Sports reports: Merchant takes out golf comp in stunning style

This story includes contributions from Daniel Irvine and Michael Potts. Send your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.

Rising star golfer Lucas Merchant had a round to remember on the weekend when he took out the Stableford competition in stunning style.

A solid front nine of 17 points was followed by a blistering finishing nine of 25 points or 33 off the stick one under par for the 11 handicapper.

Gobsmacking stuff really.

It, of course, also won him the pro comp for the best back nine although Greg Lannan, a five handicapper, must be considered a tad unlucky after firing off an outrageous three under par 31 off the stick for 24 points!

Also throw in emerging C grader Isaiah Durham with his 24 point finish and it was a pretty tough school for everyone else who had tried their luck here.

Terrific golf all round chaps!

But all honours were with Merchant as he plunges ever closer to single figure handicap status.             

Greg Lannan's 39 point round won him the A grade at least while the rarely sighted Jim Honner made a cameo appearance and claimed the B grade with a quality 38 points.

The improving John Hadden put it all together to win the C grade with 39 points from fast finishing runner up Isaiah Durham who scored 38.             

There was a bit of confusion with the Yabby after a junior member playing a social round by himself swiped the NTP and Yabby markers from the 11th green midway through the day.

But Greg Lannan's near hole in one that missed by six inches was eventually declared the winner.             

Time for the true test of stroke golf this Saturday with the tee blocks well back so everyone bring your A-games with you.

Harrison/Heard top of the heap in pears competition

Difficult winds made for challenging conditions in the Murray Bridge Rifle Club’s annual Pears (aka Pairs) Competition.

Two person teams are randomly drawn to shoot from 600 with everyone shooting on F-Class targets and self-handicapping to try and reach a score of 240.

This year there were five pairs competing with an even a mix of TR and F-Class.

The best individual scores were 116.08 from John Cranwell and 114.04 from David McDonald in F- Class, and 104.03 in TR from Robert Paech just better than 102.00 from Andrew Heard.

The top scoring teams were the pairs of Jasamine Irvine and John Cranwell who tied with Daniel Irvine and David McDonald with 208 off-rifle.

But the trophy is decided on handicap and while the Irvine/Cranwell team fell just short, the Irvine/McDonald team busted, going over by three.

That left the pair of Gordon Harrison and Andrew Heard, who after some careful
calculations, and a not unwelcomed bird on their last shot, hit the mark of 240 exactly to be crowned this year’s Pears Pair.

Next week the club hold two championship rounds in a double header to make up for lost weekends due to hot weather.

Shooting from 300m will commence at 10am, while 400m will begin at the usual time of 1pm.

Send your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.