ADAM Gazal takes a one-shot lead into the second qualifying round of the 2001 Longyard Golf Club A Grade Club Championship this weekend.
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Gazal carded a fine even par 72 to head the first-round scoreboard last Saturday.
Longyard junior Lorne Sampson was one of three players one shot back with another five grouped on 74.
Sampson, who plays off seven, five-marker Anthony Hawkins and eight marker Mike Whale all finished with first round 73s. Past club champion Peter Bennett, Conrad Leader, Graeme Nicholls, Mike Bird and Chris Graham all finished two over par.
Another eight golfers fired 78 or better in the first qualifying round.
The Longyard’s club championship is decided on a partial stroke and match play format.
The top 16 golfers from the first two rounds of stroke play qualify for the match play section.
Those top 16 play off until the winner in A, B and C grade is decided.
Of the top 17 A grade players on Saturday, only Mike Bird will be missing this Saturday.
The Tamworth physiotherapist, who also coaches the NSW Country rugby union side with Calrossy schoolteacher Joe Goldsworthy, is away with the Country Cockatoos.
He carded a two-over par 74 last Saturday.
The big shock of the first round was a disastrous 83 for former club champion Bill Handley. Just a few short weeks ago he shot a four under par 68 around the Longyard on a Wednesday competition day.
He has a lot of work to do to qualify, as do Bob Moore and John Furneaux, both of whom shot eight-over 80s.
Peter King leads the B grade qualifiers with an 82 from Mark Cameron (83) and Allan Coyle (84). Longyard juniors Matthew Cramp (91) and Jarrod Smith (94) headed the C grade qualifiers.
The Longyard Ladies’ Golf Championships are decided on a straight stroke format and over two rounds.
Chrystal Percy has the Gold Division at her mercy after the four-marker fired a 76 on Saturday. She leads Maryann Macklinshaw by six shots with Julia Boland and Gail Salter one shot further back.
Michelle McIntyre leads the Silver Division after carding a 99. The 19-marker has a one-shot lead over club captain Lindsey Bagust with Jane Moore (101), Margaret Shields (102) and Sue Fogarty (103) all within firing range.
Myra McGee heads the Bronze Division 1 on 109 by two shots from Pamela Hall (111) and Gai Field (115) while Nola Blanch heads the Bronze 1 Division on 122 from Bev Draper (131) and Christin Barratt (153).
A record 210 players took to the course for last Saturday’s first round of championship play. Longyard secretary-manager Pat Lonergan is hopeful of an even bigger field this weekend.
“We’ve already got 190 down to play this Saturday so we might even top last weekend,” he said yesterday.