Paul's perfect shot highlights club results for 18/11/23

Paul Tunnicliff didn’t quite believe it after he played the perfect shot on the par three No 14 on Saturday (Nov 18).

Despite his excited playing partners congratulating him after seeing his ball disappear down the hole 135m away, our club president wasn’t so sure. It wasn’t until he got to the green and had a peek that he was convinced.

His beautifully struck 6 iron always looked good, landing softly just before the green and rolling gently down the slope to the hole.

It was his second ace, following one he got on No 2 at Waahi Taakaro in 2019, and it came after holes-in-ones by Jack Denton and Peter Watson on their home course in recent weeks.

Paul’s hole-in-one wasn’t quite enough to see him finish in the money on a sunny Saturday, with his net 72 only good enough for fifth on countback in the match of the day and fourth in the Pat Melville Memorial Trophy for those 55 and over.

Graham Galt won the silverware with a net 71, with Jim McMullan pipping Peter Watson for second on countback after both came in with 72.

In the match of the day, Michael Savage starred with a net 66. The 21-handicapper tore it up on the front nine with a 41 off the stick before coming home with a 46 for an 87.

Graham G was second on countback from Pete Green who shot the day’s best gross of 75, which included three birdies, for a net 71. Jim was fourth, Peter fifth and Paul sixth

The twos money was shared by Chris Louth and greenkeeper Eric Shurson, who made a welcome Saturday appearance.

Warren Carey topped a good field of 9-holers in shooting a net 31 for the front nine, while Ali Mawby took second with 35, just ahead of Martin Lubransky on 36.

Next week (No 25) we start our summer programme by playing the first round of four in the Burns Philp Cup, which will be a stableford off the blue tees. Your best three rounds will count.

After this match of the day, we will play the MS Ford Shootout final, with the top 10 qualifiers battling it out in sudden death over nine holes. If you are not sure whether you have qualified, then please read the scoreboard on the noticeboard upstairs in the clubhouse. I will also send the scoreboard out in my weekly report.