Wilkinson and Walker Win the Foursomes Title

Club Stalwart Peter Walker and club all-round good guy, John Wilkinson have been the popular winners of the Penola Golf Club Foursomes title. The event has long been held in prestige as a difficult game to win, and has been made even more so with larger fields thanks to the sponsorship of Kidman Wines, now in its second year.

It has been 23 years since Walker has won this event, having tried many partners in the past. Frustrated by their performance and the fact most were on a Senior’s Card, Walker sought out the much younger and long hitting John Wilkinson. In the back of his mind, he also knew if they won, he’s get to take home all the prizes as acquiring the taste of good wine hasn't filtered down to Tarpeena yet.

Whilst the course and greens played spectacularly, the heavy conditions made long ball striking and sometimes visibility somewhat tricky.

Walker’s down the middle approach worked well in combination with the long hitting Wilkinson. This was particularly so in the middle nine where they combined to have 41 off the stick after starting with a birdie and two pars. Their winning score of nett 108¾ for the 27 holes demonstrated how difficult the conditions were.  

Runner’s up were the combination of Steven Skeer and Grant Stephenson who chipped and putted very well  to finish less than two shots behind the winners with a nett score of 110 ½. The duo put each other in some interesting positions but always managed to find a way out of trouble thanks to their superior short game.  A superb shot on the 27th hole by Stephenson set up an easy par to leap frog them onto the podium.

In their place were Paul Harmer and Greg Hutchesson, who combined well for their score of 111. The long hitting of Hutchesson set them up on several occasions, but neither managed to find one-putts easy to come by, which in the end was most likely the difference. That and finishing with a six which was the only real blemish on their card.

The Nearest the Pins were won by Peter Ey on the 5th, David Murray with a great shot on the 7th, Jeremy Briggs on the 8th and Grant Stephenson on the 9th.
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The event is certainly building in prestige and the packed clubhouse at the end for the presentations and BBQ was a reflection on the importance of this event on the calendar. 

Peter Walker receives his prize from Mikey Redman

Runners Up: Grant Stephenson and Steven Skeer