Ladies Medal & Putting – Fine Golf and Finer Company

The greens were quick, the pins were tricky, and the putters got quite the workout as the ladies teed off for the GNZ Medal & Putting Competition. With the spring sunshine playing peek-a-boo and a touch of Melbourne Cup buzz in the air, it was a perfect day for golf — and for some seriously good scoring!

Silver Division

• 1st – Marti Groves (73) – Composed and confident, Marti’s steady play earned her top honours in Silver Division and the medal itself. To top it off, she also won the Birdies Draw, pocketing a lovely $21 for her efforts.

• 2nd – Karen Mitchell (73) – Right on Marti’s heels and only edged on countback — a fine showing from Karen.

• 3rd – Tilly Grant (77)

Bronze 1 Division

• 1st – Sue Cunningham (70) – A sparkling round from Sue, showcasing both accuracy and composure. Her consistency continues to impress, and she backed it up by also taking the Net Eagles Draw ($21).

• 2nd – Jeri Elliot (73) 

• 3rd – Carole Smith (74)

Bronze 2 Division

• 1st – Kay Shaw (75) 

• 2nd – Karen Scott (76) 

• 3rd – Sue Wilson (81)

Bronze 3 Division

• 1st – Ann McDowell (64) – The round of the day! Ann’s spectacular net 64 lit up the leaderboard and earned her the top prize in Bronze 3. She also claimed Least Putts in Division 4, proving that when the flatstick’s hot, anything’s possible.

Special Awards

• Least Putts Winners

  • Div 1: Julie Grant 

  • Div 2: Sue Cunningham 

  • Div 3: Kay Shaw 

  • Div 4: Ann McDowell 
    These ladies clearly know the secret — fewer putts mean fewer worries!

• Twos Winner: Maire Wilkinson – Always reliable, Maire found the bottom of the cup in two and earned herself $21.

• Longest Putt: Annabel McCulloch – Rolled in a beauty that had her group cheering; a well-deserved $10 prize.

• Nearest the Pin:

  • Suzanne Vidak – showing pinpoint accuracy on Hole 11 (Saturday), taking home $10.

  • Judy Sim – following up with precision of her own on Hole 17 (Tuesday).

Melbourne Cup Stableford – Class on the Course

While the fillies were running in Flemington, our own field took to the fairways for a spirited Melbourne Cup Stableford.

• 1st – David Grant (38 points) 

• 2nd – Jocelyn Davis (37 points) 

Special Mentions:

• Twos: Peter Sim, cool as ever, dropped one for $11.

• Birdie Draw: David Grant, adding another $11 to his day’s winnings.

• Net Eagles Draw: Peter Sim, not content with one prize, scooped the Net Eagles pot too! $21

• Nearest the Pin: Kerry Conner, laser-like precision on her approach earned her $10.

9-Hole Stableford – Big Fun on the Shorter Loop

The 9-hole competition brought its own excitement, with a fantastic turnout and some tidy scoring.

• 1st – Carolyn Rooney (22 points) – A well-controlled round that balanced aggression and touch.

• 2nd – Anne Oliver (21 points) – Another strong finish for Anne, and to top it off, she also sank the Longest Putt for an extra $10!

• 3rd – Jan Edgar (20 points) and 4th – Tricia Lund-Jackson (20 points) – A tight battle for the podium, just one point back.

Final Thoughts

From the elegance of the Ladies Medal and Putting, to the colour and celebration of Melbourne Cup Day, and the friendly competition in the 9-Hole Stableford, this week at Queenstown Golf Club had it all.

Whether it was Ann McDowell’s hot putter, Sue Cunningham’s eagle magic, or Maire Wilkinson’s two, there was brilliance at every turn. Add in Annabel’s long bomb and Suzanne and Judy’s pin-seeking precision, and it’s fair to say this week’s golf was as good as it gets.

As always, thanks to all who played, helped, and laughed their way through the week. Until next time — keep your drives straight, your putts short, and your champagne cold!