When it blows it blows!
A strong field of 95 assembled for the 2015 Drummond Golf Jamberoo Open. As part of the Illawarra Open Series quite a few low markers (21 with handicaps of 3 or less) were attracted to play in the hopes of producing a low round on the tight Jamberoo layout. The course was in great condition, the greens running smoothly and the flags set in challenging positions ready to test the players. Then at 10am it hit.
Gale force winds whipped from the west across the course testing the temperaments and shot making skills of all players. Most were simply blown away. It was crazy! Those unfortunate to be out late found it almost impossible, while early starters got at least some holes in before the big blow hit.
Early predictions of a winning score under par were quickly amended. It became who could handle the wind the best. Bogey was often a good score on a hole.
At the conclusion of the day it came down to a pair of players returning a score of 73 (6 over par) that forced the first 4 hole playoff in Jamberoo Open history. Congratulations to Trent Cadger from the Grange Golf Club and Paul Fairall from Russell Vale Golf Club on their exceptional rounds under the most trying of conditions.
Coming back on the Monday to contest the playoff Trent was able to pip his opponent for the title 16 strokes to 17. The standard of play in the playoff was outstanding. After both opened with bogey 5’s on the 1st, the second hole was halved in birdie 3’s. Paul putting first holed a 5 metre putt down the hill only to watch Trent make his own 4 metre putt. The third hole resulted in a 2 shot swing after Paul three putted for a 5 compared to Trent’s 3. Needing a birdie on the 4th Paul smashed his drive down the fairway past Trent’s equally impressive tee shot. Playing first, Trent’s shot landed 1 metre short spinning back down the bank. Paul then proceeded to hit his wedge to within 1.5 metres of the hole to give himself a chance. Trent’s chip was a little strong and his 3 metre par putt came within inches of sealing the playoff. This left Paul with a difficult curling putt to extend the playoff into sudden death. Paul hit it perfectly only to see a gust of wind, as the ball approached the hole, force an unbelievable lip out. Congratulations to Trent on his win and commiserations to Paul. Well played to both.
Trent is awarded the $150 Drummond Golf voucher as well as having his name engraved on the Murray Tractors permanent trophy. Although beaten in the playoff Paul was consoled with the $100 Drummond Golf voucher as runner up.
The overall nett winner was local Garry Harvey with an incredible 63 nett off his 26 handicap. Playing in only his 6th competitive round Gary will have his name engraved on the Fredericks trophy, wins a Drummond Golf voucher and loses 8 shots off his handicap for his incredible score played in the teeth of the wind. Another local, Ron Chilby, off a 17 handicap also played a fantastic round finishing with nett 64 to grab the overall nett runner up voucher.
In A Grade Kurt Miller (Links Shell Cove) was the gross winner with 76 on a countback. Local Tom Persson won the best A grade nett voucher with 72. In B Grade, Jamberoo’s Matt Tedeschi won the gross with 81, while club mate Tim Young grabbed the nett with 70. In C Grade, Kiama’s Brett Kiteley was the gross winner with 92 off the stick whilst Jamberoo’s Phil Hahn won the nett with 74.
The nearest the pin trophies were donated by Fredericks IGA at Jamberoo. On the third Dave Oppert (Links Shell Cove) finished 188 cm from the pin to win the A Grade prize; on the 9th Bob Wright was the winner with a shot to 685 cm and on the 11th Lew Dare fired a shot to 232 cm to win the bottle of wine in the B Grade section. The Long Drive contest was held on the 14th hole and Dylan Humphries from the Grange hit his tee shot an incredible 316 m to claim the prize.
The keenly contested ‘super shot’ on the 7th hole was won by Shell Cove member Dave Rees with a shot 123 cm from the hole. His reward was $200 cash! Dave was playing in the second last group and his shot pipped Ron Hewson’s shot by 50cm. Ron was playing in the second group and almost held on as the wind started to blow. Balls went to 75 nett.
A special congratulation is given to Scott Hainsworth for achieving his first ‘hole-in-one’ on the 11th where his neatly hit 7 iron went in! Well played.
Jamberoo Golf club would like to thank our sponsors Drummond Golf and Fredericks IGA and all the volunteers who cooked on the day and warmly congratulate the new Jamberoo Open winner Trent Cadger. We commend all players for their tenacity in playing through some of the worst conditions seen on the course since the tornado decimated much of the course. Thanks to all our visiting players. We hope to see you again next year. I promise that I will close all the windows and turn the fan off so that you can experience the usual Jamberoo perfectly serene conditions and see the course in its true light.