Summer Open 2019

Wonderful conditions for our 2019 Summer Open, which was a welcome change from what we have had to contend with in the last few years.

A field of 77 enjoyed a complimentary breakfast before heading out to tackle the first round. In the relatively friendly conditions, the scoring was understandably very good, and after the first round it was Toby Walker from Heidelberg Golf Club leading the way after shooting 6 birdies on his way to a fine score of 66. Hot on his heels were Zachary Maxwell from Virginia Golf Club and Tom Steward, who plays his golf just down the road at Cape Schanck, with 67s. Zachary’s round punctuated by a strong finish, cruising round the back nine in 31, whereas Tom’s was off to a flyer, with two birdies and an eagle in his first 5 holes.

There was a bit of a gap back to the best of the rest, with James Ford leading the chasing pack after a 71, heading a group of 7 players who shot 74 or better.

As they headed out for the afternoon round, any of the top fifteen players were in contention, and it was Mark Boulton from Phillip Island who had the best score in the afternoon, scoring a fine 68, which included 5 birdies to go with his 75 in the first round.

It soon became a race of three, with our round one leaders going head to head over the first nine. Zachary Maxwell had opened up a 3 shot lead at the turn after going out in 33, from Toby Walker. Tom Steward had played a solid front 9, however being five shots off the pace was a bit much for, who came home strongly to shoot a second round of 73 to finish on 140, with a eagle 2 on the 16th the highlight.

A pair of birdies to start the back nine had Walker back within one standing on the 12th tee, and a Maxwell bogey on the 13th had it all tied up with 5 holes to play. To this point, both players were 3 under the card for the day, and it looked like being the first Summer Open in 10 years where the final score would be under par. Both players parred 14, then bogeyed 15, which was a surprise as it was reachable in two playing down breeze, and both had birdied it in the morning round. A pair of pars on sixteen and they were still tied, but a fine birdie on 17 put Maxwell one clear with one to play.

It wasn’t over just yet, as a Maxwell double bogey was met with a Walker bogey, and they were all tied up once again, finishing the 36 holes at 1 under, 137. Conditions of play called for a count back to separate them, and it was Maxwell who came out on top, with his afternoon round of 70 pipping Walker by one shot, to with the 2019 Summer Open.

The nett event was another close affair, with 8 players within one shot after the first round. Consistent rounds of nett 69 and 70 was good enough for Aaron Tran (playing off 5) from Commonwealth Golf Club to take out the nett event on 139, one clear of Christopher Horne from Eastern Golf Club and Lucas Murtagh from Spring Valley Golf Club, with Paul Zoppos also from Commonwealth Golf Club on 141 one further back.

On the Women’s side of the draw, it was Kim Kennedy leading the way after the first found having fired a 77, which was good enough for a 4 shot lead over Jeneath Wong from Metropolitan. Monica Marchesani and Shanaiah Fernando were a further shot back each and well in the mix.

After lunch, it soon became a race of two, and it was Wong who started the second round stronger, however Kennedy was still clear at the turn by 1 after a strong front 9 from Wong. A par from Wong at the 10th, and it was all tied up when Kennedy found trouble on the 13th which lead to a double bogey, Wong had hit the lead for the first time. The lead was two by the time they reached the 17th tee, but a great 3 from Kennedy saw it back to one, with one to play and that was all Wong needed, closing out with a par on the last to shoot 74 in the afternoon, for a total of 155, and a two shot victory from Kennedy.

Kim Kennedy’s nett score of 149 was good enough to take out the 36 hole nett event by 8 shots from Jeneath Wong, with Monica Marchesani a shot further back.

Our two major winners Jeneath and Zachary both receive a flexible membership to the club for their efforts, and we are looking forward to seeing them both around the club for the remainder of this year, and many more to come.

The feedback on the day from the players was excellent. Comments were along the lines of an excellent golf course, condition and set up, which is a credit to Colin Morrison and his team, and the hospitality on the day was particularly well received, which is a credit to the team in the clubhouse

A full list of prizes from the day is as follows: