The Ablaru Invitational: You Can’t Get Any Closer
|
Tee at
The Diggings, the 3rd
A group
on Powerline, the 1st
The
ladies prepare to tee off
MBW and
Robbie D teeing off in the play-off!
Female Ablaru champion 2004 Rob, accepting the golden nugget
from Comrade Chris |
JANUARY 2004: Drummond, in
central Victoria, on the long weekend in January, was the scene of one of the
closest fought golf competitions in recent memory (what’s my name again?).
Just after lunch on the Sunday, twenty competitors teed off in the ABLARU INVITATIONAL 2004, to contest
the individual on handicap and team events. A CHALLENGING COURSE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION: The brand-new layout at DrummondBase
was the toast of the town. No competitor had played the course previously (as
the last holes were only put in two nights before), making the event
particularly challenging for all competitors (unless you played in the
Tequila Challenge the day before, in which case it was your second game, but
no less challenging, considering the condition
most people were in when they played in the Tequila Challenge). The tees were
perfectly prepared (err well marked out anyway), the fairways cruel but fair
(watch out for the stumps), and the greens weren’t really greens. “Sort of lumpy, grassy, rocky, mown bits
of paddock with a small sandy bit in the middle around a hole. Very
challenging.” explained ‘Iron
Guts’ with glee, after another competitor missed a putt. The views were
sensational and set the scene for an exceptional event. A GAME OF FEMALE ATTRITION: An
intimate group of four players contested the inaugural women’s championship. Turbo,
Robyn 1, Robyn 2 and Andy were the core starters but only three players were
able to submit cards at the end of the day (Andy unfortunately retiring
hurt). Robyn 1 (net 26 and one under ACR), some would say predictably (after
the previous day’s performance in the Tequila Challenge), beat Turb by five
strokes (net 31) with Robyn 2 (34) three strokes off the pace. ‘The event was the winner’ said Robyn 1 as she reached for another
champagne. Readers will note this comment was made between presentation of
her second and third trophy for the weekend. It illustrates the humility of
this budding golfing champion (see Player Profile: ‘nnomads
Woman’s Player of the Year is Stoked’).
“It might have been different if Carol
had turned up. But good on her.” said Robyn 2 after the presentations. Turb
won the woman’s nearest the pin and
Robyn 1 won the longest drive (her
second of four trophies). A PLAYOFF TO DECIDE THE MENS INDIVIDUAL AND TEAMS: Now you wouldn’t believe it. Both men’s individual and team’s
events required a playoff to split the leaders at the end of the round. Maroon
Breasted Warbler or MBW (gross 38 / net 28) and Robbie D (gross 53 / net 28)
had to play off for the men’s individual championship. In the teams event MBW
and Freddie Five Iron (37) had to play off against King Bily
and Tombei The Mist (37). So all five, went back to
play Landmine, the 9th hole, to decide the winners. It didn’t take
long to get an outcome. MBW just got the better of Robbie D in the
individual, while Freddie amazing deflection off a tree (after launching the
ball off towards the house in the wrong direction), was enough to get he and ‘MBW
in front of King Billy and Tombe in the team’s
event. What an outcome and the packed gallery wasn’t disappointed. MEDIA PACKED PRESENTATIONS: The
presentations after the event were a raucous affair. A snap happy gallery was
kept busy as the list of prize winners were read out in turn. Robyn 1 toped
the bill, winning the individual woman’s Ablaru Invitational Championship, the woman’s longest drive and setting the new woman’s course record of 51 off the stick. This was in addition to
winning the Tequila Challenge the day before with Clean Phil. “I always wanted to be a water skier. Golf
just got in the way.” she said as she accepted ‘The Nugget’ from Comrade Cris. Turbo was delighted to be awarded the trophy for
the woman’s NTP “It is better to have
your photo taken than have to take the photos I can tell you.” she said
as ron Guts congratulated her. MBW, was
supreme on the day, winning the men’s Ablaru Invitational
Championship, the Ablaru Invitational Teams Championship with Freddie
Five Iron, and setting the new course
record of 38 off the stick. “Like
taking candy from a baby.” the Queenslander said as he accepted ‘The
Nugget’ from Iron Guts. “Have tool will
rule.” said Freddie as handled the teams trophy with an evil eye. Thombei won the men’s NTP
and Billy Bob Thornton won the men’s longest
drive. “At least we Victorians won
something.” they were heard saying after the presentations. It should be
noted that all competitors in this event had to be over 29 years in age. However,
an under 30 years event was run with interesting results. Brothers Ash and J
shared the trophies between them, Ash (gross 45 / net 22), won the event, while
J set the new under 30’s course record of 42. See Results & Photos of All Prize Winners On behalf of
the club and all who attended, The Cardinal thanked Iron Guts Crossinski and Comrade Cris for
their sensational hospitability and the wonderful events. They were also
presented with “The Nugget”, which will always sit at DrummondBase
as a reminder of the Ablaru Invitational. You just
had to be there! |
The 3rd
Green, The diggings
Champagne
in hand, but where are the clubs?
Thombei and King Bily
MBW and
Freddie
Male Ablaru champion 2004 MBW, accepting the nugget from Iron
Guts Crossinski |
Woman’s Individual Results 2004
|
Course |
ACR |
Date |
Player |
Gross
Score |
Hcp |
Net
Score |
Hcp
Diff |
|
Drummond Base (F) |
27.0 |
25/01/04 |
Robyn 1 |
51 |
25 |
26 |
-1.0 |
|
Drummond
Base (F) |
27.0 |
25/01/04 |
Turbo |
52 |
22 |
31 |
3.6 |
|
Drummond
Base (F) |
27.0 |
25/01/04 |
Robyn 2 |
59 |
25 |
34 |
7.0 |
Men’s Individual Results 2004
|
Course |
ACR |
Date |
Player |
Gross
Score |
Hcp |
Net
Score |
Hcp
Diff |
|
Drummond
Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
MBW |
38 |
10 |
28 |
2.0 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Robbie D |
53 |
25 |
28 |
2.0 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
GMAC |
42 |
13 |
29 |
3.3 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Karl |
55 |
25 |
30 |
4.0 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Thombei the
Mist |
41 |
10 |
31 |
5.4 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
King Billy |
42 |
10 |
32 |
6.0 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Stavros the Greek |
46 |
13 |
33 |
6.9 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Pat |
53 |
20 |
33 |
7.0 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
The Bloke |
46 |
12 |
34 |
7.7 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
|
51 |
16 |
35 |
9.3 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Billy Bob Thornton |
49 |
13 |
36 |
10.0 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Freddie Five Iron |
51 |
14 |
37 |
11.3 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
Nurse Min |
51 |
14 |
38 |
11.6 |
|
Drummond Base (M) |
26.0 |
25/01/04 |
The Cardinal |
50 |
11 |
40 |
13.6 |
Teams Results 2004
|
Team |
Result |
|
MBW
& Freddie |
37.0 |
|
Thombei & King
Billy |
37.0 |
|
Jarrod & Ashley |
41.0 |
|
Karl & GMAC |
41.0 |
|
Cardinal & The Bloke |
41.0 |
|
Billy Bob & Cam |
42.0 |
|
Robyn 1 & Annie D |
43.0 |
|
Nurse Min & Stavros |
43.0 |
|
Pat & Robbie D |
44.0 |
|
Turbo & Robyn 2 |
48.0 |
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