Sports reports: Tom Haig snatches victory on the golf course
Plus the latest in local rifle shooting, rugby league and more.
This story includes contributions from Michael Potts and Daniel Irvine.
It was stroke competition day at the Bridge on Saturday, and local personality, councillor and Deputy Mayor Tom Haig stood strong when it counted to fend off a host of golfers snapping at his heels and win the day by a single stroke.
Renowned for fronting up twice a week at an early tee-off time, Haig wasn’t deterred by the freezing Saturday morning temperatures.
“This is nothing, Bill,” he would have said to regular playing partner and much softer golfer Bill Fisher
“Try having a round in Scotland in wintertime.”
The frost had just disappeared off the grass as Haig teed off and he negotiated his round without incident and finished with an excellent nett 32 back nine – two under and a pro comp win – to give him a total score of nett 69, one under, and make him the only player for the day to beat his handicap.
Known for his unique, very slow backswing, he generally makes few mistakes and keeps to the fairways, which is never a bad thing on most courses and particularly so at Ritter Street.
The single malts would have been flowing in the Haig residence that night once his victory was confirmed.
No-nonsense A-grader Fabian Poharama pipped Jason Bormann for A-grade honours on a countback as both players enjoyed solid rounds in playing to their handicaps for scores of nett 70.
The same scores were posted in B grade as larger-than-life character Jason Stone edged out the up-and-coming Brayden Denman on a countback.
C-graders found the going tough as Brayden Poharama shot a gritty four over handicap nett 74 to win by a stroke over Bob Logan.
Barry Preston had been knocking on the door to scoring a hole-in-one in recent times, and earlier in the week he aced the tough and long par three fifth in a veterans’ event; but it probably won’t count as an official MBGC competition hole-in-one, so the 22-month drought since the last one goes on.
Terry Marsh, badly out of form in recent times, played the shot of his life on the 17th to claim the yabby for NTP there.
It was a smart play to hit off the red tees after all, eh?
This will keep him playing for a little bit longer, surely.
The challenging weather conditions look like continuing as everyone prepares for a Stableford competition this weekend.
Shooters face tricky conditions at Murray Bridge Rifle Club
Conditions were testing to shooters this past Saturday, as members of the Murray Bridge Rifle Club competed from their maximum range of 1000 yards.
The challenging to read wind was reflected in the day’s scores, where top off-rifle in F-Open, Ryan Yeates, finished with 113.04, while in TR, Andrew Heard finished with a 92.03 and Oscar Neumann got his first win in F-Standard with 100 even.
Given the difficulty of the day, Andrew and Ryan both held on to their leads to also claim the handicap awards for their respective disciplines.
Although both must have been seeing things well as their sighters were noteworthy achievements for the day, both only a point off, with 19.02 for Andrew and 23.02 for Ryan.
Perhaps not seeing things quite as well were Daniel Irvine and David Neumann who won the Magpie Awards for TR and F-Class with 6 and 2 “birds” respectively.
Everyone hopes for an easier time next week from 400 metres.
MEC Kungari Black Swans players lead league in tries made and points scored
In the important "tries scored" department, Murray Bridge players occupy three of the top five places in the SA NRL, with Michael Holland out front on 21, followed by Joseph Elkington on 13.
Three locals share fifth place with six tries each: Kane Golding, Tim Williams and Chol Chol.
Joseph Elkington (136) and Michael Holland (84) switched places to lead in the overall points scored table.
- August 1 result: Black Swans 26 defeated South Adelaide Bulldogs 14
River Murray Football League results
- Mallee Districts 9.8 (62) lost to Ramblers 10.10 (70)
- Coorong 12.10 (82) defeated Mannum 7.9 (51)
- Imperials 14.11 (95) defeated Mypolonga 7.6 (48)
- Jervois 23.13 (151) defeated Tailem Bend 3.8 (26)
River Murray Netball Association results
- Imperial 42 lost to Mypolonga 45
- Mallee Storm 64 defeated Rambler 33
- Jervois 48 lost to Tailem Bend 49
- Coorong Cats 72 defeated Mannum 48
Murray Bridge United Soccer Club results
- Murray Bridge United 6-3 Strathalbyn Strikers
J. McFee 17 ', D. August 25' 34', T. Christiansen 38', D. Kurniadi 58', D. Binney 74' - Murray Bridge United reserves 1-2 Strathalbyn Strikers reserves
G. Alympic 38' - Reserves Cup: Murray Bridge United reserves 1-7 Adelaide Eagles reserves
Send your sports reports to, or express an interest in sponsoring this weekly feature by contacting, jane@murraybridge.news.
