Weekly Golf Report 5/10/25

SATURDAY GOLF:

She’s ageless. A living treasure that makes a great jam tart and a mean mayonnaise and in her spare time plays a pretty handy round of golf.

That is the myth, the legend that is Marie Watt and on Saturday the legend grew a little larger as she put together the remarkable Stableford score of 47 points leaving the rest of the ladies’ field in her wake.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to track down Marie’s scorecard to enable me to provide the highlights of her round and of course an interview with the press was out of the question further enhancing the mystique around the great lady. Suffice to say there must have been some very good numbers on her card.

Helen Emery was the very unlucky runner up on the day with an excellent round of 39 points, a winning score on most days.

Wendy Cox and Sharon Harrison picked up balls with scores of 38 points as did Wanda Hacon and Marlene Topp with 36 points each and it hasn’t gone unnoticed that the ladies scoring peaked on a day where handicapping was suspended while Golf Australia introduces a new handicap system.

To A grade and Brett Radley’s round of 39 points off a handicap of ten would normally be the headline act as he took out A grade by three shots from Steve Browne with 36 points.

B grade was a closely contested affair with Geoff Strachan getting the better of Ian Scurrah in a countback with 37 points.

Paul Pappin, Archer Backway and Pooch McHale picked up the last three ball on offer with scores of 35 points.

Nearest the Pin trophies went to Nigel Down (A grade 3rd), Pooch McHale (A grade 12th), Rory Kerr (B grade 12th), Jenni Bauerle (12th) and the voucher on the 15th went David Collins’s way somewhat controversially.

The ball for best second shot on the ninth was won by Kevin Bauerle.

On Tuesday another club legend (more in his own mind) Pooch McHale put together an excellent round of 42 points (handicap 12) scoring a four-shot win from Brett Radley who lowered his handicap from 12 to ten taking out the runner’s up trophy with 38 points in the process.

It was a big day for Pooch as he picked up the ball for nearest second shot on nine and the voucher on the 15th along the way.

B grade went to another countback with Peter Sherman getting the better of Ron Dixon in said countback with 36 points.

Balls on the day went to Kevin Humbert with 37 points, Mick McAuliffe (37), Lawrie Casey (37), Graeme Harrison (36) and Peter Mangan (36); a good effort from Mango as he put aside Geelong’s GF loss.

Peter “Nobby” Noble dominated the Par three’s taking out the A grade NTP balls on both the 3rd and 12th though those must have been the highlight holes of his round as there is no sign of his name anywhere else on the results sheet.

Geoff Strachan won the B grade NTP on the third.

This week is the October Monthly Medal round along with the 2024-2025 Medalist of Medalists decider and the following week is the annual Dom Cerrone Memorial 4BBB event.

We close on a sad note this week with the passing of Ed McQuienn at the all too young age of 56.

A popular member at the club for some years Ed was a member of two Valley View Pennant winning teams and our condolences go out to his wife Sue, daughter Sophie and his wider family and friends.

Scoop

Ladies Wednesday Golf: It was Stroke and Medal round last Wednesday for Valley View’s Women. Our ever generous sponsors were Fab Flowers and competition was keen.

Captain, Helen Emery was the winner in A Grade, 92-18-74, by one shot from Jenni Bauerle, 91-16-75. Marilyn West was nearest the pin.

With another outstanding round, Wendy Cox, 96-25-71, returned easily the best score of the day. No doubt Wendy will soon be playing in A Grade, but due to the transition to Golf Australia’s new handicapping system, none of Wednesday’s scores will be handicapped. Helen Armstrong was runner up with 99-25-74. Bev Lyon was nearest the pin.

Helen Emery won the putting competition on a count back from Marilyn West when both had 29 putts.

Jenni Bauerle won the A Grade gross with 91. Wendy Cox completed her excellent day by winning the B Grade gross with 96 and of course the Monthly Medal.