THE annual McKechnie/Stratford trophy was contested last Wednesday at the Mount Gambier Golf Club with 43 competitors taking part, making it one of the biggest fields in recent history.
In division 1, big hitter Hope Bliss was victorious on the day, finishing with a score of five up, which included six pars and two birdies on the 8th and 17th holes.
The runner up was Leanne Hunt, who had mixed results throughout the day but still finished with a strong score of one up.
Division 2 saw Sue McPherson claim victory as she finished with the best score of the day with six up.
This was McPherson’s first win in competition golf on a Wednesday and her first nine holes produced a top score of six up, before she held onto victory and maintained a level score on the back nine.
Sue Downes was runner-up in division 2 on her return, finishing with a score of three up, which included a birdie on the eighth hole.
Playing members and sponsors, Betty McKechnie and Lorraine Stratford presented prizes to the winners and runners up on the day.
Bernie Jennings, for the second consecutive week, claimed the three balls for the pro shot prize on the eighth while the respective prizes in A, B and C for the best front nine scores were won by Di O’Donnell two up, Libby Altschwager two up and McPherson with six up.
Helen Heaver led the way in the ball run down prizes with two up, from Jennifer Van Rijthoven, Jess Parsons, Bernie Jennings, Andrea Pegler, Kate McCormick and O’Donnell, all square, Jill Johnson and Kerry Pedlar one down, Pauline Paterson and Helen McIntyre, both two down.
A field of 24 played a stableford round in perfect autumn conditions on Saturday and the top scorer for the day was regular Saturday player, Yvonne Shirley with 36 points.
Shirley ended the day strongly with pars on the last three holes on the back nine, while Vicki Clark finished in second on a countback from Penne Saffin as the pair finished with 34 points.
The pro shot on the eighth hole was won by Maxine McGregor, and the nearest to the pin on the 16th was O’Donnell.
The ball run down winners were Saffin on 34 points, Sharran Waters, Pedlar, Lois Harvey, O’Donnell all on 32, Faye Mainwaring 30, while McGregor and Helen Gregory both ended the day with 29 points.
