A fine weekend should have resulted in plenty of golfers enjoying the Cobar spring weather, but only a small field of four teams contested a four-ball-multiplier on Saturday while just 10 players competed in the an individual Stableford on Sunday.
One of the reasons for the low numbers was that six local golfers played in the Manildra Open over the weekend, with club captain Peter ‘China’ Brien, Stewart and Alec Fraser, Greg Read, Ian and Bayley Prendergast and ex-pat, Craig Dillon all lining up to play.
The only winner from Cobar, Dillon, was the runner-up in the A Grade Scratch event.
Probably another reason for a small field on Saturday on the home course was the pairing of super-vet Max Phillips and Colin ‘Butch’ Eves scaring off any potential opposition.
With Phillips’ length off the tee and Eves’ accuracy and exquisite putting, they are a hard team to beat.
They had a combined score of 75 points to win Saturday’s game and beat into second place the pairing of Scott Mayne and Bian Smith on 72 points.
Nearest the Pin prizes were won on the 8th hole by Phillips and by Greg Clark on the 15th.
Brad Bannister and Geoff Rorke both had scores of 37 points in Sunday’s game with Bannister winning on a countback.
Max Phillips eased off the pressure to let some else win on the day and came in third on 35 points.
Phillips however made up for his concession by winning the only two Nearest the Pin prizes on the day, at the 3rd and 7th holes.
The Men’s ‘Skins’ games played on Mondays sometimes get bigger fields than the scheduled normal golf, which is a surprise when you consider the reputation of the people who run it.
Monday regulars, Mick Bannister and John Martin, with their ‘Rafferty’s Rules’, can turn off any players looking for an honest, fair game – it’s rumoured even Max Phillips won’t play with them!
But for others who are looking for some fun and are prepared to pay for it, it might be the game for them.
Excitement is building as the upcoming final game of the Bill Bartlett Matchplay competition between Garry Wilkin and Phil Gilligan looms.
The word around the club is that Gilligan will probably get up by talking Wilkin out of it!
Saturday’s event is a major trophy day with the 8th Round of Captain’s Trophy to be played as a Stroke event.
Sunday is the Cobar Bowling & Golf Club Day with a Stableford to be played.
On the public holiday Monday, the CADJ Carwash tournament will be played as a four-ball aggregate.—Way out of bounds
