KEVIN Ireland broke through for a much-deserved win during Saturday's Collie Golf Club 18-hole stableford.
He had finished second in the club event a week earlier, but on Saturday compiled a handy 38 points to win the HB Financial Services trophy by one shot, from consistent veteran Jim Hine.
Ireland and Hine were the only players to break their handicaps on the day as the course again proved to be a major challenge for most of the 41 players.
In third place was Greg Bell, on 34, after a four-way countback.
Others on 34 were Denis Cocker, Brad Swan and Ben Kononen, while John Wray, Trevor Graham and Ken Woods. Graham Williams, Clayton Flynn were all on 33. Steve Farquhar also got a voucher for his 32.
Nearest the pin novelties were won by David Blurton (fourth), Kevin Ireland (seventh) and Clayton Flynn (14th), while longest putts were holed by Fred Garofano (sixth) and Alan Kent (18th). John Wray belted one down the 15th to take the longest-drive novelty.
In last Thursday's nine-hole scroungers new country member Jerry Coldman took the double.
He had 38 off-the-stick for the best gross, and that gave him 20 nett points, one better than Troy Sheppard.
George Davis was back to his best with 18, a score shared with left-hander Phil Eldridge, while seven players got vouchers for scores of 17. They were John Wray, Kyle Hulls, Bruce Jackson, Rodney Simmonds, Darren Morfitt, Tony Barker-May and Des Hebb, who is back on deck after overcoming a chest injury.
Mark Sugget (fourth), Steve Farquhar (sixth) and Alan Banks (ninth) won the novelties.
Visitor Steve Forgan obviously enjoyed participating in the field of 50 and returned 22 points off his 15 handicap.
Meanwhile, David Broadbent is known to run hot and cold.
He was red hot in the 18-hole leisure day stableford played on Tuesday last week. Big Broady amassed 40 points to record what must have been the biggest win of the season.
He eclipsed second placed Jay Robinson, on 28, by 12 shots.
Ed Riley won last week's 14-hole veterans' stableford event with a steady two-points-a-hole score of 28 to be well clear of Alan Banks, on 25, and Alf Sanford, on 23.
Jim Hine, Des Hebb, Alan Kent and Alf Sanford won the novelties on the fourth, sixth, ninth and 18th holes respectively.
This Saturday's event will be an 18-hole stableford for the Drummond Golf trophies.
Before the event, between 11am and noon, Drummond Golf will hold a clinic and demonstrate new golf gear, which should be of interest to those seeking to get a competitive edge.
