This years Minor Championships were contested over two days, three grades and 36 holes of stroke competition. Round 1 was all about two families, the Bills and the Hoskings. The Bills, father Alan and outstanding junior talent Lachlan both scored their first eagles (2 under par) in the same round and in the same group. On the 5th hole, Alan Bill hit beautifully from the tee to the blind pin. Upon arrival at the pin, he feared that the ball had carried the green and ended up in the river. “It’s probably in the hole” he quipped while he thought “as if”. Sure enough the holy grail of amateur golf was his. Later on the 13th hole Lachlan swung easily from 90 meters out to a difficult back pin position. The ball rolled up toward the pin, took a “logo moment” and dropped into the cup. Meanwhile over at Hosking Town, father Greg and son Michael were fighting it out for first round A Grade nett honours. With both carding nett 65, Greg claimed the voucher on seniority (and a countback). At the same time Nikita Hosking was quietly demolishing the B Grade competition, knocking off Tracker Tahana by a shot with nett 66. In C Grade, Jono Gegg was too good for Popeye Tozer, carding 70 nett to win that round. Also in the mix at the halfway point were Paul Rowland (68), Eddie Sivell (68), Charlie McDonald (69), Bill McMahon (69), Russell Schmitt (69) and Lacchlan Bill (70).
Round two and the Monthly Medal dawned cold, overcast and frosty. As cold as charity, in fact. Kerry Bensley had the standout round and claimed the Monthly Medal and C Grade with an excellent 62 nett. Charlie McDonald won A Grade with nett 65, while Bill McMahon won B Grade with nett 71. Also featuring, and challenging for the Championship prizes were Andrew Kadwell (66), Piopeye Tozer (69), Marty Weise (69), Russell Lieschke (69), Alan Bill (70), Tom Heath (71), Ben Hogan (71) Russell Schmitt (72) and Trent Cooper (72). Adam Boxsell was not putting his hat in the ring for a spot on the Championship board. Instead, he carded 82 nett and scored the special ball.
After 36 holes the final results were thus:
A Grade Gross: Scott Nolan (1) – 76+78=154
A Grade Nett: Charlie McDonald (12) 69+65=134
B Grade Gross: Russell Schmitt (15) 84+87=171 (Also Nikita Hosking (17) 83+86=169)
B Grade Nett: Bill Mcmahon (16) 69+71=140 (Also Nikita Hosking (17) 66+69=135)
C Grade Gross: Andrew Kadwell (21) 94+87=181
C Grade Nett: Neil Tozer (23) 72+69=141