A good field assembled for the qualifying round of the 2023 John Laing Shield, a singles matchplay event.  Golfers were again faced with winds in the high 30Kph which  moved between  S, SE and SW,  It was often  difficult to pick just where the wind was coming from, hitting a par 3 was going to be more than a challenge; another tough day looked to be on the cards.  The fairways and surrounds were in tip-top condition and the greens were steadily coming back to their best.  On another very windy afternoon where the sun poked through now and then the results were;

1st; Scott Williams (18) – 35 pts, C/B

2nd; Andrew Clement (10) – 35 pts

3rd; Mitch Atlas (6)  – 33 pts C/B Mick Squire (6)

NTPs; 15th – Davey Kenney

Quarter finals of the 2023 John Laing Shield will be;

1. Scott Williams (10) Vs 8. Mal Mottram (0)

3. Mitch Atlas (0) Vs 6. Bob McLennan (8)

2. Andrew Clement (0) Vs  7. Davey Kenney (4)

4. Mick Squire (0) Vs 5. John Freestone (21)

It was a cold day. The course was very well prepared. The outstanding player on the day was Hugh Williams.  Daily Competition results:
1st; Hugh Williams (20) – 40 pts.
2nd; Elaine Scanlon (34) – 32 pts.
3rd; Rob Slade (17) – 29 pts.

Another blustery day at Royal Romsey with winds from the N/NE gusting to around 45Kph before dropping back to the mid-30s; the medal round was going to be challenging.  As high balls moved appreciable some players, with very variable success, attempted to keep their shots low. Putting was also tough as gusts moved balls well off line.  The winds had also brought down a few branches here and there so some cleaning up later in the week.  Again, the course was in superb condition, a credit the band of volunteers who look after the almost 85% of Romsey Park that makes up the golf course.  It was a day for the old hands, those who had cut their golfing teeth at Romsey and who understood just how the wind behaved  on each hole.

Lorraine Robb, who played her round on Wednesday in intermittent hail, returned the best score in the Women’s October Medal held over Wed Nov 25th and Sat Nov 28th. On a clear, windy afternoon the October Medal results were;

October Medalist; Lorraine Robb – 124/48/76

2nd; Elaine Scanlon – 112/33/78

3rd; Beryl Cole – 112/33/79 c/b Wendy Gosden c/b Darlene Baker.

October Medalist; Andrew Clement – 80/11/69

2nd; Mal Mottram – 80/8/72

3rd; Matt Barrow – 85/11/74

Women’s winner; Darlene Baker – 79/19/79

NTPs; 1st – Mick Nicholls Snr,   15th  – Dean Kohler

Least Putts; Mal Mottram – 28

October Medal winner, Andrew Clement with RGC captain Mal Mottram

A great result for the Romsey Team of Wendy Gosden, Jenny Hartley and Darlene Baker who combined well to win the Lancefield Mt William cup by one point from one of the local Lancefield Teams.  Wendy had 35 Stableford points (equal best individual score of the day) with Darlene 32 and Jenny 27 points for a total of 94.   Wendy earned herself 5 Player of the Year Points and Darlene 2.
Conditions were difficult with a fierce southerly wind for the entire round but the course was in great condition. The greens were receptive and the fairways lush and recently mown.
A lovely lunch including a well stocked dessert table was enjoyed by all players after their round.

 2023 Mt William Cup Champions, Darlene Wendy & Jenny.

It was a typical Victorian spring day – sunshine and then squalls with the temperature dropping rapidly.  A huge thank you to all the volunteers for mowing the whole course.  Daily comp results:
1st; Steve Wilkins – 89/14/75
2nd; Lorraine Robb 124/48/76 – October Women’s Medalist.
3rd; Rob Slade 95/17/78 c/b Elaine Scanlon.
Least putts; Rob Slade – 27
NTP; 1st – Steve Wilkins.

The DDGA Championships 2023 were held at the Kilmore Golf Course.   The course was in very good condition. The weather was perfect for golf with a calm, wind free day with just a comfortable amount of sunshine. The 33 players enjoyed a lovely lunch after the game and lots of chatter filled the clubhouse as missed putts and duffed chips were replayed over and over.
Jenny Hartley and Darlene Baker journeyed across to Kilmore for the day and both had an enjoyable round.  Darlene was pipped at the post in a four way countback for the A grade Nett.
In the main event Deb Richardson from Alexandra Golf Club was the worthy winner on the day with a scratch score of 89 to become 2023 Champ.

Marysville Golf Club held their annual Tournament on Thursday 12th Oct. The forecast was such that the Captain reduced the competition to a 9 Hole Stableford event.  This turned out to be a wise decision as the game was played in constant drizzle or full on rain. Nevertheless Elaine Scanlon and Darlene Baker enjoyed the hospitality, the camaraderie and the banter in the clubhouse after the game. The highlight for the Romsey women was a Nearest The Pin to Darlene on the par 3, 4th and Elaine won a gift in the raffle!

The fine weather at the end of the  week saw an enormous amount of course maintenance successfully undertaken.  However, while the greens continue to recover well from coring there were still many puts that moved well of line, they should be back to their best in a fortnight or so.  The fairways and surrounds were in top condition so the only other negative was the strong, 30+Kph, wind that shifted between  NE all the way to the NW so NTPs on par threes were really not in play.  The conditions proved more than challenging no-one was able to play to their handicap.  On a windy afternoon the results were;

1st; Mick Nicholls Snr (22) -32 pts C/B

2nd; Mal Mottram (8) – 32pts

3rd; Steve Wilkins (17) – 31 pts.

The weather was perfect. A huge thank you to all the volunteers for all the mowing they have done. Unfortunately corellas have attacked some areas of the course. Daily competition results;
1st – Hugh Williams 93/21/72
2nd – Lorraine Robb 122/48/74
3rd – Wendy Gosden 108/32/76
NTPs; 1st – Wendy Gosden, 3rd – Rob Slade
The 2nd Rd of the Silver Spoon is a running competition so the top 4 players will not be decided until after next Saturday’s competition.

Play began on a coolish afternoon with a 20Kph+ wind from the SW.  The course was in top nick and all players got excellent value for well struck shots.  With the greens still recovering from their recent coring there were a few unusual movements on some putts.  The game of the day was 4B Aggregate Stableford however, players did not know who their partner was until the end of the day.  As the round progressed the  day brightened and the temperature rose as high as 14C.  Uneven numbers meant some golfers had two partners. On another great day to be out on the park the results were;

1st; Mitch Atlas (6)/Dylan Harris (6) – 66 pts

2nd; Scott Williams (17)/Dylan Harris (6) – 63 pts

NTPs; 1st -Mick Squire, 15th – Brad Klaaysen & 16th – Mick Squire