Medal round produces varing levels of skill

Saturday's competition was a medal round, and that saw a disparity in the level of scoring between the lower and higher handicap groups.
Laurence Butler showed the way with a 64 nett in taking out the lower group by just one stroke from Michelle Coley and Rob McKelvey, with Graeme Paulsen in fourth place on 68 nett, while Jo Hargood was the lucky one of those on 71 nett to make the prize list.
In the lower handicap group, Jordan Mitchell took top spot with a score of 70 nett, with Evelyn Munn and Coll Isherwood two strokes back, followed by Ken Luke and Ray Loader on 73 nett's.
Lukies Lucky Last on the day went to Phil Brown with his score of 81 nett also being matched by John Pitau.
The Solway Pie Shop nearest to the pin on the first hole went to Graeme Paulsen, the Mitre 10 one on the third to Kevin Hunter, McAuley's Transport one on the sixth to Syd Whittington with a well directed driver, the Solway Butchery one on the eighth to Steve Hargood, the Progressive Engineering one on the tenth to Michelle Coley and the Social Committee one on the seventeenth to Bryan Dick.
There were just two holes in two on the day, and they were scored by Syd Whittington and Michelle Coley.
Sunday saw six of the men travel down to Martinborough for the final of the Tri-angular Shoot Out involving Carterton and the host club as well as Mahunga.
I do not have too many details of the day, except that Bruce Herangi went all the way to the eighteenth hole, only to lose out when the title was decided in a chip off.
He was very close to giving Mahunga their third win in a row.
For those who stayed at home, the competition was a stableford round, and the scoring was close if not spectacular. Top of the field were Lance Duckett and Ngaire Graham with 41 points. They were followed by Robin Britt, Brian Stevenson and Paul Haxton with 39 points each, with Bill Ousey in sixth place with 38 points, and he also scored the only hole in two for the day's competition.
On Tuesday, the veterans group played in a bisque par, competition, and as usual for this type of competition, the scores returned were very good.
Best for the field was the 12 up score returned by Pat Gard in taking out the lowed handicap women's group from Janet Shaw on 9 up.
Noelene McGovern was the best of the second women's group on 10 up, with Judith O'Connor next best on 9 up.
Trevor Oliver was the best of the men, with his score of 10 up giving him top spot in the higher handicap group from Gordon Campbell and Syd Whittington on 9 up.
Bill Graham was the best of the lower handicap group with a total of 8 up, with Bill Christiansen on 7 up and Ken Luke on 5 up filling the minor placings.
Pat Gard took the women's nearest to the pin on the third hole, while Evelyn Munn again took the women's one on the sixth hole.
Syd Whittington repeated Saturday's feat in taking the men's prize on the sixth, and Bill Graham took out the one on the seventh hole.
Cilva Richmond, Ian Gemmill and Ted Gard all recorded holes in two.
Next weeks competition for the veterans group will be a stableford round.
This coming week-end will see the semi-finals of the Ward Memorial Trophy played on Saturday.
For the members who are not involved in the matches, the competition will be a medal round.
This will also be the second round of the Nett Aggregate competition for the men.
Sunday will see the competition being a stableford round.
The following week-end will see the interclub competitions for the men and women start with the Marquis Shield and Tilson Salver first rounds.