2023 South Australian Senior Order of Merit season underway

07/03/2023

The 2023 South Australian Senior Order of Merit season is underway with record fields at the first event at Blackwood Golf Club and another successful senior amateur event at South Lakes Golf Club, Goolwa. John Anderson contributed the following reports:

South Lakes winner Nick Wake with club captain Chris Harrison

Record Fields at Blackwood

The South Australian Senior Order of Merit commenced at Blackwood GC on the 6th of February with a record field even surpassing the great numbers that participated last year. 73 women in the morning field and 97 men out in the afternoon. As always the event was excellently run; the course superbly presented plus perfect weather with sunshine and 29 degrees.

A number of country and interstaters played this year and were most welcome additions.

Wendy Northey, Sally Graham, Gale Macpherson, Carol Warne

Senior Women

Scores suggested a bit of a struggle for the Senior Women in the Gross competition with local pennant player Gale McPherson returning 91 to win over Jo Ricourt (Glenelg) by one stroke with Teresa Batley (Grange), Kathryn Hender (The Vines of Reynella) and Glenda Whitby (Narrandera) mixing it with Blackwood’s Julie Wheeler, Kaye Wallace and Jane Conn with scores into the higher 90’s.

Nett scores were better with Carol Warne (North Adelaide) best with 73; Glenda Whitby (74) and Soozie Bice (Blackwood) also 74.

Super Senior Women

Somewhat of a Blackwood benefit in the Gross with locals filling the first five places – the experienced Sally Graham (87) leading the way from regular SOOM contenders Paula White (89), Rosemary Underwood (91), Angela Masters (91) and Bronie Buckley (92).

Nett scores saw four players recording 76’s. In countback order – Wendy Northey (Mt Osmond) from Nicky Govan, Paula White and Sylvia Falconer (all Blackwood).

Michael Richards, Phil Donaldson, Mark Potter, George Cleland

Senior Men

Mark Potter (The Vines of Reynella) got his Order of Merit campaign off to a great start with a 75 off the stick to just head two time defending event champion Nick Wake (Glenelg) (76) with Bruce Lindner (Kooyonga) back into contention in an SA event equal with Glen McGough (Blackwood) with 78’s.

An interesting newcomer was James Coulson (Thaxted Park) (80). James is a very well credentialled and experienced player who, if he plays a full season, could be a threat to the regular contenders.

Big winner in the Nett was Phil Donaldson (73) – Phil regularly perseveres in SASOOM events but took the opportunity on his home course to turn in a good one ! Potter (73) took second from Lindner and Sunny Ho (Westward Ho).

Super Senior Men

No surprise here as Mike Richards (Tea Tree Gully) (80) was the man but only on a countback from Yarra Yarra’s Howard Slater. Glenelg’s Brian Welsh and John Keogh (both 81) filled the placings.

Gross saw another perennial aspirant in George Cleland makes it a good day for The Vines. George’s 72 kept out a Blackwood contingent of Patrick Monteagle, Phil Lewis, Alan Green and Iain Wells.

For full scores and details go to: https://www.golf.org.au/events…

Wake, Lane and Crafter Winners at South Lakes

83 starters for the second round of the SA SOOM at South Lakes Golf Club, Goolwa. The event was (appropriately) sponsored by Lakeside Retirement Village and we thank them for this.

The course was superbly presented with new tee signage noticeable as this progressive club continues to improve its product. A mild day with some of the normal South Lakes breeze but from a different direction to normal to add to the challenge.

Senior Men

Leading contender, Nick Wake (Glenelg) was in top form shooting a one-over 72 well ahead of all the other strong players. Shane Amor (Grange) played his steady golf for 76, equalled by David Pateyjohns (Willunga) and Richard Payne (Kooyonga).

The quality of Shane’s round was confirmed with his Nett 68 from Roger Pridmore up from Naracoorte, Wakes and Phil Donaldson (Blackwood) all with 71’s.

Super Senior Men

Eric Lane (Grange) returning to playing a full season of SOOOM events, showed his class with the day’s second best score with a 75 from another stalwart, John Keogh (Glenelg) (77) equalled by Geoff Ashby, all the way from Hamley Bridge in SA’s mid-north.

Senior/Super Senior Women

Local Julie Crafter’s 73 won comfortably from the 88’s of Jo Ricourt (Glenelg) and Angela Masters (Blackwood). Nett saw Trish White (Blackwood)(71) pip Crafter on a countback with another local in Andrea Jack (73) in third.

One anecdote from the day was a certain player who hit one OOB on the 14^th only to have it returned by the local postman giving a whole new meaning to hitting it into another postcode !!

For full results go to: https://www.golf.org.au/events#/competition/3694392/results/3503104

*Men’s Senior – Gross*			*Men’s Super Seniors – Gross*			*Women’s Seniors/Super Seniors – Gross*
Nicholas Wake	Glenelg	72	Eric Lane	Grange	75	Julie Crafter	South Lakes	83
Shane Amor	Grange	76	John Keogh	Glenelg	77	Josephine Ricourt	Glenelg	88
David Pateyjohns	Willunga	76	Geoffrey Ashby	Hamley Bridge	77	Angela Masters	Blackwood	88
Richard Payne	Kooyonga	76	Colin Godsmark	South Lakes	79	Gale MacPherson	Blackwood	89
David Smelt	South Lakes	77	Howard Slater	Yarra Yarra	79	Sue Bastian	Victor Harbor	90
Paul Gregory	The Vines	78	Wayne Humphries	Glenelg	80	Sian Ruis	South Lakes	90
Mark Bolton	Murray Bridge	79	James Richards	Tea Tree Gully	80	Kathryn Hender	The Vines	90
Mark Potter	The Vines	79	Ken Parker	Kooyonga	84	Chris Harrison	South Lakes	91
Peter Shaw	Grange	80	John Zantvoort	Aston Hills	84	Julie Wheeler	Blackwood	92
*Men’s Senior – Nett*			*Men’s Super Seniors – Nett*			*Women’s Seniors/Super Seniors – Nett*
Shane Amor	Grange	68	Eric Lane	Grange	68	Trish White	Blackwood	71
Roger Pridmore	Naracoorte	71	Colin Godsmark	South Lakes	69	Julie Crafter	South Lakes	71
Nicholas Wake	Glenelg	71	John Keogh	Glenelg	71	Andrea Jack	South Lakes	72
Philip Donaldson	Blackwood	71	Alan Bartram	Mt Osmond	71	Sue Bastian	Victor Harbor	73
David Pateyjohns	Willunga	72	Geoffrey Ashby	Hamley Bridge	71	Sian Ruis	South Lakes	74
Richard Payne	Kooyonga	72	Geoff Powell	Grange	72	Chris Harrison	South Lakes	74
Mark Bolton	Murray Bridge	73	Tony Van Wyk	The Vines	72	Heather Grace	South Lakes	74
Andrew Munn		73	Malcolm Sangster	West Lakes	74	Kathryn Hender	The Vines	76
David Smelt	South Lakes	73	Howard Slater	Yarra Yarra	74	Marianne Schmidt	South Lakes	76

Record Fields at Blackwood

Wake, Lane and Crafter Winners at South Lakes

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