Sports reports: After a long time between drinks, KG is a winner
Plus the latest from the Australian Kart Championship, Murray Bridge rifle shooting and River Murray football and netball.
This story includes contributions from Michael Potts and Daniel Irvine. Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.
In his own words, “It’s been many a year since I last won a Saturday comp.”
This came from the mouth of Saturday’s stroke winner at Murray Bridge Golf Club, Ken “KG” Graetz, as he demolished a pint of beer in celebration.
Little did he know at the time, but sinking a testing four-foot putt on the final green gave him victory on a countback from B- grader Craig Mathew, with both players carding nett 69s, or one better than their handicap.
On a fine but windy day, scores weren’t great as players found it tough going with the tee blocks back and pin positions not the easiest.
A nett 69 wouldn’t normally win the day, but Graetz didn’t care as he recalled a solid day with his driver, sticking to most of the fairways and then finding touch with his putter to not blow out any holes.
Well done to the big fella.
Looking through the results, it was good to see old-timers Maurice Wells and Gary Pearson get back to something like their best on a difficult day.
Wily veteran Dean Wright also kept his game together to win the C grade with a handy nett 70, which included a barnstorming nett 28 back nine to give him the day’s coveted pro comp.
Carefree C-grader Neil “Dog” Rothe beat all the big guns to the yabby on the par three 11th with a strike that was nearest to the pin.
He likes to putt from a mile off the green but he must have surely used an iron of some sort to get that close.
Jac Preston, Ky Burke win in Australian Kart Championship
Jac Preston has taken his first ever Australian Kart Championship round win in KZ2 at Murray Bridge, while Ky Burke broached the top step of the podium in KA2 for the first time since round three last year to round out the second round of the five-round title chase.
Preston qualified down the order on Saturday and took until the third heat to get a handle on his Kart Republic chassis.
The Queenslander didn’t have any such drama in the final.
Andrew Heard is on target at rifle club
The Murray Bridge Rifle Club contested the 26th round of its annual championship on Saturday from 300 metres.
A strong wind from the left varied from square to over the shooters’ shoulders, but some good scores were still shot: most notably a double possible from Andrew Heard, who finished the day on 100.09 to claim the off-rifle and handicap win in TR ahead of Greg Traeger, who finished with a 98.06.
Mark Nesti scored a first-round possible, 60.06, in F-class.
His second-round 55.02 was more than enough to secure the top off-rifle win in F-open.
It was not enough, however, to claim the handicap award, as Frank Marshall had a top shoot in F-standard, scoring 110.09 to run away with the win.
Robert Paech shot the only “bird” for the day to claim the Magpie Award in TR.
Next week shooters will compete from 500m.
Cats stay perfect in the RMFL
Coorong 14.14 (98) defeated Jervois 9.11 (65)
- Coorong best: Alexander Stidiford, Seb Kerrish, Matthew Hartman, Albert Dunstan, Keenan Jacobs, Logan McCabe
- Jervois best: Benjamin Hansen, Luke Kluske, Lachlan Thomas, Peter Zarantonello, Joshua Scott
Southern Mallee 12.11 (83) defeated Ramblers 6.12 (48)
- Southern Mallee best: Josh Smithson, Callum Thomas, Rory O’Driscoll, Harrison Pope, Oscar Barrett
- Rambler best: Mack Wenske, Lual Kelei, Jack Lewis, Keynan Harradine, Max Marchetti, Alex Pfeiffer
Mannum 10.16 (76) defeated Mypolonga 5.16 (46)
- Mypolonga best: Jordan Hein, Harry Stone, Ethan Watkins, Brayden Hein, Reid Kuller
- Mannum best: Cody Woolford, Cameron Horstmann, Matthew Min, Kobee Dabinett, Nick Fergusson
Imperials 26.14 (170) defeated Mallee Districts 2.7 (19)
- Imperial best: Mitchell Carroll, Louis De Michele, Kyle Staker, Johnny Boras, Sean Samblich
- Mallee best: Adam Smyth, Matthew Brown, Campbell Bellaney, Jared Irvine, Brodie Case, Kynen Adams
Storm take first loss in the RMNA
- Imperials defeated Mallee 52-33
- Southern Mallee defeated Ramblers 47-44
- Mannum defeated Mypolonga 67-53
- Coorong defeated Jervois 56-38
Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.
