THE tee blocks were set to their maximum length for the Blue Lake Golf Club’s monthly medal, which resulted in the long-hitting A Graders making their mark on the game.
Played in fine Autumn conditions, it was Colin Ferguson who brought his best to the course to claim the monthly honours.
He started his game in the best possible way with a birdie on the first hole, followed by a par.
With the par 5 third hole playing to its full length it was no surprise to see Ferguson register his first bogey but he saw out the front nine with just two more to turn with a two-over 37 to set up a good run home.
A couple of pars opened his back nine but were negated by two successive bogeys.
However, a birdie on the 17th was a highlight and Ferguson finished the back nine with a one-over par 38 to claim the overall honours with 75-6-69.
A Grade winner Bob White set himself up for a good day with an even par 35 on the front nine.
With a generous handicap of seven, White had the overall win in his sights after he opened the back nine with another par on the 10th.
However, three successive bogeys halted his momentum before a troubling 14th hole dashed his hopes for the overall honours, despite a birdie on the 17th.
White finished his round with a nett 70.
Nick Wilson was another to curse the trees, but his trouble came on the dog-leg ninth hole.
It obviously rattled Wilson as he double bogeyed the 10th to have splits of 38 and 41 which was still enough to take second place in A Grade.
Rob Ellis thanked his handicap for third place, as he edged out Anthony Williams on nett 72.
B Grade winner Ben Papps was not quite sure how he felt after Saturday’s round.
It is always good to take a win, but he was left wondering what could have been as he suffered three double bogeys and finished his round with a bogey on the final hole.
An improvement to his short game should see him cement a spot in A Grade.
B Grade runner-up Robert Martland had a slow start with three successive double bogeys but from then on he displayed the form which once took him to a single-figure handicap.
If his putter had obeyed him there was a better result on offer but he was still happy to have equal splits of 45 and a nett 71.
Dudley Tanton (86-14-72) can thank his strong finish of four successive pars to clinch third place from Shaun Phillips (90-18-72).
One of three players to threaten Ferguson for the outright win was C Grade winner Thomas Von Stanke.
In a competition where most of the higher handicappers struggle to register a good score Von Stanke was the standout.
With a generous 34 handicap there remained plenty of red ink on his score card but there were no blow outs.
He was another to take advantage of the short 17th for a par and he would be pleased with the C Grade win.
A couple of Blue Lake veterans fought over the minor placings as Bruce Tichbon and Russell Lingham both finished with nett 73.
Tichbon’s birdie on the 14th and 17th helped him edge out his opponent for second place.
A score of 74 or better was needed to secure a ball prize, headed by the unlucky Phillips and Williams, followed by Bryce Smith, David Gould, Tyson Ploenges, Marc Dalton (off scratch), Zach Westwick, Steve Jelly, Justin Ploenges 73, John Kamp, Michael Watts and Josh Gale 74.
Best gross score wins went to Williams in A Grade, Papps in B Grade and Lingham in C Grade, while Roger Gale picked up the novelty prize for least putts.
