During the Melbourne Cup Long Weekend the Maryborough Golf Club conducted their 109^th Annual Tournament. This year there were almost 230 entries from more than 100 different golfers. Players came from all over Australia to take part in the tournament. More than 30 clubs were represented throughout the weekend. The golf tournament at the Maryborough Golf Club has always been an opportunity to play some good golf on a terrific course and of course to socialise and enjoy a well earned break. Many of the golfers return year after year to be involved in the tournament.

Golf events were held from Friday through to Sunday. Due to the outstanding efforts of all the volunteers and staff involved in organising and preparing for the tournament, it was played in great conditions and was a terrific success, one of the most successful ever held.

The first events, on Friday 31^st October were Four Ball Better Balls for Women and Men, with big fields enjoying marvellous conditions once the early morning rain stopped. Carmel Milenkovic and Debbie Stanaway won the Women’s event with 46 points and the runners up were Maree Baker and Ruth Le Nevez with 44 points on a countback. The ball winners were Pat Adams and Carmel Briody, Tania Dignan and Fiona Boswell, and Raeleen Brooker and Joan Fraser all with 46 points. Carmel Milenkovic was nearest the pin on the 9th hole, Doris Jennings on the 11^th, and Stacy Smithwick was closest on the 13^th.

The men’s winners were Nigel Tarr and Graham Kolln with 47 points, on a countback from John Potter and Brian Dawson. In third place were David Boyd and Steven Welsby with 46 pts. The ball winners were Greg Murphy and Craig White, and Peter Smits and Mario Rosini with 45 points. Nearest the pins were Simon Sheed on the 9^th hole, David Boyd on the 11^th hole and Anthony Passalick on the 13^th.

On Saturday morning a large field of men turned out for Andrew Maggs Memorial 27 & 18 hole stroke events in A & B Grade. Craig Boucher won the 27 hole A Grade Scratch event with a terrific 105 off the stick from Mark Wyllie with 107. Ron Thoulliss won the B Grade 27 Hole Scratch Event with a well crafted 127, from Stuart Argall with 128. The A Grade 27 hole handicap section was taken out by Denis Davenport with 101 nett, from Michael Ryan with 102.5 nett. The B Grade section was taken out by Rick Boehm with 106.5 nett on a countback from Daryl Groves. Adam Proctor had a 68 nett to take the A Grade 18 Hole Handicap event from Jeremy Maggs with 70 nett. The B Grade 18 hole handicap event went to Steve Melville with 66 nett, from Rob Clegg with a 68 nett, on a countback from Rod Milne and Greg Murphy. John Purcell was nearest the pin on the 9^th, with Graham Kolln being closest on the 11^th green and Rod Milne on the 13th. Nineteen women also contested a Stableford Round with Jenny Welsby winning with 38 pts closely followed by Ruth Le Nevez with 36^th points. Gai Skinner was Nearest the Pin on the 9^th and 11^th, and Lynne Hynes was Nearest the Pin on the 13^th.

An almost full field of golfers turned out on Sunday morning for the final events of the tournament, Team Gentsomes competitions. The overall winners were Cooper Pollinelli, Tagh Cananzi, Isaac Scott and Lachlan with 163 points. The runners up team included Monica Kirby, Steven Kirby, Kim Lovett and Allistair Coutts with 146 points. The second runners up team was Donna Bauer, Sharon Treble, Ruth Le Nevez and Jenny Welsby with 142 pts. The fourth placed team was made up of Lynette Leddin, Dan Leddin, Tony Hooper and Grant Sluce who scored 139 points on a countback.

The ball winning teams were Wayne Richardson, Tim Snibson, Kelvin Dunne and Brendan Stevens; and Darren Hunt, Ian Arnold, Shenae Hunt & Laurence Thomas.

The Nearest the Pin on the 9^th was Trent Monk, on the 11^th Lachlan Roche was the closest, and on the 13^th it was Donna Bauer and Grant Sluce. The Nearest the Pin on the 9^th over the Tournament was taken out by John Purcell who was 109 centimetres from the flag.

Thanks to the work of all the volunteers and staff, and the valuable support of a large number of very generous sponsors, the huge field of golfers from near and far, thoroughly enjoyed the 109^th Annual Tournament at the Maryborough Golf Club.

We are looking forward to everyone returning, and more new players attending, for the 110th Annual Tournament, at the Maryborough Golf Club.