Rochester Bowls Club
Season Opening
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On Friday, many of our bowlers were in attendance to see Di Milgate and Rob Dennis roll the first jack and bowl of the season.
Both Rob Clayton and Rob Dennis took the opportunity to welcome everyone to the club, encouraging all members to support one another and participate in games and training with a positive attitude.
After the official part of the afternoon, members took the opportunity to catch-up over a few beverages and nibbles.
Thank you to everyone who attended and brought some refreshments to share.
Footy Tipping
A massive congratulations to our winner, Bev Hetherington.
It looks to be an exciting week for Bev who turns eighty on Monday – enjoy your special day and here’s hoping that the Magpies keep winning for you.
Coming in at second place were Gavin Houlihan and Bruce Major, who scored the same number of tips – well done gentleman.
Mal and Kate took out the honours for the wooden spoon – admittedly so, they probably both know more about soccer than they do about AFL.
Thank you to the ladies who ran the Footy Tipping this season and to everyone who entered the competition.
Lifting of shelters over seating will take place on Monday, September 8, at 4.30pm.
We implore members to come along and lend a hand.
It is essential that we have a few hands to help.
Indoor Bowls
The winning team for the last indoor bowls night of the season consisted of Anton Gusak, Yvonne Smolenaars and Greg Machar.
Woohoo that’s a wrap for the season.
A sincere thank you to each and every one of the bowlers who regularly turned up for indoor bowls each week.
Each Monday night was filled with good humour, competitive bowls and a few chocolates.
Once again, a massive thanks to Judy Murray and anyone who offered to help her over the last few months.
Without people who are willing to put their hand up and organise things, we don’t get to play.
Sport goes way beyond turning up on the day to play.
Winter Pairs
This wonderful opportunity has concluded for the Winter season.
Brian Kinnane is to be congratulated on running this event most Fridays.
He has been supported by a reliable group of helpers.
Brian has attempted to offer bowlers a variety of formats and has encouraged the lady bowlers to participate.
This has been a very popular way for members to stay socially active and to enhance their game play.
Social Bowls
This will begin again this Friday morning, September 12, beginning at 10am.
Those wishing to play are asked to ring the club office on Friday morning 8.45 – 9.15 am to record your name.
Jackpot bowls will also begin again.
Coaching
Each Thursday morning from 10am with Marg Knight and Leigh Milgate.
This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your skills and train for the upcoming pennant season.
Lucky Lotto
This Saturday was the first of the draws for September.
Well done to all those who have purchased a number and have helped launch this club fundraiser.
Membership
Please note that several members are still yet to pay their membership.
Those that have not paid their membership for the upcoming season, are not eligible for selection in Pennant teams.
Pennant
Weekend Pennant begins on Saturday, October 4 and Midweek Pennant on Tuesday, October 7.
There’s a sheet in the foyer for interested bowlers to enter their name for a practice match against White Hills on September 21.
60 and Over
The competition begins this Wednesday, September 11, starting at 11am out at Locky.
Teams need to be entered to Neil Haines 0457 056 591 by Sunday, September 7 at 6pm.
Thanks to David Murray, who has agreed to provide a run-down of the day’s activity for the weekly blurb.
Rochester will be hosting the 60 and over competition on Wednesday, September 24.
We will require the help of some ladies to prepare the sandwiches for the men’s lunch on this particular day.
If you are able to assist, please contact Judy Murray.
Men’s Championship
Entries into these events are now being taken, with entry forms available in the foyer.
Current handicaps are also displayed.
All men are encouraged to enter their name.
The more bowlers we have entered, the more enjoyable and successful the competition is.
You have until Sunday, October 19 to enter the competition, with the entry fee being $5.
Tournament Shirts
We have one more week to indicate whether we wish to purchase a shirt.
Brooke will finalise orders and the preferred shirt by the Board meeting, September 15.
Bar Duty
Monday – Friday 5 – 6.30pm
8 – 12 Sept: G Willis and J Boyd
15 – 19: K Barker and D Hocking
22 – 26: A Williams and G Chambers.
Lockington Bowls Club
The members are starting to rally for the start of the Pennant season.
Good numbers at the respective games of Scrounge during the week augurs well for the club.
On Wednesday, there was a bumper crowd and six rinks in operation for the Scrounge with some high scores recorded.
On rink one Russell Shawcross led the field with a game high 62 points with Shane Felmingham runner-up on 45 points while Rod Fiedler tried valiantly in tallying 33.
Next door Neil Haines won the chocolates with a total 54 points and defeat Kalvin Stout 46 and Owen "Smiley" McPhee a solid 40 points.
On rink three the "awesome foursome" battled in earnest with Steve Pavone rattling up 52 points to take the win from Sue Harris 33, Graham Turner 26 and Lorraine Appleby 22.
Denise Gilmore stole the show with a strong showing to amass 51 points to prove a real handful for her opponents Andy Harris, 42 and Pos Andrea a gallant 35 points after suffering a 2 point penalty on the final end.
Brian Kinnane showed some outstanding form to manage 58 points and win the rink ahead of John Andrea 47 and Kathy Maddison 38.
On the final rink, Echuca visitor Bruce Haines took all before him to take out the prize on 57 points, with Club President John van den Bosch nearby settling for 50 while Cindy Felmingham had no luck in amassing 27.
On Saturday, the bowlers were welcomed in sunny conditions and the greens in excellent order.
The scoring was fairly competitive across all rinks.
Ray Hanson just keeps rolling them down to register a match winning tally of 48 points to ward off some talented opposition in John van den Bosch 35, Jim Harris 27 and Steve Pavone an out-of-sorts 25 points.
Ashley Dobell (Runnymede visitor) showed amazing prowess to tally 52 points and beat another star-studded opposition with Russell Shawcross a handy 47 points, while Alan Sharp (Elmore) finished on 20 points and Rod Fiedler 15.
The final rink provided a close competitive edge with Pos Andrea claiming victory showing some vintage form and amassing 40 points while husband John was chasing valiantly to manage 34 points while Erin Gumbleton had 27 points, and Shane Felmingham a slightly undermanned 28 points.
Hot food rounded off a fine day of bowling.
The club will host the first round of the Sixty and Over competition on Wednesday. Contact Neil Haines for entries.
On Sunday, September 14 the club will hold the first tournament of the new season with the Annual Memorial 2 bowl Mixed Triples (one man, two women or two women and one man), starting at 12.30pm.
Contact Ray Hanson or Cindy Felmingham for entries.
This event will coincide with the official Opening Day for the club. All welcome.
Rochester Golf Club
With over 60 players competing in competition over the last week and another 40 registered in the cancelled 3-person Ambrose event on Sunday, President Leigh Hicks is justly proud of the condition of the course, mainly due to the dedication of our many volunteers in providing such a well-maintained facility that is proving to be very popular with local golfers and visiting green fee players.
21 played on Wednesday's 9-hole social Stableford golf on the back nine, which once again saw a 3-way countback.
Des Hocking's better score over the last four holes proved the difference, winning from Robert Vise and Brendan McCarty all on 22 points, next best was President Hicks on 21 then followed six others all on 19 points.
Friday's ladies golf was stroke and count your putts.
Louise Williams played well to win with 82 off the stick net (72), runner-up was Leisa Evans (73), while Elaine Lees net 74 was next best.
Williams also won with her very respectable 27 putts and was nearest to the pin on 8, Barbara McCarty on 3 and Julie Leahy was the other nearest-the-pin winner for her nice shot to the 16th scrape.
Another good field of 32 played Stableford on Saturday, with the course being in superb condition and the spring weather being ideal, good scores were expected.
David Fuller showed what was possible with 39 points, Robert Vise was runner-up from the unlucky Bruce Bryant, both on 38 points.
Other ball winners were Brent Sweeney (37), Mark Walsh and Paul Evans, both on 36 Stableford points.
Liam Keenan had a good day, winning the Campaspe News eagles nest on 12 and defeating Shane Connelly 3/2 in the club's singles Match Play final.
Jake Wright was nearest-the-pin on 16 and for his 2nd shot on 9, while Robert Ralph was closest to the pin on 18 for his second shot.
Reminder to organise your teams for the MND Charity 4-person Ambrose event on Friday, September 26 and the postponed 3-Person Ambrose early in October, contact Corry Windridge for more details.
Lockington Golf Club
September 5 – Stableford
Pauline Humbert made a welcome return to the winner’s circle, with the day’s best score of 33 points, with Jan Clymo finishing runner-up. Nearest the pin: Jenny Holt.
September 6 – Stroke
The coveted Gartside Cup was up for grabs, contested by 13 golfers who had qualified throughout the season.
The Cup was won by Ron Dixon with a solid 92-22-70, on a countback from Grant Humbert (72-2-70).
Ron was the very last golfer to qualify for the final, and his terrific Cup win was his first in many years of playing golf at Locky.
Ron capped his day off by also winning the Monthly Medal, as well as Division 2 honours, on a countback from Bowden Stone (87-17-70).
Division 1 was won by Grant Humbert in a close finish from Ian Maddison (86-15-71). Best scratch scores: Division 1 – Grant Humbert 72; Division 2 – Bowden Stone 87.
Nearest the pins: 7th – Andrew Harris; 2nd shot 11th – Brett Stone (A), JD Wright (B); 2nd shot 18th for the 6-pack smack – Ian Maddison. Spike’s Longest Drive on the 10th, sponsored by Hot ‘n’ Cold Plumbing – Grant Humbert (A), JD Wright (B), Tom Scurrah (C).
Neither the O’Connors Case Eagles Nest on the 3rd, nor Captain Grant’s yardstick on the 16th was won, which has jackpotted to $171.
Upcoming events
Thursday, September 11 – Joy Bickford Rose Bowl Teams event – entries & enquiries to Pauline Humbert 0409 038 554.
Saturday, September 13 – Stableford – Privilege Cup. Duty: Andrew Harris, Kevin Humbert.
Friday, September 19 – 3-person ambrose event, any combination, hit off 11am – 12 noon, sponsored by Echuca Mazda and Mitsubishi. Enquiries to Darren Carnie 0428 862 292.
Bamawm Golf Club
There was a good field of golfers on course this week for a Stableford round and the final of the men’s handicap match play.
Winner of the day was Harry Condliffe with an extraordinary 46 points, who blitzed the field from next best Michael Dobson with 34 points.
NTP 7/16- Neville Vicary.
NTP 8/17- Michael Dobson.
NTP 2nd shot 9/18- Harry Condliffe.
Longest drive- Michael Dobson (0-15), Neville Vicary (16+)
Neville Vicary and Sam Newth battled it out in the handicap match play final, with Newth coming out on top 2 and 1.
This Friday will be our annual TJ Day with a men’s 4BBB, 12 o’clock assembly for 12:30 hit off.
Goulburn Valley Veteran Golfers
The morning fog had lifted by 10am to send the 50 veteran golfers on their way at Merrigum Golf Club, on Monday, September 1.
The playing conditions were perfect, with a temperature from 8-15°C and a gentle breeze not topping 13 km/hr.
Most jumpers were off before noon.
‘Preferred lies’ were implemented to compensate for the tough autumn-winter grass growing conditions on the fairways.
The ‘Young Vets’ sponsored the trophies on the day, and the Merrigum ladies again catered admirably with ham and cheese toasties, followed by hot apple crumble and ice cream.
Scores were well below par for many golfers, possibly falling victim to the tight spaces off a number of the tees, although the fairways are a generous width once through the gap.
Jim Georgiou of Shepparton GC headed A-grade on countback from John Fuller of Merrigum, both with 35 stableford points.
This winning margin was stretched in B-grade, where Laurie Radley (Rochester) with 37pts was followed by Richard Stockdale (Ky Parkland) with 30pts.
Incidentally, Richard achieved this position last year with 34 pts.
Ian Clarke of Kialla with 31 pts emerged victorious from a small field in C-Grade, and a surprised Ian Scurrah (Lockington) was runner-up with 29 pts.
Nearest-the-pin was contested on the 149-metre long 9th hole, where no-one troubled the scorer, the trees protecting a direct flight to the green.
Ball winners in A-Grade: Dennis Prosser (Numurkah), Kevin Humbert (Lockington), Jack Dell, Numurkah), Rolf Weber (Mooroopna), Don Hughes, Murchison), John Mortimer (Shepparton) and Mick McAuliffe (Valley View).
B-Grade: Phil Steers (Shepparton), Mick Stevens (Mooroopna), Bernard O’Hare (Nathalia), Clyde Hammond (Kialla).
C-Grade: Geoff Squires (Valley View).
Our next event is at Hill Top Golf and Country Club, Tatura, on Monday, September 22, 9.30am assembly for 10am tee.
This is the first round of our championship with the championship sponsored by Goulburn Murray Credit Union.
The champion in all grades is decided on the best two scores over the three rounds at our venues in September, October and November.
We have two teams entered into the VVGA annual teams tournament at Portland GC on Monday and Tuesday, September 15 and 16, where ‘Team One’ is defending their trophy from 2024.