A STRONG field of 92 players greeted the starter at the Mount Gambier Golf Club on Thursday, with 26 golfers managing to match or beat their handicap.
Patrick O’Donnell had the stand out round of the day, with the five-marker equalling his personal best score with a two-under-the-card 70 off the stick and 43 stableford points.
His round started perfectly with an eagle-three on the first hole, but a bogey on the second brought him back to earth.
A further bogey on the seventh hole saw him back square with the card and looking like letting a good start turn mediocre.
However, for the last 11 holes O’Donnell was in control, posting seven pars, a sole bogey and three birdies, including the last, to post nines of one-under 35 apiece and a two-under par 70 total.
Four players finished on 40 points – Graham Allen, Jack Peacock, Darryl Hutchins and Simon Tulak.
Allen claimed second place on count-back.
Joshua McLean and Russel Lewis both posted 39 points.
With so many good scores, players needed 37 points or better to claim a ball, except for the lucky Stacey Fiegert who grabbed the last one as best of the 36-point brigade.
Nearest the pins went to Jack Jennings on the eighth hole and Wayne Davidson on the 16th, with only Jennings able to roll his putt in for a two.
Travis Younghusband posted the round of the day in Saturday’s stableford with a fine 76 off the stick and 41 points.
A birdie on the first is the best way to start and a birdie on the last just as nice a way to finish.
Younghusband did both and in between collected two more birdies, combined with six bogeys and a double on the ninth hole, to post 76 off the stick and win A Grade by three points from Bryce Wicker on 38.
Rohan Harrap from the Vines GC claimed the B Grade honours by count-back from Naracoorte GC’s Jacob Edwards, with both players posting 39 points.
Bowen Hosking and Brad Von Duve were the best of the locals posting 37 and 36 points respectively.
Graham Thomas was the beneficiary of a count-back after taking first place from David Millard in C Grade, after both players scored 35 points.
Peter Baker was third with 34 points.
Nearest the pins went to Jake Laubsch on the eighth hole and Nathen Taylor on the 16th, with only Laubsch able to make the birdie.
The ball rundown extended to 31 points, with Stephen Herbert taking the last one.
