine with 20 points as he headed for the 10th.
The much-maligned Brian Simmonds showed recent serious heart surgery had affected neither his enthusiasm nor his form and he had 38 points to claim the C Grade honours.
He had 21 points on the back nine after a scratchy start.
Simmonds – a proud Englishman – had to endure an Australian flag flying from his partner’s car all day.
He claims his revenge may come during the Ashes cricket later this year.
Jack Peacock was second in C Grade, also with 38 points.
He had a 19/19 split and therefore lost the count-back.
In D Grade Peppi Pace continued his excellent form with a two-point win over Winston Prowse.
His 39 points were largely a result of an excellent back nine of 21 with nine points on the final three holes.
Prowse is another who is in top form and finished with 37 points.
The pro shot went to Brett Shepherdson on the eighth, while Hodge took the 16th with his hole-in-one.
Other leading scorers were Wayne Richardson (39), Peter Waters, Gary Button (38), David Anderson, Jason Millhouse, David Bruhn, Tony McGregor, Todd Lillicrap, Max Hellyer 37, Peter Jennings, Kevin Cook, Richard Humphries, Chris Gabriel, Peter Lock, Setio Shanahan, Paul Reade, Shane Brook, Bill DeGaris, Des Guerin, Michael Millard 36, Nicholas Moretti and Robert McLellan (35).
