We keep writing about how fine wine matures with age but it’s Harden Golfers that appear to do it better. In the 2 Day Four Ball Sibelco Classic at harden Country Club last weekend, it was the wily veterans and longstanding members of the University of the Third Age, Herby Manwaring and Eric Kuhn who stole the goodies, and the show, to be crowned Champions.
Day 1 started us off with a 4 Ball Stableford Aggregate. Yes it’s a gobful but its really just both players recording their scores each hole and adding them together. It’s a form of the game that relies on teamwork for big points with both players needing to play well. Posting a big score on Day 1 saw them as Clubhouse leaders on a countback to eventual Day 1 winners Ian Bruce and Bernie Parker, after Herby and Eric claimed the Overall result. Others to fare well on Day 1 were Todd Elliott & Jamie Cantrill and also Rick Preston and Michael Baldry.
Day 2 came and the tried and tested Four Ball Best Ball was the game with the best result of both players recorded each hole. Again teamwork is of the essence with each player either needing to play well or combine to ensure that at least one or the other is ticking the score over. Both dropping a hole simultaneously is criminal in this format. Again Herby and Eric performed well like a well oiled machine, they have been at this caper way too long. Other notable scores on the day went to Butch Bates and Darrell Cassidy, Rick Preston and Michael Baldry and Peter Elliott with his old mate Rod Ceeney.
The event saw very solid fields both day and as well as locals attracted visitors from Moruya, Russell Vale, Crescent Head, Wauchope, Cootamundra and Yass. The events as played and won are as follows;
Overall Winners Maurice Manwaring & Eric Kuhn
Overall Runners Up Rick Preston & Michael Baldry
Medley Winners Tim & Barb Beveridge
Men’s Individual Kevin Hoppe
Saturday Winners Ian Bruce & Bernie Parker
Saturday Runners Up Jamie Cantrill & Todd Elliott
Saturday Medley G Ball & S Gilchrist
Saturday Individual Ben Glover c/b
Saturday Nearest Pin Marj Manwaring – 1.66m
Sunday Winners Robert Bates & Darrell Cassidy
Sunday Runners Up Peter Elliott & Rod Ceeney
Sunday Medley A & B Brandson
Sunday Individual D Robinson
Sunday Nearest Pin Ian Bruce – 2.84m
Our special thanks again to Sibelco who through their partnership with Harden Country Club and the wider Harden Community make weekends like this possible.
Sibelco also came on board for a recovery individual stableford on the Queen’s Birthday Holiday Monday. Our winner for this event was Peter Steinke who is never far off the cash in the big events. Peter knocked out a solid 41 point outing to get the bikkies. The sleeping Pennant playing giant Johnny Hawkins claimed second in a welcome return to form before the vital clash with Gundagai this Sunday coming. Hawk Eye belted out 38 points.
Balls went to 35 points and recipients included Mal Hufton on 37 pts, Eric Kuhn 36 pts, Darrell Cassidy 36 pts, and Ron Page 35 pts. Nearest the pin went to visitor Russell Harris who put one in to 1.18m on the 10th.
Brucey Gets Midweek Honours
Ian Bruce has claimed the goodies this week in the par 24, 12 hole format. Ian recorded 29 stableford points and thought it may not have been good enough to get there, but was pleasantly surprised when the news was broken to him by the scribe on Saturday morning. Other scores of note this week included Tam Kennedy at runner up with 26 points, and Bill Kildea and Val Kerrison both had 24 points.
The fields are picking up again and pleasant winter days like Sunday and Monday just past are forecast for a while to come yet.
This Week
This week the men have their NSW 4BBB to par State Qualifier with a few extra $$ needed to be in the State Event. Regionals are only 2 – 3 weeks after our qualifier so check the program to make sure you will be available for both.
The Ladies have an individual stableford planned for Sunday or the Temora Tournament if they wish.
Take Care
Alby
