Sports reports: Zrim will face Durham for Murray Bridge Golf Club championship
Plus footballer Taj Garrett gets a call-up to represent SA and rifle shooters have a hard time.
This story includes contributions from Michael Potts and Daniel Irvine. Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.
- Aaron Zrim defeated Jeff Morgan 3 and 1
- Keith Durham defeatedMark Bolton 2and1
Reigning champ and this year’s number-one seed, Aaron Zrim, has been really made to work for it by the ultra-consistent Jeff Morgan in Murray Bridge Golf Club’s A grade championship semi-final.
Class won out in the end, with Zrim marching into the final and now looking to go back to back this Saturday.
His opponent will be seventh-ranked qualifier Keith Durham, who caused a minor upset in tipping out last year’s runner-up, Mark Bolton, in a rib-tickler.
Durham is just about in career-best form at the moment, having now downed two more highly rated players in a row, but he will have to go to another level again to beat Zrim over the 36 holes. Zrim isn’t fully wound up after not having played a lot in recent times and is perhaps slightly vulnerable, but it would be a major shock if he didn’t end up with the winner’s medal around his neck again on the weekend.
B grade
- Jamie Honner defeated Rob Walters 5 and 4
- Rod Thoman defeated Craig Mathew two-up
It should be a tight tussle between Jamie Honner and Rod Thoman in the B-grade playoff final.
The fifth and sixth qualifiers, respectively, have made it through after solid semi-final wins.
Honner was DQed on a technicality last year but he has kept well away from carts this time and is now seeking to make up for lost time.
He will have a length advantage off the tee but Thoman has recently rediscovered his best form on the greens, so it could be a real nail-biter over 36 holes.
C grade
- Isaiah Durham defeated Craig Kimber two-up
- Deane Pannell defeated Shane Williss one-up
It would have been a big night in the Durham household last Saturday, with both Keith and son Isaiah having just won their way into their respective finals.
Izzy did really well to hold off the consistent Craig Kimber in his semi-final but now faces the match play machine that is Deane Pannell in the big one.
Pannell has squared off in the last two C-grade finals for a win and a loss – both against the legendary Graham Edwards – and now has the chance to go back to back.
He will be a long way behind Izzy off the tee but he may still be better placed in an intriguing match-up between two very different players, one very hard to predict over 18 holes.
D grade
- Bob McCormick defeated Dean Wright 4 and 2
- Mikara Poharama defeated Bill Fisher 3 and 2
Old war horse Bob McCormick would be wondering just who Mikara Poharama is before he takes him on in the D-grade final over 18 holes.
Both had solid wins over more highly fancied opponents in their respective semi-finals: McCormick the fifth qualifier and Poharama the seventh.
Now the long-playing veteran and the newly joined member, in his first match play event, will square off for glory – good luck to both.
Imperials’ Taj Garrett named in South Australian squad
A 30-player SA under-16 squad has been released ahead of the 2025 AFL National Championships starting in June.
To be coached by SANFL coach and player developer Heath Younie, the Croweaters have included two bottom-age players – Glenelg’s Zane Rooney and Sturt’s Jacob Westley – in the lineup to compete in division one.
South Australia will begin its campaign in Western Australia, tackling the Sandgropers in Perth on June 21 before heading to Queensland for clashes against Victoria Country at People First Stadium on July 15 and Victoria Metro at Fankhauser Reserve on July 18.
- Read more: sanfl.com.au.
Andrew Heard wins rifle club’s round 28
Difficult conditions have challenged shooters this weekend as Murray Bridge Rifle Club shot the 28th round of its championship from 600 metres.
Strong winds blew downrange and swirled sand into eyes and equipment.
Andrew Heard and Greg Traeger shot the best rounds of the day, scoring 48 in their first and second rounds, respectively, in TR.
Heard won the day, however, finishing with 94.05 to Traeger’s 93.03.
He also pipped Traeger in the handicap, making it another successful day at the range.
The best score in F-class was a 53 from Frank Marshall in the second round, to finish on 99.
However, Peter Casley found the centre ring two more times to edge him out with a 99.02, and also won the F-class handicap award.
There were several birds shot on the day but the “magpie” honours went to Robert Paech in TR with three, and Gordon Harrison in F-class with two.
Shooters are hoping for much fairer weather at 700 metres next week when the club hosts the Bruce Moulds Memorial Match.
Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.
