🏆 Sport

Sports reports: Murraylands tennis players medal at Australian Masters Games

Plus the latest in Murray Bridge golf and rifle shooting and Murray Towns cricket.

Contributed

Oct 17, 2023 — 4 min read

This post includes contributions from Heather Richards, Michael Potts and Daniel Irvine.

Enjoying a week of tennis at the Australian Masters Games are John Owens; Kaye Zadow, Anne-Marie Brown, Di Arnot, Jenny Luke, Michelle Daniel and Heather Richards; and Theo Weinmann and Kathy Pfeiffer. Photos: Supplied by Heather Richards.

Murraylands tennis players medal at Australian Masters Games

Five Murraylands locals have participated in the tennis competition in last week’s Australian Masters Games in Adelaide.

Matches were played at the newly renovated Memorial Drive courts complex.

Kaye Zadow gained a well earned silver in the 120-plus ladies doubles with her partner, Anne-Marie Brown; and in the same event Heather Richards received bronze with her partner, Michelle Daniel.

John Owens had a busy tournament, winning silver in the 70-plus singles from nine entrants; and in the 70-plus doubles with Ken O’Dea, he remained undefeated to take out the gold.

Kathy Pfeiffer competed in two mixed doubles, winning a bronze with Theo Weinmann in the 150-plus event and capturing the gold partnered with Dave Bilson in the 75-plus mixed.

Weinmann ended up with a haul of every colour: bronze with Pfeiffer, silver in the 150-plus doubles with Dave Bilson, and gold in the 80-plus singles.

It was a pleasure for all to play at Memorial Drive courts and to be involved in a well run tournament with great player numbers over all age groups.

Jeff Smith proves best on high-scoring day for golf

The recent annual October aeration of the greens at Murray Bridge Golf Club, known as coring, has had little effect on the ability of players to score, with plenty of above-handicap returns from competitors on Saturday.

Walking beanpole Jeff Smith certainly had no issue with them as he amassed 40 points to win the Stableford event.

Just having to hit the ball a shade harder than normal and hoping it didn’t bounce off line was the key.

Smith, not known for his consistency, had a day where he was consistent and the result was there for all to see.

Can he do it again?

Not likely.

With a field of just 54 players fronting, the competition reverted to open grade and Lucas Merchant was the runner-up, also scoring a brilliant 40 points.

Not to be denied, 90-year-old “Flash” Gordon Baker was third with the same score, proving once and for all that his incessant demands for more handicap are totally unwarranted.

Players deserving of mention amongst the placegetters include Wayne Duthie, on the comeback trail after recent illness, whose classy 39 points proved the old saying that “form is temporary but class is permanent”.

There was plenty of class shown on his 22-point back nine, which won him the day’s pro comp.

Jeff Wright, fresh from his recent Mildura Cup win, showed no signs of stress from that arduous week of golf; his 37 points were more salt in the wounds of some of the players he beat there.

Greg Traeger takes aim at Monarto on Saturday. Photo: Daniel Irvine.

Gordon Harrison, Greg Traeger top-score at rifle club

Fresh to moderate winds have prevailed at the Deed Range on Saturday as the Murray Bridge Rifle Club held its 12th stage of competition in its yearly championship, this week from 400 metres.

The winds varied in direction from downrange to almost square right, which made conditions particularly trying for those present.

Leading the way in F-class was Gordon Harrison, whose solid pair of 55s left him top off-rifle for the day with 110.03.