Mixed Pinehurst winners included Judy Langford and John Dawes (A Grade Murray Course), Phil and Cheryl Abbott (A Grade Lake), and Philip and Helen Johansen (B Grade Murray).
Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort’s 2025 May Tournament produced a record 1,087 entries for the five-day event ending last Friday.
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“That’s the biggest ever, by 40,” pro shop manager Evan Droop said. “It’s the biggest in some 45 years of the May tournament. Players came from about 50 clubs, mainly throughout Victoria.”
Club captain Steve Buckley commented: “That’s 1,087 rounds of golf – that’s a lot of work for our pro shop. They’ve done a wonderful job.”
Mr Buckley highly praised the condition of the Lake and Murray Courses, referring to the work of course superintendent Chris Burgess and all his groundstaff.
“Amazing fellow” was how club president Andrew Shell described the head professional Evan Droop for his management of the tournament.
In his welcome address to some 100 players at the mid-week dinner, Mr Shell used the words “absolutely immaculate condition” in describing the courses.
Honorary Life Members Margaret and Graeme Grant (Trafalgar Golf Club) and Glenys and Derek Ambrose (Murrumbidgee Golf Club).
Last Wednesday’s event was mixed Pinehurst with the Lake Course winners being Cheryl and Phil Abbott who scored 71.875, one shot clear of Apollo Bay’s Stacey Thomas and Michael Hedger, whilst on the Murray, Judy Langford and John Dawes triumphed with 70.375 from Cheryl Viner and Rob Zubin who netted 73.125.
Mr Shell wanted to see a night of enjoyment over the dinner and that’s what followed with players seeing lighter moments from the day’s play.
With alternate shots then picking the one ball for the third shot onwards, Mixed Pinehurst can cause friction between husband/wife teams. Many hands were raised when Mr Buckley asked how many married partners played. One male exclaimed: “Never again!”
But the married situation didn’t faze Derek and Glenys Ambrose from Belconnen. The pair fired 72 to finish runner-up in B Grade on the Murray.
Board director Peter Crothers was a nearest-the-pin star last week.
It was five consecutive May tournaments for the Canberra Ambroses who love being at this tournament. “The courses, the landscape, maintenance of the courses, it’s a first-class course and club, and we get to see the Grants,” Derek, who incidentally has five holes-in-one to his name, is an assistant professor and was Secretary to Department of Parliamentary Services in Federal Parliament from 2007 to 2014, said.
The Grants, of course, are Graeme and Maragaret from Trafalgar who were made Honorary Life Members last year at the mid-week dinner. With the September tournament and this year’s May tournament, it’s now milestone number 75 tournament for the popular pair who reside some 400 kms away.
Players mentioned near misses with putts. Some, including the immediate past president Laurie Bridgeman was happy to see some big putts go in but rued four 8-inch missed putts between he and wife Krys. They weren’t as bad misses as John Wilson who didn’t play but missed picking up Anna Castles for dinner. ‘Willo’ was only the navigator whilst wife Sharon was driving.
Board director Peter Crothers had some near misses from holes-in-one but was thrilled with the two shots in question, both on the Murray Course’s Par 3, eight hole.
On Monday, in stableford, Peter put his 6-iron teeshot to within three metres of the hole to win nearest-the-pin. He proved it was no fluke two days later in Mixed Pinehurst because his recovery driver teeshot ended up “in almost the same spot” and resulted in him claiming another NTP.
Diners were served a delicious three-course dinner with the entertainment charm of Jade Cameron from Cobram way who had a packed dancing floor of ladies.
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