THE rivalry for the honour of being top dog at the Griffith Golf Club continues, with Jason Magoci and Barry Stapleton to contest the final of the Rawlinson and Brown, CGU Insurance Scratch Match Play Championship this weekend.
Magoci tipped Stapleton by one shot in the four-round club championships, and Stapleton will be keen to turn the tables on Magoci who will pull out all stops to take out the double.
In last week’s semi-finals, Magoci had a surprisingly easy 5/4 win over Col Vearing, while in the other semi Darryl Henderson’s season of close calls continued after being beaten by Stapleton on the final hole.
Henderson recently lost a play-off to Vearing in the City Open and finished one behind Stapleton in the club championship.
Match play champions in other grades have been decided with Lance Perry continuing his run of easy wins to take the B grade title, defeating Jim Dickie in the final 5/4.
In the semi-final match he cleaned up Wade Woods 6/4, while Kris Bonetti pushed Dickie all the way in the other semi before going down to Dickie on the 18th.
It was a closer battle in C grade with Gordon McDonald taking the title after defeating Robin Salvestro in the final 2/1.
McDonald easily put away to John Peters in his semi while Salvestro had his work cut out before putting Charlie Jones away on the 18th in his semi.
THE event for members last Saturday was a single stableford with 94 players and a CCR of 69.
Brian Savage is in hot form at present, finishing on top of A grade with a score of 40 points.
He was one under par on the front nine, canning birdies on the sixth and seventh then a triple bogie on the ninth saw him miss on that hole but still card 22 points out.
Savage could not buy a putt on the back nine and despite a miss on the 16th scored 18 points home.
Runner-up Wayne Cook drained birdies on the first and sixth in a par 36 front nine for 21 points out but the strong winds saw him slip to 17 points home to total 38 points.
Paul Smith carded 39 points for a win in B grade, scoring 19 points out and 20 home, carding eight pars in firing 82 off the stick.
The strong winds would not have suited Dave Curry’s prodigious slice, but he somehow managed to get the angels right and despite misses on the sixth and 13th secured runner-up with 37 points, landing pars on the last three holes to win on a countback.
Clint Badoco cracked it for a win in C grade with the day’s best score of 42 points.
He set up his win with a 23-point front nine then carded 19 points home despite a miss on the 12th.
Runner-up Nick Scott’s day was one of missed chances after scoring 18 points out then nearly turned it into a win, canning a birdie on the 10th to scoire 22 points home for 40 points in total.
Pro Pins to Tony DeMarco and Martin Sweeney with par threes to fourth Roy Rinaldo, seventh Barry Stapleton, 11th John Jefferies, 16th Wayne Cook.
A REMINDER to members that the presentation night will be held on Sunday at 8pm.
It is a free night with a light supper to be served after the presentation; there is a sheet on the noticeboard for names to assist with catering.
Members are also advised that Nancy Ipolliti has taken over the club kitchen and it will re-open this weekend.
The events on both days this weekend are single stablefords.
THE third round of the Russ Robinson Inter Town trophy was played at Jerilderie last weekend and Griffith has put themselves into a position to challenge with the final round at home this coming Sunday.
Leeton leads on 518 points followed by Griffith 498, Jerilderie 485 and Narrandera 473.
Griffith scores Mick Foxall/Terry Bennett 45, Ric Laurent/Jason Magoci 42, Alf Franchi/B.Stapleton 39 and John Cafe/Darren Forrester 36.
This week’s team is on the noticeboard.
The veterans played their usual single stableford last Thursday in two grades with 46 players and a CCR of 71.
Brian Savage fired 77 off the stick to take division one (0-19) carding 43 points, while the ever present Gerry Cox was second on 40 points and Jim Calabria third 37 points.
Roy Maggs also cut his handicap with the 20-36 division winning score of 43 points ahead of Bob Mitchell 37 points and Eddie Allen third 35 points.
Vouchers went to 34 points on a countback with the last one won by Bob Brown making a welcome return.
Tomorrow’s event is again a single stableford but in three grades.
LAST week’s mid-week pro competition was a single stableford with 40 players and a CCR of 69.
David Woodside was best in A grade carding 39 points, but only on a countback from Jason Magoci who also carded 39 points continuing his long run of good form.
Tony Salvestrin carded the days best score of 42 points to take an easy win in B grade, four ahead of runner-up Albert Donadel 38 points.
Countback’s sorted the places in C grade after Keith Woodbridge and Anthony Dunne both scored 38 points, Woodbridge taking the win with a better back nine.
Vouchers went to 35 points on a countback.
There were no Sunday results to hand.
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