2023 SWAN VALE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Geoff Worth C Grade Championship
Most Titles - Tim Challinor - 3 (2006, 2016, 2021)
Recent Winners
2018 - Jodie Thompson (2018),
2019 - Chelsea Ward (2019)
2020 - Peter Evans (2020),
2021 - Tim Challinor (2021),
2022 - Linda Rankine (2022)
Last Years Top 5
Winner Linda Rankine 211
2nd Jan Mortimore 223
3rd Herman Geibl 231
4th Jack Penkin 233
5th Ron Mutton 234
Linda Rankine was dominant in the lead-up to last year's club champs and didn’t disappoint with a 12 stroke victory. In this very unpredictable grade I think we look at previous history as to who has the form and we can’t go past Ryan Turner. Not only is he shooting his best scores, he is doing it week after week. Only question will be, can he handle the pressure of expectations. Time will tell but there are still some others coming in with good form. Linda Rankine has the most scores between 30-36 and consistency is big in this game. Other players in fine form shooting regular scores in the 30’s include Mick Mortimore, Paul Jones, Chelsea Ward, Cameron Cooper and Jack Penkin.
Predictions
1 - Ryan Turner
2 - Cameron Cooper
3 - Paul Jones
Sure Thing - Peter Evans to win the over 80+ division
Alex Wilson B Grade Championship
Most Titles - B Grade has never been won twice
Recent Winners
2018 - Dave Redpath
2019 - Richard Sim
2020 - Geoff Worth
2021- Steve Dyson
2022 - Rod Saul
Last Years Top 5
Winner Rod Saul 223
=2nd Jerome Donders 225
=2nd Chris Easter 225
=2nd Chris Pugh 225
=5th Wayne Bancroft 226
=5th Chelsea Ward 226
=5th Alan Coles 226
It was a real close one last year with 3 shots between the top 7. Rod Saul took out the victory in a see-sawing contest. 2023 looks to be just as see-sawing as no-one is coming in with any great form. Brad started the year on fire but has slowed down of late while Neil Rankine, Mandy Hellier and Iain Taylor have all shown that they can string a bunch of good rounds together. Will Steve Dyson take off now the matchplay comp has wrapped up. Taking form out of play, there are plenty of wise experienced players in this group including 2 former club champions and 16 nett champions. Never count out the likes of Jerome Donders, Phil Hepton, Butch Worth or Paul Van Leeuwen. I could make a case for all the players in this open race.
Predictions
1 Mandy Hellier
2 Butch Worth
3 Dave Mattock
Sure Thing - No wire to wire winner
Dominic McGowan A Grade Championship
Most Titles - 3 Dominic McGowan (2000, 2010, 2020) Iain Taylor (2011, 2013, 2019)
Recent Winners
2018 - George Ledger
2019 - Iain Taylor
2020 - Dominic McGowan
2021- Paul Smith
2022 - Warwick Braithwaite
Last Years Top 5
Winner Warwick Braithwaite 213
2nd Riley Maringoni 219
3rd Ric Littlefair 222
4th Ray Smith 224
5th Scott Ward 226
Riley jumped to a 5 point lead after round 2 but Warwick shot an amazing 67 in windy wet conditions to lead after round 3. Nothing changed after round 4 and Warwick took the win.
It was 2017 since someone won both A grade Nett and Club Champs when Scotty bravely got the job done. I expect that trend to continue with the top 6 players all at or around their peak handicaps. Right now, the hot man is Chris Easter hitting his handicap the last 2 weeks and was runner up in the B grade last year. Ray has been in top form also but he’ll miss round 1 and will find it hard to beat those with a round to waste. Ric Littlefair was up there last year and it was only 2 years ago when Paul Smith took it all out and both can turn it on at any time. Watch out for a refreshed Mark Field and maybe it’s just me, but Scotty’s can play better than his handicap suggests.
Predictions
1- Chris Easter
2- Scott Ward
3- Ray Smith
Sure Thing - Scotty’s putter costs him again
Jerome Donders Club Championship
Most Titles - 4 Doug Backhouse (1998,2002,2004,2005) Kevin Brimblecombe (2019,2020,2021,2022)
Recent Winners
2018 - Peter Bennett
2019 - Kevin Brimblecombe
2020 - Kevin Brimblecombe
2021 - Kevin Brimblecombe
2022 - Kevin Brimblecombe & Scott Ward
Last Years Top 5
=Winner Scott Ward 253
=Winner Kevin Brimblecombe 253
3rd Warwick Braithwaite 255
4th Daniel Lake 257
5th Paul Smith 258
The cream rose to the top early in the last round as Kevin and Scott raced to the finish after solid front 9’s. Unfortunately, no one could land the killer blow and it finished in a tie. This will not happen this year as we have a tiebreaker round if required which is more likely than not with this field.
Plenty of players are in fine form including Kevin Brimblecombe who has been ultra consistent this year and looks to take the most titles in club history. His nearest competitors are most likely the Maringoni duo with Dean and Riley making the leaderboard this year, 15 times combined and both have the ability to shoot a sub 80 score at any time. 3 time champion Daniel Lake is back to his best and is hungry for that taste he got with his last win back in 2016. But don’t write off the likes of 2 time champ Scott Ward, 2018 champ Peter Bennett or a bloke living under the radar in Axel Lommerzheim. Or could we see a surprise winner? This will be great watching.
Prediction
1 - Kevin Brimblecombe
2 - Dean Maringoni
3 - Daniel Lake
Sure Thing - Low scoring 243 - 245 for the win