ONLY 47 golfers braved the elements on Thursday at the Mount Gambier Golf Club, with Shane Brooks taking the top step of the podium with 36 points.
Playing off a six handicap, his round included a birdie on the second hole, only five bogies and other than a double-bogie on the eighth, he managed to par his way in from the 12th to be eventual winner on a count-back from Mike Griffiths.
Griffiths had an up-and-down day with four double-bogies and five pars, coming home strong with two and three-pointers after a disastrous 10th hole.
Again, the course was the winner with only four players equalling their handicap, as Ross Anderson and Patrick Dempsey also lost out on a count-back.
The ball rundown went to 33 points, with Ken Whitehead picking up the last one.
Pro shot winners were Barry Brook on the eighth hole, who secured his par, while Greg Hudson on the 16th managed to pick up a ball for his birdie too.
Birdie balls were collected by Peter Collie on the sixth, plus Peter Emetlis and Andrew Noble on 10.
On Saturday’s Farmers Union men’s stableford the weather was a little kinder, with only a few scattered showers around.
The improved conditions attracted 102 golfers to the course, which despite the rain over the past couple of months, looks a treat.
The chocolates went to Darren Griffin, playing off 15, who scored an impressive 40 points.
He scored on every hole, with five three-three pointers.
His only blemishes were a double on the second and 14th holes, but his highlight was birdying the 10th which is never easy.
Griffin won the Division 2 competition, with David Boyce coming in second on 37 points.
The Division 1 winner was Nick Black with 37 points, with Craig Foster coming in second on 35.
Black’s game was near flawless, with birdies on 11, 16 and 18 to finish strong.
His only poor hole was a double on the fourth.
The big-driving Craig Foster also had three birdies, but they were dimmed by doubles on six and 17, plus an eight on the seventh hole.
Division 3 was taken out by Shane Foote on 38 and Robert McLellen on 35.
Overall Foote finished second to Griffin and although having a triple on the first hole, managed to steady the ship and score on every hole, including pars on the eighth, ninth and 18th.
McLellen was unlucky, scoring every hole but too many mistakes and the one-pointers took their toll.
However, 33 points was enough to earn a ball, with Michael Cutting picking up the last one on 32.
Pro shot winners were Tim Driver on the eighth hole, who put his ball a touch over 108cms, but still missed the birdie putt.
Patrick O’Donnell claimed the pro shot on the 16th hole and sunk his birdie putt to claim an extra ball.
Birdie balls went to Craig Eichleron both the eighth and 16th holes, David Pike and Tony McGregor on the eighth, Riley Parsons and Trent Eitzen on the sixth, while Adrian Ballantyne picked the last one up on 16.
