THE weekend saw Parklands Golf Club host the Golf Australia 2022 Victorian Sandgreens Championship. 

The diverse field included players travelling from far and wide across the state with Gippsland and the north-east of Victoria well represented. 

The frequent rain in the preceding weeks posed challenges to the team preparing the course, however, the crew managed to overcome these and presented the course in excellent condition for a late winter tournament, which was supported by an events grant from the Southern Grampians Shire.

The golf action kicked off with a 4BBB competition on Friday for those players who travelled early for an extra-long weekend in Hamilton. 

Some teams were well planned and intent on success, while others were combined on the day and simply keen to get a look at the course before the championships commenced. 

The winning team was Alex Smith and Dale Smith from Avenel in north-east Victoria, finishing with 37 points to edge out Gippsland’s Chris Bailey and William Gross by one point.

The nearest the pin prizes went to Tim Batten (second), Bruce Bryant (fifth), Liam Powell (13th) and Jean Youl (15th).

The first round of the sandgreens championship commenced with a rolling start off the first and 10th tees mid-morning on Saturday. 

The field of 79 entrants enjoyed the fine conditions, which made a pleasant change from those recently experienced by much of the state. 

Many visitors travelled from areas where their courses are currently closed or under restrictions due to wet conditions.

At the conclusion of on Saturday afternoon’s round, the men’s event was closely contested with James Brown (Parklands) and Andrew Kane (Boort) at the top of leader board, tied on +5. 

Former Parklands member, Simon Goggin (Portarlington) was one shot behind heading into round two.

The leader board for the women’s competition at the conclusion of the opening round had Ann Lynch (Barwon Valley) first on +18, from Nicole Wardlow (Grampians) on +19 and Sue Holmes (Barwon Valley) on +20.

Round two commenced on Sunday morning with a shotgun start from around the course.

Players and spectators were treated to a beautiful, warm, sunny day with some hot competition for the major prizes.

Those at the top of the leader board for men’s overall competition played together in the same group from the first tee. 

Goggin managed to eke out a three-shot lead before drama struck when he lost his ball off the 17th tee. 

This allowed Brown to draw level at +11 at the close of 18 holes, leading to a play-off between the two players with strong connections to Parklands. 

Goggin finished strongly with a birdie on the first play-off hole to claim the men’s championship. 

Craig Boucher (Midlands GC) came third on +12 with Kane coming in fourth place on +13.

Goggin previously won the championship when the event was last held at Parklands in 2010. 

The former local also claimed the 2022 Western District Sandgreens Championship, which was run concurrently with the second round of the championships for players from eligible clubs.

There was a similarly tight finish for the women’s championships with Lynch on +34 declared the women’s champion, just holding out club-mate, Holmes, on +35.

The women’s 36-hole A grade net winner was Judi Guest (Midlands) with 61 points and the women’s 36-hole B grade net winner was Maree Heenan (Warracknabeal) with 58 points. 

The women’s 36-hole A grade gross winner was Lorrain Gollop (Maryborough) with a score of 182. 

In another high-note for Parklands, club member, Kelly Hitchcock, won the women’s 36-hole B grade gross with a score of 192.

Other prize winners for the 36-hole events saw Jack Flavel (Gladstone) named the men’s 36-hole A grade net winner with 63 points, and the men’s 36-hole B grade net winner was Michael Fitzgerald (Dimboola) with 62 points. 

The men’s A grade gross winner was Craig Boucher (Midlands) with a score of 152, and the men’s B grade gross winner was Nicholas Barned (Loch Sport) with a score of 178. 

Parklands members also had success on Sunday with Heather Hay winning the women’s B grade net for round two with 30 points, and Alan Hitchcock winning the men’s B grade net for round two with 31 points. 

Players expressed their appreciation to all involved in providing an enjoyable weekend.

To support the running of the event Parklands received an events grant from the Southern Grampians Shire Council and sponsorship from numerous local businesses. 

Parklands Golf Club is extremely appreciative of the support received and thanks those businesses involved, who will be acknowledged publicly in The Spectator in the coming weeks.

Parklands is also thankful of the Hamilton Golf Club which provided access to their rental golf carts which made the event accessible to a wider field of entrants.

The commitment and effort demonstrated by the members of the Parklands Golf Club to prepare for and to host the event was a tribute to the club, which is in its 50th year. 

The visitors were treated to a fine selection of food all weekend prepared by hard working volunteers.

Current and ex-members of the club were out in force over the weekend, attending to the scrapes and acting as spotters to keep the field moving.

The baton has now been passed to Talbot who will be hosting the 2023 Victorian Sandgreens Championship.