Four-Ball Fireworks and the ‘Wiley Ole Foxes’ Comeback
The weekend started with a bang — or perhaps more accurately, a sly shuffle from the shadows — as the experienced duo of Bruce Cunningham and Holmes Byers proved that age and cunning trump youth and bravado. Down 4 holes after 9 against Nigel Soper and James Han on Friday, the wise old foxes clawed their way back to dormy at 13 and eventually claimed victory on the 21st hole. A true match play classic.
Greg Latham and Rob Taylor, the reigning champs, are sniffing around the silverware again after dispatching the team of our Men's Club Captain James Sowerby and sidekick Aaron Hotop. Meanwhile, Slade Thomas and Troy Murdoch pushed past Darren Hill and Dean Corry, and the pairing of John Leith and Russell “Digger” Moore edged out Mike Wong and Jaydee Oh in a tightly contested scrap.
Team Tactics Talk on the 9th green.
STABLEFORD – The Men’s Main Event
The weather forecast must’ve frightened off the fair-weather players. With only 48 men in the field, it was one of the leanest turnouts of the season — but certainly not lacking in quality.
Euan Wilson took out top honours with 42 points, handling the wind like a seasoned pilot. Bruce Cunningham followed with 40, stacking that comeback energy straight into medal play. John Leith and Errol Frewen both clocked in 38 points, while the likes of Matt Evans, Fraser MacLachlan, and Darren Hill rounded out the Top 10.
Twos, Twos... But Only on 11
Perhaps the biggest shocker? All the Two’s came from hole 11. That’s right. No aces, no chip-ins elsewhere. Just a pile-up of pin seekers on the par 3 11th. Hats off to:
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Ian Browne
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Moonseok Kang
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Bruce Cunningham
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Euan Wilson
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Fraser MacLachlan
Birdie Blitz: Fraser Goes Full Birdwatcher
A special round of applause to Fraser MacLachlan, who birdied nearly half the golf course. His card lit up on holes 1, 4, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 18 — 9 birdies total.
. We’re not saying he needs random drug testing, but that’s the kind of form that has the rest of us questioning our life choices.
Joining him in the birdie column were:
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Jaydee Oh, Mike Wong, Troy Murdoch, Darren Hill, James Sowerby, and more — including single-birdie contributors like Athol Stephens and Steven Ridley.
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$48 each was paid out to: Athol Stephen-whos' prophetic prediction of #1 being drawn was right on the money. Go get yourself a lotto ticket Athol, alongside Fraser MacLachlan, Corey Sinteur and Jaydee Oh.
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Net Eagles – A Mix of Youth and Experience
Jack Pot laid claim to this one again- $108 carries over to next week-but David Grant and Evan Merritt both net eagled hole 15, while John Kennedy cleaned up on 17. Other notables were Bruce Cunningham again (that name keeps popping up), Errol Frewen, and Murray Carter.
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Special Prizes – A Taste of Meat and Mystery
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Longest Putt: Bruce Cunningham holed one from a postcode away(probably just Arrowtown) to win the Neat Meat voucher.
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Nearest the Pins: Troy Murdoch and Darren Hill showed their proximity prowess, also bagging meat vouchers.
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Random Card Draw: Congrats to Errol Frewen who walked away $50 richer in shop credit.
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LADIES COMPETITION – Par Format and a Slim Field
Just 4 ladies braved the elements in their Par competition, with Sue Cunningham taking the win on countback from Annette Fea and Kerry Conner, all finishing on -3. While no twos, birdies or net eagles were recorded, it was still a solid day out considering the conditions.
And speaking of conditions, no ladies managed to take out Nearest the Pin or Longest Putt this time around — possibly due to the lack of players rather than the lack of effort. We’re calling it “statistically improbable” but not impossible.
Final Thoughts
If you skipped today’s round due to the forecast, you might’ve missed the sideways drizzle, but you also missed a great day of golf. The sun made a cameo, the fairways held firm, and the scores were hot even if the air wasn’t. With the springtime crossover in full swing, thermals and shorts are now worn in the same group — and often on the same golfer.
Here’s to next week, and more golf, less wind, and hopefully a few more twos not stuck on hole 11.
See you out there.