Sports reports: COVID test result knocks Alex Bolt out of US Open qualifying

This post was contributed by Tennis Australia, Murray Bridge Rifle Club’s Daniel Irvine, Murray Bridge Golf Club, the River Murray Football League and the River Murray Netball Association.

Alex Bolt is one of three Australian players who have withdrawn from the US Open men’s singles qualifying competition after testing positive to COVID-19.

The Murray Bridge product had hoped to gain entry to the tournament’s main draw alongside seven Aussie men who had already made the cut.

Bolt had made the second round of both the Australian Open and the Championships at Wimbledon this year.

Rob Paech wins SA Rifle Association Medal

Just over two dozen shooters from the Number Two Southern District Rifle Association have presented at the Mount Barker Rifle Range for the association’s annual general meeting and the third and final stage of its championship for 2020-21.

David McDonald was returned as president, with Frank Marshall putting his hand up to be vice president.

As the meeting closed, it was noted how wonderful the weather was with lovely sunshine and a still breeze; unfortunately it was not to last.

As shooters took to the firing point at 500 yards, the flags started blowing every which way and left competitors wondering what to do.

Thankfully some consistently good scores were shot in spite of the weather.

In target rifle, 48s were the order of the day with six out of the 10 competitors registering the score.

B-grader Andrew Heard topped the range ahead of A-grader Rob Paech, scoring six V-bulls to Paech’s three.

Loui Burke was in fine form early in the introductory sporting and hunter class, scoring a very impressive 49.07.

In the F-classes, 58 was the number to try and beat, with Eddie Concannon top-scoring in F-standard with a 58.01; Ryan Yeates in F-open with a 58.07 from Tim Manning on 58.04; and Nicole Edwards edging out Alison Hansen in F-TR, also with a 58.04.

Before the second range of 600 yards was shot, members took a moment to honour recently passed member Paul Bothwell with a traditional “last shot” and minute’s silence.

In TR, three possibles were shot in the second round, one each from Paech, Heard and Grant Charleston; but once more Heard took out the honours of top shot with a 50.05, ahead of 50.04s from both Paech and Charleston.

Burke only managed a 47.04 in his second round in F-S/H, which was still impressive given the conditions and was enough to give him the win ahead of Mark De Laine on 46.04.

Concannon managed to improve his first range by a point for a 59.04, keeping him just ahead of Darryl Pink on 58.03 to secure the daily aggregate for F-standard.

In F-open Yeates also improved by a point for a 59.07 but had to rely on a count-out to claim the win from Tim Manning, also on 59.07; and while Edwards couldn’t quite match her first-round score, her 56.04 was enough to claim the range and daily aggregate in F-TR.

Despite all this, what everyone was waiting on were the results of the DRA championship and the presentation of the SA Rifle Association Medal.

This year, in F-TR, that honour went to Edwards, who claimed the overall win across three stages with a score of 328.14, from Alison Hansen on 319.10.

In F-open, Yeates claimed the medal with a 351.32 after a consistent effort across the three stages.

Pink caused a minor upset, claiming the F-standard medal from B grade with 335.09, narrowly ahead of Concannon on 332.11 and well clear of A-grader Frank Marshall on 325.13.

However, despite the day’s results there was no such upset in target rifle, as Paech claimed another SARA Medal with a very impressive 295.29.

At the end of the day all thanks were offered to Graham Hancock and the Mount Barker and Districts Rifle Club for their work in hosting the day.

Singled out for special thanks were Richard and Jenny McInnes, who put a lot of effort into setting up and making sure there was plenty of food available.

Shooters headed for home looking forward to the expanded format being trialled for the 2021-22 championship.

Both clubs will return to their normal program next week.

Luke Woods’ back nine earns him bragging rights

“Fiery” Freddy Carter had just posted a brilliant 40 points at Murray Bridge Golf Club on Saturday.

He sat up in his chair in the Sprig Bar, feeling pretty good with life, his chest puffed out as he accepted all the plaudits from other golfers who could see his name atop the television scoreboard.

Not long after, however, his mood darkened somewhat when Luke Woods sauntered in and entered his 41-point round into the system and onto the screen.

Carter quickly became known as “Five Minute Freddy” as his mates immediately dropped off him and began congratulating Woods.

Yes, fame is fleeting and it doesn’t pay to get too far ahead of oneself in the game of golf.

Woods had had a blinder and at day’s end had taken out the Warner Close Retirement Stableford competition in great style.

Having “just” 17 points at halfway, Woods – no relation to US great Tiger, in case you were wondering – proceeded to reel off par after par on the back nine to add an incredible 24 points to his tally.

What a round.

Echunga raider Jason Hyland won the A grade with 37 points on a countback from Craig Hogben, who was fresh off a solid quarter-final campaign in the recent club championships.

Hyland, a five-handicapper, managed an eagle on the par four 15th hole to clean out the eagle’s nest with details not to hand as to just how he managed to do it.

The fiery one, Mr Carter, had to settle for a B-grade victory, which he did with good grace – not – while old stager John Bell beat his age for the hundred and somethingth time to finish with a very nice 37 points, thank you very much.

It was a far more enjoyable round for Bell than a recent stroke round in which he had six shots in a bunker before, mercifully, being able to pick up and move on.

The big names just keep appearing in this report and there aren’t many bigger than C grade winner KG Graetz who, unpopularly, pipped all-round good guy Rob Magor on a countback, with both players having carded a quality 38 points.

A 99-strong field produced a string of ball winners, led by “Dog” Rothe, with 38 points, and then Echunga stalwart Mick “Mortein” Morton, with 37.

Ray Fetherstonhaugh secured 36, as did “Squashy” Squires, Gary Martin and Janis Janson.

Last week’s winner, Dean Woolford, kept his good form going with a handy 35 points and was matched by the carefree Alan Horsfall.

Greg Schmidt, Zdravko Bozic, Steven Mills and Stefan Bilandzic chimed in with 34-point efforts and Peter Erickson and Aaron Zrim snuck in with 33 points apiece.

Echunga A-grade golfer Hara Taverna took off with the Yabby after a super chip onto the par three 11th, and the pro comp was no contest, with Luke Woods having it signed and sealed early on with his stunning back nine.

Around the traps:

• Apparently the greens were still pretty slick after the recent club championships and, with a bit of a nor’easterly blowing, above the hole on the fiercely sloping 16th green wasn’t the place to be. One Echunga golfer was chuffed to have been exactly there after two superb shots. Alas, his birdie putt took off down the slope and three putts later he was picking up for a scrub. Welcome to Murray Bridge Golf Club, sir.
• Eric Williams reported that he was unlucky his chipped third shot on the par five 12th didn’t drop in for eagle after striking the pin. You know it only ever happens to A-graders, Eric.
• KG Graetz had a slice of luck on the short par three 4th. After hitting a poor tee shot, he had a difficult approach to the green from a tough lie. Blading it badly, the ball looked destined to fly across the green and out of bounds but no – it was straight though and the ball cannoned into the pin, smashing the camphor container to pieces and stopping close to the hole, enabling an easy par and three points. One has to be good to do that.

River Murray Football League round 19 results

Tailem Bend 18.11 (119) def Ramblers 10.4 (64)

Tailem Bend goals: C. Smelt 5, J. Bell 4, S. Clay 2, D. Finnie 1, R. Smelt 1, D. Hogarth 1,  S. Chandler 1, J. Linde 1, N. Westhoff 1, B. Rossi 1. Best: S. Clay, C. Smelt, B. Franks, J. Linde, M. Hansen.

Rambler goals: K. Harradine 4, M. Wegener 3, S. Callery 1, L. Kelei 1, R. Vanson 1. Best: J. Trevorrow, R. Vanson, L. Kelei, K. Harradine, C. Walker.

Imperials 20.15 (135) def Mypolonga 6.5 (41)

Imperial goals: J. Boras 13, W. Crane 2, L. Harrowfield, C. Anderson, D. Wilson, K. White, H. Montgomery. Best: J. Boras, H. Montgomery, W. Crane, C. Anderson, D. Girdham.

Mypolonga goals: T. Howson 3, H. Mason 2, C. Stegmeyer. Best: L. Gotch, T. Howson, J. Freestone, K. Martin, L. Bassani.

Jervois 13.13 (91) def Mannum 11.7 (73)

Jervois goals: J. Scott 6, R. Love 1, L. Kluske 1, P. Zarantonello 1, B. Bigazi 1, C. Robins 1, T. Gibson 1, T. Miller 1. Best: A. Diamond, T. Gibson, T. Kluske, P. Zarantonello, J. Scott.

Mannum goals: Z. Bullard 2, B. Boughen 2, C. Reschke 2, D. Laubsch 1, M. Bormann 1, D. Walker 1, C. Horstmann 1, B. Tabe 1. Best: M. O’Malley, B. Tabe, Z. Bullard, D. Walker, J. Webster.

River Murray Netball Association round 19 results

Mannum 69 def Jervois 33

Mypolonga 49 def Imperials 41

Tailem Bend 51 def Ramblers 49

Murray Bridge News is happy to share news, results or photos from sporting clubs throughout Murray Bridge and the surrounding region, free of charge. Email peri@murraybridge.news or call 0419 827 124.

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