Sports reports: Hancock, Smallbon win women’s golf comps

This post includes contributions from Margaret Bessen, Michael Potts and Derek Vanderzon.

• ⛳️ Hancock, Smallbon win women’s golf comps
• ⛳️ Visitors take their turn to shine at Murray Bridge Golf Club
• ⚫️ Eagles are dark horses in Lower Murray lawn bowls
• 🏏 Finals match-ups are set in Murray Towns cricket

Hancock, Smallbon win women’s golf comps

A field of 11 players took to Murray Bridge’s golf course last Tuesday and played a Stableford round in typical warm summer conditions.

The winner was the ever consistent Lisa Hancock, with a magical 38 Stableford points.

Her card recorded four three-pointers and one four-pointer with a perfect par on the 15th hole.

Runner-up was Kathy Pfeiffer, who was quietly confident and consistent.

Cathy Thomas had a snail’s-pace start, going out on the front nine with 11 points, but fired up coming home with 22 points on the back nine.

On her scorecard was a brilliant par on the 12th which rewarded her with four points.

Barbara Smyth executed a beautifully struck driver off the second hole to land on the green - although not in the plan, a most welcome result.

The final voucher went to Julie Short, a visitor from McCracken Golf Club, who finished her round with 32 points.

The nearest and dearest to the pin on the fourth hole went to Robyn Teasdale.

Saturday’s competition featured a field of seven in a par round; a worthy winner was Coral Smallbon, who took the honours with one-up.

With the help of her husband, Smallbon volunteered to tidy up the breezeway during the week, so it was fitting that she was rewarded.

Mary Langsford was the winner of the second shot on the 17th to pick up the final voucher for the day.

The first pennant match for the women will be on March 25; meanwhile, Echunga Golf Club will hold their open day on February 26.

Visitors take their turn to shine at Murray Bridge Golf Club

Out-of-towners have taken the accolades in a par competition at the Bridge last Saturday.

Blackwood golfer Callum Morgan won the day with a classy score of five-up while his club teammate Sean Gilligan scored a hole in one on the fourth hole.

Well done guys - come again.

While not in the winners’ list, local C-grader Bill Fisher had a remarkable day in that he putted/chipped in from off the green on five occasions.

Once or even twice in a round is a day out for most golfers, but five times?

Seriously?

Verified as true by his envious playing partners, believe me, this feat will not happen again here for many a year by any golfer.

Finals match-ups are set in Murray Towns cricket

Mypolonga and Mannum will play off in a qualifying final at Mypo this weekend after finishing one and two in Murray Towns cricket this season, while Wanderers and Monarto will have an elimination final at Murray Bridge Showground.

Meningie will rue missed opportunities after missing finals by just 0.2 per cent.

Mypolonga 0/71 defeated Tailem Bend 70

• Tailem Bend best: Lee Slape 19*, Brad Kleinig 0/14
• Mypolonga best: Samuel Elliott 5/13, Shannon Callery 35*

Monarto 5/78 defeated Wanderers 77

• Wanderers best: Wayne Slee 16, Joardyn Williams 16, Craig Fidge 3/19
• Monarto best: Josh Mildwaters 4/10, Riley Franke 3/13, Ty Pfeiffer 28*

Mannum 6/140 defeated Meningie

• Meningie best: John Zadow 48, Paul McNicol 3/32
• Mannum best: Joshua Hancock 2/21, Nick Lindner 47*

Eagles are dark horses in Lower Murray lawn bowls

Tailem Bend, after sitting bottom for most of the season, are suddenly a chance to sneak into the finals after taking all 12 points against fourth-placed RSL at Tailem Bend in their round 16 clash.

Tailem now trail RSL by six points with two rounds remaining.

Michael Thorne, Nathan Mammone, Ian Shepherd and Rob Parker were Tailem’s biggest winners, 22-11 over David Thiele, Karen Kneebone, Allan Wooldridge and David Newell.

Travis Schenke, Steve Gordge, Kevin McDonald and Matthew Hogan scraped home with the narrowest of margins, 19-18 over Noel Kneebone, Anne-Marie Kuchel, Kerri Bolt and Gillian Newell.

Rob Hales, Stuart Rooke, Colin Baxter and Glenda Shepherd completed the clean sweep with a 22-16 win over Jason Sipos, David Graham, Matthew Wynne and Garry Daniel.

At Karoonda the locals broke clear in the second half for a 19-shot win over Jervois, with two rinks up.

Josh Porker, Shaun Wood, Erin O’Malley and Don Loller won 28-16 over Graham Fromm, Derek Vanderzon, Trevor Mann and Shane Fromm.

Porker was off to a bright start, leading by 14 shots after nine ends.

Fromm closed the gap to six shots after 14 ends, but a five to Porker halted the comeback and the final margin was 12 shots.

Rowan Zadow, Gary Zadow, Malcolm McKenzie and John Wegner finished strongly to overrun Rodger Zarantonello, Graeme Herbert, Russell Schutz and Steve Kroehn.

Zarantonello overcame an early deficit to draw level at 13-all after 17 ends, but Zadow dominated the final four ends, adding 9-0 to win 22-13.

Shaun Hicks, Jeremy Scannell, Neil Morris and Grace Hameister led 11-4 at the break against Ian Symonds, Garry Mason, Jake Venning and Malcolm Waechter, but conceded the next 11 shots, including a six, to trail 11-15 with five ends to go.

Hicks edged back in front with a four, but again trailed by one shot going into the final end before finishing with a three to get up by two shots, 19-17.

Murray Bridge have almost locked away top spot with an easy 71-45 win over second-placed Mannum, getting up on all three rinks.

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