Gilbert racks up another Cobar Open title

Chris Gilbert (at centre) won the Men’s Open 2019 golf title on Sunday. He is pictured with Brewarrina visitors Morris Sullivan and Jason Ford at the 18th hole.

Chris Gilbert won his third Cobar Men’s Open golf title on Sunday after finishing two shots ahead of another previous Open winner, Greg Read.

Gilbert was ahead after 18 holes in the
Epiroc 2019 Men’s Golf Open but was certain the more experienced Read would catch him on the back nine.

Read’s game however didn’t go according to plan and Gilbert, with a Scratch score of 111, won the 2019 title from Read, who finished with 113.

Gilbert previously won the Men’s Open in 2017 and also 2014 while Read’s name is on the CD Pretty trophy as the winner for 2005.

This year’s Open attracted a good field with players from Gilgandra, Hillston, Brewarrina, Manildra, Albert, Trangie, Orange and Belvoir Park in Victoria attending.

The 27 hole Net winner was Nathan Cahill from Hillston with a score of 104 followed by Garry Wilkin on 111.

Max Phillips was out in front in the 18 Hole Scratch competition winning with a score of 90 while Bill Fugar claimed a win in the 18 Hole Net competition with 73.

Jay Egan, with a score of 39, won the Nine Hole Scratch prize with Mark Fraser (38) the eventual winner of the Nine Hole Net event following a three-way countback with Alec Fraser and Roy Bennett.

The best net score over 18 holes by a visiting player was 90 recorded by Warren Moore from Hillston.

In the Teams competition, Read with 72 and team mates Peter Lawrence (75) and Phil Gilligan (70) finished as the winners with a combined total of 217.

In the Longest Drive competition, Wilkin won A Grade, Peter Holland from Gilgandra took out B Grade and C Grade was won by David Fensom from Hillston.

The Nearest the Pin winners were: A Grade 15th hole—Michael Welch (Trangie); B Grade 3rd hole—Graham Holland (Gilgandra); and C Grade 8th hole—Dale Dunkley.

Epiroc also sponsored Saturday’s Herford Cup Four-Ball-Best-Ball versus Par event with 53 players taking part.

Greg Read teamed up with former local Al Sharpe to win.

Another former local, Tony Conley, partnered with Darryn Lord to finish second with Rod Gordon and Greg Reko in third place.

The Scratch winners were Bayley Prendergast and Jake Ryan with Jason Ford (from Brewarrina) and John Sheriden (from Hillston) in third place.

Nearest the Pin prizes were won on the 3rd hole by Phil Gilligan; on the 8th by Marc Cummins; and on the 15th by Mark Fraser.

This Saturday’s game is a Stableford and a Stableford will also be played on Sunday for the Monthly Medal competition.—This article has been compiled with information supplied by The Hooker.