16 May 2008
2008 NSWVGA Matchplay Report
What a great week was had by all in the Illawarra competing in the 2008 NVSVGA Matchplay Championships. Both men and women played all five days on the three great venues Port Kembla, Grange and Shellharbour Links and enjoyed absolutely beautiful weather. The camaraderie and fellowship that built up during the week between all competitors made the event a pleasure to direct.
Results
The Championship final at Shellharbour Links was a keenly contested event between Ron Hall (Port Kembla) and Tony Jones (Waratah). All square after nine, still square after fourteen, Jones birdied the par 3 fifteenth, squared the next two and made a difficult up and down at the last hole to win two up.
All the members of the top men’s group played without benefit of handicap where as all other divisions did involve differences in handicap.
All players were involved in their own level of matchplay on the last day and other winners in the top division included John Wickett (Muree), Mick Watson (Newcastle) and Peter Hogben (Port Kembla) who all won three of their four matches. Then Young Kim (Asquith), Gordon Terrey (Antill Park) and Joe Smuk (Camden) won two of their four matches including the vital last day, and John Paris (Morisset) won the
Final trophy in the division by winning on the last day, even though he and his rival had lost the first three rounds.
In Division 2 (handicaps 13 to 16) the final was another great tussle between Bob Harrison (Port Kembla) and Eric Lewis (Newcastle) with the match all square after seventeen holes. Eric unfortunately three putted a difficult last green and lost to Bob one up. Those who won three out of four were Warren Noble (Nelson Bay), John Wilson (Russell Vale) and Rod Moylan (Branxton) while the players with two wins, including the last round, were Ross Hartmann (Wakehurst), Kevin Crowley (Coffs Harbour) and John Wallace (Hurstville). The battle for the sole win on the Friday was won by Russell Worth of Kiama.
In Division 3 (handicaps 17 to 27) yet another close tussle resulted in the final with Wally Pegg (Crescent Head) defeating John Farmillo (Port Kembla) two and one. The players with three wins in this division were Jim Addison (Cumberland), Max Glanville (Long Reef) and Col Mitchell (Jamberoo) while the two win players, including the obligatory last round, were Don Burke (Braidwood), Denis Bayada (Royal Canberra) and John Goth (Cumberland). President Des Coady (Kiama) rallied on the Friday to beat Vic Nunn (Duntroon) to record the only win of the week between the two of them.
The women’s division was an outstanding success for the girls, even though they played five days in a row. They proved to be a tight knit group displaying outstanding sportsmanship and friendship. Marie Farrant (Jamberoo) won the final defeating Joan Hartmann (Wakehurst) three and two. Pat Mackie (Shoalhaven Heads) and Joan Lewis (Newcastle) won three of their four matches. The girls with two wins, including the last round, were Melita Watson (Newcastle), Marlene Graham (Charlestown) and Margharita Bayada (Royal Canberra). The final voucher went to Trish George (Charlestown) who won her only event on the Friday.
In all 35 players out of the 62 won a voucher on the Friday with the other players each receiving half a dozen balls. The sponsor Jason Allen of Australian Pensioner Finance donated twelve bottles of wine which was distributed by means of a free raffle.
The stroke round on the first day at Shellharbour Links, to determine seedings, resulted in the following players also winning vouchers.
Mens Division One Gross: Joe Smuk (Camden) 79
Net: Michael Dodd (Charlestown) 71c/b
Mens Division Two Gross: Col Brown (Kiama) 85
Net: Les Hegyi (Wollongong) 67
Mens Division Three Gross: Jim Addison (Went. Falls) 93
Net: Tom Clifford (Gordonvale Q) 69
Womens Division Gross: Melita Watson (Branxton) 86
Net: Joan Hartmann (Wakehurst) 69
Dick Farrant
Tournament Director
Dick Farrant
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