The blast of weather from the Antarctic played havoc with golfers brave enough to venture out and play in the first two rounds of the Doms Motors Griffith Golf Club championships.
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They were confronted with freezing, gale-force winds, driving rain and even hail over the two days.
The conditions did not affect long-time club champion, Matt Staines, firing rounds of 71-67-138, four under par to hold a handy nine-shot lead over last year's champ Josh Stapleton, 73-74-146, going into the final two rounds this weekend.
Another former title holder Jason Magoci is another shot back, then it is daylight.
Brett Angel leads A Reserve on 176, followed by Garry Hartnett and Ngarau Noa 179.
B Grade will be a contest between Alf Franchi 186, Robin Salvestro 188, John Gale and Shane Gaffey 189.
In C Grade, 16-year-old junior Josh Smith, 196, leads over Byron James 261, Anthony Zamin 201 and Anthony Zamin 202.
The final two rounds will be staged this weekend and the top four in each grade must play in a seeded draw.
A full list of handicap placing is on the club website.
Single stroke, Saturday: Tony McBride, 71 nett, won A Grade over Sam Ranny, 72 nett, birdies on the 3rd and 15th.
Rovin Salvestro, 73 nett, won B Grade on a countback over John Badodo, 73 nett.
In C Grade, Charlie Jones, 71 nett, won on a countback over Josh Smith 71 nett. Pro pins Adrian Smith and Matt Staines.
Par Threes: 4th, Alf Franchi; 7th, Josh Stapleton; 11th, Anthon Zamin and 16th, John Gale. Vouchers to 77 nett.
Another single stroke on Sunday. Matt Staines fired three-under-par 67 to win A Grade on 70 nett.
He plays off +3, birdies on the 8th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 18th, ahead of Tony McBride, 71 nett, birdies on the 14th and 17th.
Alf Franchi, 75 nett, won B Grade, a birdie on the 5th from John Gale 76 nett. Dick Thompson, 77 nett, best in C Grade on a countback over Allan King, 77 nett. Byron James won the 7th pin, Steve Matheson, 11th. Vouchers to 79 nett.
The veterans played a single stableford last Thursday. Roy Calabria 36 points won 0-18 Grade on a countback over Mick Catanzariti 36 points on a countback over Dave Gandy. Garry Purcell won 19-27 Grade with 39 points, Ken Alpen, 38 points, second.
Lindsay Martyn 37 points from Mike Hedditch 32 points in 28-36 Grade. Geoff Cotterill won the 7th pin, Mick Catanzariti 11th Roy Calabria 16th.
Vouchers to 35 points on a countback.
The WRDGA Championships will be staged on Saturday and Sunday, August 24 and 25.
The championships are open to men, ladies and juniors.
Today's competition at the Griffith Golf Club is a single stableford.
Single strokes will be played on Saturday and Sunday.
A single stableford was contested last Wednesday in two grades.
Roy Calabria, 38 points, won 0-18 Grade on a countback over Terry Bennett 38 points.
John Wallace, 34 points, was the best in 19-36 Grade on a countback over Derek Langford 34 points.
Ngarau Noa won both the pins on the 4th and 15th.
Vouchers to 33 points.
