Ferguson far too good

Don Ferguson was far too good for the opposition as her blitzed the A-Grade division of the Rabobank Monthly Medal at the Penola Golf Club on Saturday. The Kalangadoo cattle magnate was on fire with the flat stick as he sunk putts from everywhere to shoot nett 69 for the day. 

His putting flattered his card somewhat as probable bogeys were turned into unlikely pars, especially on the front nine where he only had 10 putts. He consequently also won the putting competition.  He had 11 pars for the day and a birdie on the 18th to put the icing on the cake.

Ferguson was four shots clear of his nearest rival, Jeremy Briggs, who shot net 73. Briggs had an up and down day and had seven pars and a birdie on the 17th. He also had the longest drive for the A-Grade to pick up a prize.

In  third place was Nathan Williams with net 74. His usual reliable putting deserted him as he 32 putts was most unlike Schnitzel. He did manage to accumulate 10 pars along the way.

Peter Walker finished fourth also with net 74. Walker was deadly accurate on the  par 3’s where he won prizes for nearest the pin on the 7th and 9th.

David Boyd had the round of the day to head the 30 strong field. His score of nett 68 backed up his 42 points from Thursday. The big hitting Boyd blitzed the back nine where he had five pars and a birdie – including a blistering run from the 11th to the 15th which he played one under the card. Not only did he take out the main competition, but he won a prize for best 2nd on the 11th as well. Recent scores have made the handicapper stand up and take notice for future competitions.

Runner up with a fairly handy score himself was Father Gleeson, who signed off on a net 69. His back nine was a highlight, where he had five pars for 40 off the stick.

Bill Cheers would have thought he was in with a real show also with net 69, but only finished third. He scored consistently well on the front nine where he had nothing worse than a bogey with a few pars along the way.

Blue Kuhl rounded out the placings with net 70 as his group finished in near darkness on the 18th. Fortunately for his partners, he stood on the green and his crimson crest stood out like a beacon for the players to aim at. 

Good scores were a little harder to come by in the C-Grade as players struggled in the earlier wet conditions. New member, Curt Evans is slowly acclimatising to the South East chill as took out his first monthly medal with nett 76. Five pars on the front nine showed his potential, but a pair of binaries on the par 5’s on the back nine cost him a much better score.

Runner up was John Foggo who managed to just sneak under nett 80.Dean Moore and Allen Meyer finished in third and fourth places respectively.

Other longest drives on the day were won by Shane McPherson and Jason Jackson. Shane McPherson also won himself a consolation prize of a golf ball on the shin after one of his playing partners picked him out. Playing the 18th in near darkness, one of his playing group went back to replay a shot and supposedly was aiming at the green. Unfortunately for Flanders, he had no warning as the incoming Bridgestone hit him flush in the shin. Used to his usual hijinks, his playing partners ignored him and it wasn’t until closer inspection in the clubhouse, the ‘golfball’ on his shin was clearly visible!

This week sees the first round of the Captain’s trophy, a stableford round. The usual offering of a sack of spuds will most likely be the prize after the three rounds. 

Full results here.