Golfing prodigy Mathew Staines, defending his title for the umpteenth time, like good wine, improves with age, firing five-under par 66 on Saturday followed it up with a four-under par 67 on Sunday to lead on nine-under par 133 going into this coming weekends final two rounds. It is the best ever two-round total, and he has now reduced his handicap to minus 5.

In second place is Josh Stapleton with rounds of par 71 and two under par 69-139, which in the past would have been enough to lead. Stapleton is a past winner and will do his best to keep Staines honest. In third place is another past winner, Jason Magoci 75-72-147.

It is close in A Reserve Anthony Ross 78-83-162 leads Ngarau Noa 87-75-162. Mike Coleman 78-87-165 is also a chance. B Grade looks a three-horse race, Lama Lolotonga 74-78-162 leads, Dean Minato 84-81-165, Tony Catanzariti 81-87-168.

Michael Gaffey 89-89-178 and junior Patrick Payne 93-88-181 looks set to battle for C Grade honours whilst in D Grade, Fr. Andrew Grace 105-108 holds a winning 11 shot lead over Charlie Jones 109-115-224. The final round on Sunday will be a seeded draw.

Event of the day results on Saturday with 135 players saw Paul Wiscombe fire 73 off the stick to take out A Grade on 65 nett, Travis Payne 75 scratch runner-up on 68 nett. Jarrod Gale 65 nett, 82 off the stick best in B Grade over Tony Catanzariti 81, 67 nett.

Michael Gaffey 69 nett, 89 off the stick, won C Grade on a countback over Brendan Zambon 69 nett on a countback over Ian Robertson. Trent Anderson won the 4th pin, Sim Tuitivake 7th, Matt Staines 8^th and 15th,Travis Payne 11th, Grant Gyles 16th. Staines and Damien Browning both eagled the 9th.

Another single stroke on Sunday with 125 players. Ngarau Noa fired 75 off the stick to win A Grade on 64 nett over Lama Lolotonga 78-65 nett. Dean Minato 67 nett best in B Grade on a countback over Fusi Fidow 67 nett.

Andrew Oates 66 nett won C Grade, Craig Dredge 68 nett runner-up on a countback over Andrew Scott and Ian Carney 68 nett. Pins to 4th Shannon Windle, 7^th Fusi Fidow, 8^th Josh Stapleton, 11th Wayne Tyndall, 15^th Andrew Oates, 16th Brett Angel.

The veterans single stableford had 39 players last Thursday. Tony McBride 34 points won A Grade over Graham Sibraa 33 points on a countback over Peter Henderson. Barry Stapleton 34 points best in B Grade, John Gale 33 points second.

Garry Purcell 39 points won C Grade from Don Catanzariti 37 points on a countback over Graeme Gifford 37 points. Pins to 7th John Gale, 11th Jim Dickie 16th Skeet Milne.

RELATED

Veterans are advised that the Week of Golf is all systems go, to be held in the last week in October. Entries to be in by October 18th.

Results of last Wednesday's single stableford with 54 players.

A Grade, Ngarau Noa 38 points, Graham Sibraa 37 points. B Grade Barry Northeast 41 points, Fusi Fidow 38 points runner-up on a countback Ray Greig. C Grade Peter Clark 36 points, Dino Battocchio 35 points runner-up. Pins 4th John Badoco, 7th David Woodside aced the hole to record his first Hole in One, 11th Brian Savage, 16th Don Catanzariti.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: