8^th Far South Coast VGA Tournament
at Bega/Tura Beach/Eden

This tournament attracted 117 players, 76 men and 41 ladies, from 44 clubs and was held in cold but clear, dry weather, with strong winds on the two early days and calm conditions on the last two. The numbers were down on last year, but this is attributable to the decision last year to withdraw this event from the NSWVGA calendar.

The new Tournament Director Bob Ward did an excellent job in re-establishing the event and it is great to know he is committed to the development of this tournament over the following years. His golf administration experience was clearly evident and under his direction this event will go from strength to strength. The fact that 2009 sees the Mid South Coast conducting their first official week of golf at Mollymook, Catalina, Moruya and Tuross Heads, in the week immediately following the Far South Coast event, augers well for both tournaments. Bob also was trialling a new computer program, developed by Computer Magic Software, and this certainly helped to enable daily presentations to be done with a minimum of delay after the last cards had been returned. The leaderboard function was excellent as was the scope of the printed reports.

Two tees were used each day and so the daily presentations were always well attended accompanied by very friendly interaction between the players, an example again of how smaller fields create close harmony amongst all the players. The presentation dinner at Tura Beach Country Club on the Friday night attracted over 130 diners, who all enjoyed an excellent 3 course meal, as well as an associated efficient presentation of trophies for the 54 holes, the Friday events, as well as the NSWVGA trophies, which had been decided at Bega on the Thursday. Having three golf courses in play was a bonus and added to the enjoyment of the field. All courses were well presented with the Bega course outstanding in this respect. Tura Beach has had problems with their greens but they are on the way back.

The NSWVGA was officially represented by Secretary Dick Farrant for the seventh consecutive year. 

Results

54 Holes Events

Best mens’s score:        Don Burke (Braidwood)           115     

R/u:                              Barry Smith (Moruya)               104

Best women’s score:     Edna Beech (Tura Beach)         112

R/u:                              Jane McDonnell (Moruya)        107

Divisional Winners over 54 holes:                     

Men

A Grade:          Keith Cook (St.G.Basin)          102      R/u: Alan Axford (Traralgon)         102

B Grade:          Mike Bungey (Q’beyan)           101      R/u: Geoff Kurrle (Korumburra)   99

C Grade:          Alan Elder (Moruya)                 100      R/u: Noel Short (Cranbourne)          97

Women

A Grade: Jeanette Bale (St.G.Basin)                 100      R/u: Heather Dennis (Tathra)           94

B Grade: Joan Croydon (Bayview)                     95      R/u: Pam Lamont (Ch’town)           92

C Grade: Marilyn Elder (Moruya)                     102      R/u: Carole Muir (Tura Baech)    95   

Monday Fourball At Tura Beach: (Cool and windy)

Men                                                   

1^st:        Norm Hamilton (Tura Beach)                + John Muir (Tura Beach)                     46

2^nd:       Don Burke (Braidwood)                       + Vic Nunn (Duntroon)             42 c/b

3^rd:       Alan Axford (Traralgon)                       + Max Madden (Duntry League)          42 c/b

4^th:       Bruce Grime (Castle Hill)                      + Glyn Peters (Gordon)                        42

Women

1^st:        Eleanor Armstrong (Cootamundra)       + Jan Slavin (Cootamundra)                  42

2^nd:       Edna Beech (Tura Beach)                     + Ruth Thopmson (Tura Beach)            39

3^rd:       Jeanette Bale (St.G.Basin)                    + Fae Lloyd (St.G.Basin)                      38

4^th:       Joan Croydon (Bayview)                      + Nola Marshall (Windsor)                   36

Tuesday Stableford at Bega (Cool and windy)

Men

A Grade: Ray McDonnell (Moruya)            37              R/u: Richard Froebel(C’bourne) 36

B Grade: David Jordan (Pam/Merim)          38              R/u: Mike Jackson (Gun. Lakes) 34

C Grade: Barry Smith (Moruya)                  41              R/u: Don Burke (Braidwood)        39

Women

A Grade: Edna Beech (Tura Beach)            33              R/u: Jeanette Bale (St.G.Basin)  32

B Grade: Pam Lamont (Ch’town)               34              R/u: Joan Croydon (Bayview)    33

C Grade: Jane McDonnell (Moruya)        35                 R/u: Marilyn Elder (Moruya)     34

Thursday Stableford at Bega (Play delayed because of frost, clear still day)

Men

A Grade: Alan Axford (Traralgon)              39              R/u: Barry Brown (Gun. Lakes) 38

B Grade: Mike Bungey (Q’beyan)             38              R/u: Colin Boulter (Tathra)        37

C Grade: Allan Elder (Moruya)               38                  R/u: Noel Short (Cranbourne)    35

NSWVGA trophies on this day went to Alan Axford (Shield Winner), Mike Bungey and Barry Brown on countbacks.   

Women

A Grade: Edna Beech (Tura Beach)            42              R/u: Sue Wakefield (Woorayl)  35

B Grade: Joan Croydon (Bayview)             31              R/u: Pam Lamont (Ch’town)     30 

C Grade: Carole Muir (Tura Beach)        38                  R/u: Jane McDonnell (Moruya) 36

NSWVGA trophies on this day went to Edna Beech and Carole Muir

Friday Stableford at Tura Beach (Calm, cool sunny day)

Men

A Grade: David Schmid (Moruya)            38                R/u: Keith Cook (St.G.Basin)        36

B Grade: Geoffe Kurrle (Korumburra)  35                    R/u: George Rhodes (Windsor)     35

C Grade: Don Burke (Braidwood)            40                R/u: Ken Robson (Tura Beach)     36

Women

A Grade: Edna Beech (Tura Beach)       35                   R/u: Jeanette Bale (St.G.Basin)     33

B Grade: Heather Dennis (Tathra)         33                    R/u: Joan Croydon (Bayview)       31

C Grade: Marilyn Elder (Moruya)         37                    R/u: Jane McDonnell (Moruya)    36

Bob Ward