Tony sets the Pace

For the first round of our annual championships, thirteen people rolled up at Oxley the day after ANZAC day, for what was the second early morning in a row for some of us. Numbers were bolstered for Eric Brunov’s trophy day by our visitors Dave Sullivan and John Ormsby, but the most significant visitor of the day was breezing in from the icy southwest.

As the sun climbed into the sky the breeze warmed up a bit, but strengthened into a gale before the round was done. I for one was looking to blame the wind strength for all of the golfing ills staining my scorecard.

The first group found the going hard, with Tony Armbruster the best of the bad crowd with his unremarkable 77 net. As the following groups arrived, none of them were able to better this, with Dennis Hogan’s 79 coming closest. Pin shots went to Eric Brunovs, Blair George, Noel Gilby and John Ormsby, with Eric supplementing the usual pin shot prizes with some bonus cash. Dennis Hogan took out the longest drive on the horrifyingly narrow 7th hole.

The next game is on Mother’s day at Gailes, but the 6am start will leave plenty of time to celebrate that.

Tony edges out the President

Ten folks rolled up at McLeod for the President’s trophy sponsored by Dennis Hogan. This is the last hit-out before the championships begin, so avoiding handicap damage can’t be far from mind.

Drama struck before the first ball was hit, as Mick van Bemmel and Dave Brain collided Mick’s cart into that of the group we would be following. Turns out Mick’s brakes had failed on the downhill near the first tee, and they needed the cart ahead to slow them down. Some fallen brake-parts were located, and as they waved the rest of the field through ahead them, they tried to fix the problem. Unfortunately, when only their group was left, they had to proceed without the brakes working, anticipating a few exciting downhills on the rolling McLeod layout.

Without such an on-going distraction, Tony Armbruster and Dennis Hogan both carded a handicap-preserving 72, with Tony taking the win in the countback. Only two pin-shots of the five available were taken, going to Ian van der Hoeven, and Mick van Bemmel, with Mick also taking the Longest Drive, followed by a scary descent down the huge hill on the 17th hole.

Next is the first Championship round at Oxley, 6am.