The 2019 Golf Australia Vic State Final of the Women’s Silver Spoon was held at Keysborough Golf Course, 88 players from throughout Victoria hit off in perfect weather for golf.  The Silver Spoon was first played in 1921 and is held in two stages. The first stage is at club level where a player is required to win one of the four designated rounds on the club’s syllabus, followed by a play off between all four winners. The winner of the play off then represents the club in the State final.

Romsey was represented by Jenny Hartley who acquitted herself well. It was not easy to negotiate the well bunkered greens, adjust to their very quick pace and accommodate the run on the fairways.  Jenny scored 31 stableford points and was placed 17^th in the competition. To be in the top 20 in the a state competition is a great achievement.

2019 Silver Spoon Winner; Maree Fitzgerald (Coleraine G. C.) – 42 points

A strong field teed off in the club’s stroke round, the John Laing Shield quarter finals were also being contested. The course was in great nick fairways well covered and the greens running at a good pace and very true.  The corellas seemed to have had the week off.  Early on there was a steady wind from the west but towards the middle of the round this swung around to the south-west and its effects were easily seen once balls got above the treeline.  However, generally the conditions were excellent for golf.  The John Laing quarter finals were a bit of a mixture.  Les Gaunt kept on from his excellent form of last week, Andrew Clement took all 18 holes to close out his match and Pat Chisholm found his wiley opponent quite a handful but eventually, distance in the air made all the difference.  The stroke field looked to be having a very ordinary day and it was not until the final group of four came in that a few respectable score were put on the table.  On a good, late spring day the results were;

Winner; Michael Squire – 76/5/71 from Jim Patton – 94/20/74 & Peter Evans – 95/19/76

John Laing Shield Quarter Finals

Andrew Clement (0) D Scott Williams (7) 2up

Pat Chisholm (0) D John Laing (16) 3/2

Les Gaunt (0) D Rob Rea (12) – 5/4

Mick Squire (0) Vs John Freestone (15) – Delayed due to CFA actions

The Romsey Graeme Clement Open is scheduled for the weekend Sat 23rd and Sun 24th Nov.  Entry forms available at; https://www.romseygolfclub.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/RomseyOpenEntry19V4-1.pdf

On a cooler morning than expected, RGC members Jenny Hartley Lorraine Robb and Beryl Cole  travelled to Kyneton to play in their 2019  Bowl.  The day eventually warmed up and by lunch time the sun was shining through. The course was in good condition and as always the Kyneton women provided a delicious lunch. Jenny (24) had the best individual score – 32 pts, in the Romsey team.

2019 Kyneton Bowl Champions; Trentham = 94pts.

Wendy Gosden and Darlene Baker represented RGC  in the Seymour Golf Club annual tournament.  Conditions were near perfect weather wise and the course was in good shape with the greens almost fully recovered from recent coring.
Winner & 2019 Seymour Champion; Dale Stuart (Seymour)  85.

Wendy Gosden continued on her winning way by scoring 33 Stableford points and taking out the Wednesday event.  With two “chip ins” from off the green for four points each her score was easily the best for the day.  The  morning’s results were;

Winner; Wendy Gosden (27) – 33 points  from  Jenny Hartley (22) –  27 points & Darlene Baker (19) – 24 points

It was a wild and windy day at Lancefield Golf Club for the 2019 the Mt William Cup. Conditions were challenging but the day was enjoyed by all 30 players.  Romsey’s team, Elaine Scanlon, Wendy Gosden and Darlene Baker acquitted themselves well coming equal second with a combined total of 84 points.   Romsey’s Wendy Gosden won the individual B Grade trophy and won herself 2 POTY points. Winners of the small teams event were Darlene Baker, Di Rohde and Jenni Vennell.

Winners; Di Rohde, Di Brennan & Florence Meyer (Lancefield) –  95 pts

The day looked a little ominous as players took to the course, dark clouds and rain threatening with gusting winds jumping between the  W and SW.  However, things soon cleared up and, apart from the odd spot of drizzle, the day remained clear and moved towards warmish.  The longer hitters were favoured; balls pulled up quickly on the softer fairways but they had to be accurate as anyone who strayed into the well cut, but thick, rough had a challenge getting their ball back into play.  The greens putted with good pace and but many found the expected turn did not eventuate leading to much anguish around the cup.  In the end the day belonged to two of the club’s veterans, one a multiple club champion and the other a highly respect life member.  The club also raised $60 for Cancer Research through the Drummond “Golf Fore A Cause” program.  On a cool, clearing afternoon the results were;

Winner; Les Gaunt (7)  41 pts (74 off the stick) from Scott Williams (17) – 36 pts, Pat Chisholm (13) – 36 pts & John Laing (29) – 36 pts

NTPs; 1st – Mick Nicholls Jnr & 15th – Steve Wilkins

The Quarter Finals of the John Laing Shield will be between

Les Gaunt (0) Vs Rob Rea (12)

John Freestone (15) Vs Mick Squire (0)

Pat Chisholm (0) Vs John Laing (16)

Scott Williams (7) Vs Andrew Clement (0)

In very blustery conditions the final of the singles knockout was played with Wendy Gosden playing a very consistent round defeating Jenny Hartley. Congratulations to both players for making the final and well done Wendy.
Other players enjoyed a round of Canadian Foursomes and the day’s results were –

Singles KO; Wendy Gosden D Jenny hartley 4/3
Canadian Winners; Elaine Scanlon/Keith Hocking – 107/21.5/85.5 from Kath Jekabsons/Darlene Baker – 104/18/86 & Beryl Cole/Connie Cecys – 129/25.5/103.5

After a few hot and windy days the course was very appreciative of the ~40mm of rain that fell over the weekend.  The Cup Day Ambrose field was surprisingly large, perhaps, after Saturday’s washout, a few frustrated golfers just had to get back on the course.  Play proceeded at “Ambrose Speed”  and all groups enjoyed the mild, sunny afternoon.   A few greens had casual water, either at the front or back, which stopped approach shots dead.  The greens were a little furry forcing golfers to “putt with conviction” or end up well short of the cup.  On a beautiful, late spring afternoon the results were;

Winners; John Freestone/Andrew Laing/John Laing –  74/11/63 from Sherif Abdel-Sayed/Mitch Atlas –  79/11/68

RGC was represented by Wendy Gosden and Darlene Baker who headed off to Yea bright and early to play in the Isobel Bett Memorial Tournament. It was scorching hot and a refreshment cart delivering bottled water and chilly watermelon was very much appreciated by the players out on the course.   The course was in very good condition and the lunch was delicious.  Some very good scores were recorded;

Scratch winner; Dale Stewart (Seymour) – 87.

Nett Winner; Margie Wright (Yea) – 68  count back from Di Elliot (Yea)
Player of the Year points were awarded to
Di Byrne 5, Sue Stoddart 4 , Helen Howard 3, Kath Keating 2 and Sue McCall 1.