CONGRATULATIONS to Andrew Bowden on winning his first Walcha Golf Club Championship last Sunday. Not sure if it has happened before where there have been father and son champions on the same year – Andrew’s old man Jamie won B grade.
FORMER Walcha Golf Club champ Andrew Brennan competed in the final round of the championships on Sunday where he shot a par round 70 in windy conditions. Considering the trainee professional registered 32 putts, a par round wasn’t too bad. With some tail wind assistance, A. J. drove the 17th green and punched a five-iron second shot into the 12th green before putting for eagle.
WALCHA have won five out of the last six Pasture Wonderland Bowls. Noel Goodwin, his son Allan, Stephen Bath and Terry Parker combined to win the tournament a fortnight ago. Walcha won from West Tamworth and South Tamworth after a countback was called for to determine the winners when all three teams recorded five wins each.
LAST year, Steve Goodwin and his son Kyle combined with Jamie Kerr and John McLean to clinch the trophy after Steve and John teamed up with Ian Bird and North Tamworth player Adam Carr for victory in 2016. The Pasture Wonderland Trophy is an A. S. Nivison Memorial prize which started in 1974.
SO near but yet so far could quite easily have been the catchcry for Round Swamp batsman Ben France last Saturday when he was left stranded on 96 runs, tantalisingly close to his maiden ton. Ben and his opening partner Lachie Fletcher combined to chase down the 177 runs Colts had set them without the loss of a wicket.
BIG Wigs of the Week: Ben France 96 not out, Lachie Fletcher 72 not out, Dan Hunt 70, Jacob Sherrin 53, Nathan Swann 40, Beau Abraham 32, Andrew Fuller 7/24, Ben France 4/33, Andrew Kelly 3/14.
POULTRY Farmers of the Week: Brad Dade, Steve Waples, Wayne Boyd (all golden), Stephen Haslem, Dave Woodley and Brad Partridge.
E.R. Brazel Memorial player of the match points: 3 Ben France, Andrew Fuller; 2 Nathan Swann, Dan Hunt; 1 Lachie Fletcher, Beau Abraham.
THE talented Abraham brothers Sam and Beau have both signed on with a player manager to assist with their future rugby league careers. Sam will be a member of the Newcastle Knights under 20s next season while Beau is off to Hunter Sports High in 2019.
LOCAL veteran athlete Taddy Macfarlane recently competed in the Central Coast half-marathon at The Entrance. He completed the 21.1km journey in 1 hour, 52 minutes, 16 seconds. Taddy won his age group of 70 years and over.
SWIMMING club held their third swim meet of the season and, for the third time in succession, another record was broken, this time when Thomas Micallef lowered the 16 years boys 4 x 50m medley. Thomas smashed the record held by Allan Ballard since 1996 when he stopped the clock in 2 minutes, 54.13 seconds. It will be interesting to see how long the other records in the 16 years boy division held by Allan and Dean Hancock last. Allan still owns the 50m and 100m freestyle along with the 50m butterfly, while Dean has the 200m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.
FLIPPERS record holders are Chloe “Nigel” Mackaway, 16, Georgia Brown, 10, Dean Hancock and James Harwood, 7, Angus Warden, 6, Alex Nichols, 5.
At the 19th
Former Walcha Golf Club junior champion Andrew Bowden is the 2018 Club Champion after he finished four shots clear of Anthony Smith last Sunday. He carded a four-round total of 298, while the runner-up registered 302.
In B grade, Jamie Bowden was a comfortable winner on 342, well ahead of John Mann on 358 and Steph Sweeney on 360.
Club president Allan Green started the last round 13 shots ahead but had his advantage trimmed to 10 by John McCormack when they finished 370 and 380.
Veterans' champion is Wayne Brennan after he rounded up club captain Will Brennan by four shots 159 to 163 played over two rounds.
The Nick Cross Memorial for best nett aggregate over four rounds went to Anthony Smith on 281 from Wayne Brennan 288 and Will Brennan 289. Overall winner last Sunday was Alex Gill with a 69 nett.
Sweepstakes went to Cheryl McDonald 70, Rose Baumer 71, Andrew Brennan 72, Andrew Bowden 73, Doug McDonald, Margaret Davidson and Jenny Lisle, all on 74.
Sharpest shooters at the pins were Ben Clifton (3), Warwick Hogan (9), Marg Davidson (16) and Allan Hoy (18).
Last Saturday, Brian Lynch won the weekly nine-hole competition after he accumulated 22 stableford points. Sweepstakes went to Craig Morgan, 18, and Guy Lord, 17, while Penny King won the ladies division with 20 points, and runner-up Prue Morgan scored 17 points.
This Sunday is presentation night to be followed after a 4BBB medley stableford. Tee off time is from 1pm, not the usual 12 noon.
This Thursday, the veterans are holding their annual Christmas special 4BBB medley at 9am for 9.30am shotgun start.
