| 31/8/10 |
| This week in the 19th hole we take a look at the 4th annual Coomealla Seniors Championship beginning next Monday. Three rounds have been completed in the club championships at Mildura, Red cliffs and Wentworth and we look at who is leading, who might win and who should win. The North West Women's Golf representative team competed in Melbourne Country Teams this week but are resigned to staying in division three again next year after being knocked over by bitter rivals Bendigo. Wentworth's Fred Campbell is this week's Sunraysia Golf Range - Round of the Week winner. |
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| 24/8/10 |
| two Sunraysia junior make the State junior squad. Greggs day at Ouyen another great community success. Phil Matotek 2010 Merbein champion. Mannix, Stewart and Thomas lead their club championships at Red Cliffs, Mildura and Wentworth. Darren Bottomly pars the course at Wentworth to win the SUNRAYSIA GOLF RANGE - ROUND OF THE WEEK. All the news in the 19th hole. |
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| 17/8/10 |
| Sunraysia wins junior country championship at Kyneton. Tim Walker to represent Victoria at Port McQuarie in the secondry schools Australian championship. Smasher McGaffin takes the lead in the 2010 Merbein golf club championships. District golf fundraiser at Merbein golf club this Friday. Jodene Tuau win Sunraysia Golf Range - Round of the Week. All in the 19th hole. |
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| 13/8/10 |
| I have been laid up in bed for the last week with a strong bout of the flu. Hence no 19th hole on Wednesday. In next weeks 19th hole we will be reviewing what happened at the Victorian Junior Country Championships at Kyneton. Our Sunraysia team has it's best chance of taking out it's division for a long time. With the last Major being played at Whistling Straits and nine Aussies all in with a chance we will look back on who, what where and when. There will also be our next edition of significant characters in the history of Sunraysia golf as well as the round of the week. |
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| 3 August 10 |
| Aaron Coates leads after 36 holes in the 2010 Murray Valley Championship. Stuart Appleby tears it up in Seattle. Amalgamation coming to an association near you. Val Fogg emerges from the mist to win the Round of the Week. |
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| 27 July 10 |
| Jake Laubsch wins Sunraysia championship at 16 years of age. Sunraysia team named to play in Melbourne Country Week with Justin McPhee captain for the sixth year. North West Womens Golf name their team for the up coming Country Teams championship in Melbourne. Sunraysia set to take away it's best jnuior representative team for 20 years to Kyneton for the Victorian Country Junior championships. Bernhard Langer finally wins a British Open, all be it a Senior title. Di Metcalf wins the Sunraysia Golf Range - Round of the Week. All in the 19th hole. |
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| 20 July 10 |
| Sunraysia District Golf Association championships at Mildura Golf club Resort this weekend. Frank Benham is Robinvale Golf Club's Mr Reliable. South Africa claims another golf title at St Andrews. Joy Carr drives a fast game at Wentworth to win this weeks Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the Week in the 19th hole. |
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| 13 July 10 |
| Mildura Golf Week faces challenge this year. Wayne Brooks honoured as the "Count" of Wentworth golf club. British Open returns to the home of golf at St Andrews. Seven vie for Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the Week in this weeks 19th hole. |
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| 6 July 10 |
| Coomealla win for third year in a row in Sunraysia pennant final. Ian Dickason is Riverside golf club's quiet achiever. Paul Mitchell wins the Sunraysia golf Range Round of the week in this weeks 19th hole |
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| 23 June 10 |
| Red Cliffs are looking good in Sunraysia District pennant. Noel Pugsley has been the "Godfather" of Mildura Golf Club for 30 years. Graeme McDowell had the luck of the Irish last week in the US Open. Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the Week winner named in this weeks 19th hole. |
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| 16 June 10 |
| This week's 19th hole looks at the big weekend of golf on Sunraysia's golf courses. Previews the fourth round of local pennant with a view to the finals on July 4th. Acknowledges the contribution of outgoing Captain at Coomealla Golf Club Alan Scorer. Previews the 110th US Open at Pebble Beach and announces the Sunraysia Golf Range - Round of the week which goes to a former Captain and President at Coomealla Golf Club.
So far we have 25 people confirmed for our 6th Golf Tour to New Zealand in September. One change to the itinerary is that our last round on the tour will now be at the renowned Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland instead of Gulf Harbour who have bought their greens coring program forward. Titirangi is a superb course and will complement our other golfing venues including, Terrace Downs, Kinloch, Wairakei International, Cape Kidnappers and Paraparaumu Beach.Bookings for the tour which departs on September 13 and returns on September 25 close on June 30. |
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| 9 June 10 |
| Coomealla take control after three rounds of the Sunraysia District Golf Association's winter pennant. Bev Cetinich wins her 9th ladies club championship at Merbein. Sue Laird and Julie McEwan lead at Coomealla and Red Cliffs. Superb golf at the weekend in Wales where Graham McDowell almost certainly assured himself of a berth in October's European Ryder Cup tea. Over at Muirfield in Ohio England's Justin Rose won Jack Nicklaus's tournament and put his name up in big letters for October as well. Riverside's on course commentator Don McMaster wins the Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the Week. |
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| 2 June 10 |
| District pennant hit off in Broken Hill at the weekend and Red Cliffs bounced to the top of the ladder on percentage from 2009 pennant champions Coomealla. Ladies championships hit off around Sunraysia this week. This week Wentworth host round three. Tiger returns this week at Muirfield Village for Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament. Marty Scott wins the Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the week with an excellent 64 nett at Riverside Golf Club. |
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| 26 May 10 |
| The 19th hole reviews the good performances in the Tri-State Masters last week. Cameron Stewart wins the Robinvale Open. Sunraysia District Golf Association men's pennant hits off at Broken Hill on Sunday with Coomealla the defending champions. Jason Day wins in Texas and is hoping to go one better than last year when he was runner up on his home course at Coloniol in Fort worth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Ron Gibson wins the Sunraysia Golf Range - Round of the Week after a nett 62 at Wentworth last Saturday. Our sixth New Zealand Golf Tour in September is filling fast. |
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| 22 May 10 |
| Peter Bywaters from Victor Harbor wins the 2010 Tri-State Masters after 8 years of trying. Coomealla's Sue Laird wins four in a row creating a new Tri-State Masters record. Australia's Jason Day is two shots clear in the Byron Nelson tournament on the US PGA Tour. |
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| 19 May 10 |
| Tri-State Masters in full swing. Greg Rhodes wins at Red cliffs. Great Scores in the Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the Week. Adam Scott back on the winning list. |
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| 12 May 10 |
| In the 19th hole this week we look at the Wentworth Open where Jacob Slimmon finally broke through for his first tournament win. Robert Allenby played in the 1990 Victorian Sandgreens Championship just down the road at Ouyen and on Sunday he finished in the same position but won a little bit more. Coomealla's Sue Laird is hoping to win her fourth consecutive Tri-State Masters ladies championship next week whilst Cranborne's Peter Bywaters is the men's favourite. Nine folk will represent New Zealand in the Tri-State Masters - two for the fifth time. Riverside's Margo Adair wins the Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the Week. Lots of enquiries about our sixth golf tour to New Zealand in September. All this and more in the 19th hole. |
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| 5 May 10 |
| Lots of golfing news locally and around the world covered in this weeks 19th hole including Ashley Whitehouse's course record at Mildura Golf Club Resort on Sunday. The top 10 scratch and handicap from Mildura and the round of the week. The luck and skill of Irish sensation Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow. The TPC at Sawgass in Jacksonville regarded by the Yanks as the fifth major. Ishikawa's stunning 58 in Japan and 17 year old Italian super star Matteo Manessero turns pro. |
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| 28 April 10 |
| Entries will still be accepted up until this Friday for the Tri_State Masters. Greg Rhodes chasing four from four this weekend in the Mildura Open after winning at Coomealla, Riverside and Merbein. Marcus Fraser wins his second European Tour event in Korea. Ewan Porter cleans up on the Nationwide Tour in South Georgia and 12 Aussies make the cut on the main tour event in New Orleans. Six of New Zealands top 10 golf courses included in our September golf tour including Terrace Downs, Paraparaumu Beach, Wairakei International, Kinloch, Cape Kidnappers and Gulf Harbour. Read more news in the 19th Hole. |
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| 22 APRIL 10 |
| Lots of golf news in the 19th hole this week about local champion winning the Merbein Open for three from three this year. Justin McPhee wins the Renmark Open as Sunraysia loses the Doherty/McInnes Cup to the Riverland Golf Association. Furyk wins the tournament at Hilton Head but Englishman Brian Davis wins lots of admirer's. The 23rd Hackers golf tournament provides lots of laughs for all participants. Only a couple more days to enter the 2010 Triu-State Masters. |
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| 15 April 10 |
| Our 6th golf tour to New Zealand itinerary is now all finalised. This tour will include the best collection of golf courses so far on any golf tour we have organised in the last 20 years. We are very excited and can't wait till September, contact us if you are interested in joining us. How good at golf you are is not a priority, how interested in having a good time with nice people is. Memories live longer than dreams. |
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| 14 April 10 |
| This week in the 19th hole we review the Riverside Open where Greg Rhodes won in a three man play off. The US Masters was won by a man in black reminiscent of the old movie cowboy hero's who used to wear white hats. The Merbein Open at Mildura Golf Club is on this week and Sunraysia will take on the Riverland Golf Association in the 15th playing of the Doherty/McInnes Cup. More entries coming in from New Zealand for the 18th Tri-State Masters and Darren Woolfrey wins the Sunraysia Golf Range Round of the Week. Go to the 19th hole for all golf news. |
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| 7 April 10 |
| The 2010 Riverside Open is on this weekend, Greg Rhodes set for his 20th win in the tounament after winning the Blackwood Open in Adelaide on Monday. Rhodes shot 68-69 to win by three strokes. The other big news this week is the US Masters, will any of Tiger's 90 body guards get in the way? More news in the 19th hole. |
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| 30 March 10 |
| Lots to talk about in golf in the 19th hole this week. The Stewarts win at Red Cliffs in the Seeley Cup. Ernie wins at Bay Hill in Arnie's tournament. Louis Oosthuizen wins in Spain on the European Tour. Freddy too good on the Seniors circuit. The Korean contingent clean up in the Kia Classic in California on the LPGA Tour. The new handicapping system for Australian golf clubs due to commence on April 9. More entries coming in for the 2010 Tri-State Masters and people starting to get excited about our sixth golf tour to New Zealand. |
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| 23 March 10 |
| Entries are coming in from all over Australia for the 18th annual Tri-State Masters. 51 year old Greg Rhodes won his 19th Coomealla Open in a playoff on Sunday against a 15 year old from Thaxted Park golf club in Adelaide. We take a look at the top 10 scratch and handicap scores from the Coomealla Open. This Saturday the Sunraysia District Golf Association's Lever Blair-Seeley 4BBBB championship hits off at Red Cliffs. All this and more in the 19th hole. |
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| 17 March 10 |
| This week marks the official beginning of the local golf club Open season when the 2010 Coomealla Open hits off on Saturday. In the 19th hole we take a look at the main chances. In Florida the "big easy" Ernie Ells jumped back into the winners list and back home at Commonwealth Taiwan's world number six Yani Tseng came home like a whirlwind to blow everyone away including Karrie. Go to the 19th hole for more golfing news. |
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| 10 March 10 |
| What a great weekend of golf. Locally the Mildura Junior Open and Sunraysia District Junior Championships were contested at Mildura Golf Club with some outstanding golf played by our top juniors including Tim Walker and Ryan Laird. In Queensland Karrie Webb was in superlative form in the Ladies Masters. Carmillo Villegas continued his good form on the US PGA Tour and old favourite Fred Couples won in the seniors. On our family front, Joel Edwin Doherty was born to Garth and Salli today (four weeks early) on what would have been my father Jack's 88th birthday. Joel's big brother Ben will be six tomorrow. Joel is our eighth grandchild and sixth grandson, five of whom will be great North Melbourne supporters! Both Salli and Joel are extremely well. For more golf news go to the 19th hole. |
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| 4 March 10 |
| The entry form for this years Tri-State Masters is now available online. Download entry form here, or view the tournaments page for more information. |
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| 1 March 10 |
| We have had a great response after posting out the 2010 Tri-State Masters entry forms last week. Whilst most people come to Mildura for the golfing activities there are a good many who also identify the social program as the weeks highlights. New social events this year include a "putting championship" on the Sunraysia Golf Range 50 metre synthetic green on the Tuesday night that will be lots of fun with some great prizes. The PS Mundoo will be the floating venue for a back to the 60's/70's night on the Thursday night, whilst a "Winemakers Dinner" at Trentham Estate Winery will take place on the Monday night. This was booked out last year and will be popular again. Included in the entry fee are an opening Cocktail Party and closing Presentation Dinner so there is lots of fun at night. This week in the 19th hole we look at junior golf in Mildura, the upcoming Coomealla Open and the US PGA Tour event in Arizona. Go to the 19th hole. |
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| 22 February 10 |
| The 2010 Tri-State Masters entry forms have now been posted to everyone on our data base. Anyone who isn't on our data base and would like to receive one should contact us. Email golf@sunraysiagolftours.com.au This week in the 19th hole we take a look at Mildura's hottest golfers over the summer Greg Rhodes and Jake Laubsch who both shot 66 on Saturday then 68 on Sunday. Rhodes at Coomealla and Laubsch at Mildura. The Accenture Matchplay championship is also featured along with my two bob's worth on the Tiger. Go to the 19th hole. |
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| 8 February 10 |
| After my first week assisting at the Sunraysia Golf Range I feel like I have a new lease on life, golfing wise. I have spent the last 23 years in a golf shop talking golf in all of it's forms. Or so it seemed. Practise or hitting balls wasn't as prominent in those golf discussions as it is now. It is interesting to hear how golfers perceive themselves in practise and how they practise.
Great golf on the TV at the weekend. Spains 46 year old Miguel Angel Jimenez outlasted Europe number one Lee Westwood in a three hole playoff in Dubai after Westwood looked favoured to win in both of the first two playoff holes. Sixty year old Tom Watson was only five shots behind shooting 68 in the last round to outscore most players on the last day. Jim Herman won a playoff at Moonah Links in the Nationwide tournament after Chris Kirk missed a putt he really should have got at the 72nd hole. I still can't believe how anyone could shoot 62 as Herman did around Moonah Links. At Riviera in California Steve Stricker kept the Yanks happy with a two shot win over England's Luke Donald. Riviera has been good for Aussies in the past with Elkington and Allenby winning there in the past.
We are excited with preparations for this year's Tri-State Masters almost completed. Entry forms will be posted out next week. |
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| 1 February 10 |
| The Sunraysia Golf Factory retail golf shop closed for business on Saturday. New owners of the business Garth and Salli Doherty decided to relocate the business to the Sunraysia Golf Range in Ontario Avenue in Mildura. The decision makes sense from a business point of view as staffing issues and business costs can now be managed much easily in the one retail facility. Kym and I will assist Garth and Salli at the Range and can we can now have a bit of extra time to ourselves and our family. I began my new "career" at the range today which was quite enjoyable, Kym has been working there part time for the last month. Saturday was a sad day for us but a day that we knew would come eventually. Twenty three years is a long time to spend in one shop and we will always have great memories of the thousands of people we met and hopefully helped with their golf. More on this topic in the 19th hole. |
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| 21 January 10 |
| Great to see Robert Allenby do so well in Hawai last week coming second. This week the Bob Hope Classic over 90 holes will be contested in California. Victoria's Cameron Percy will line up for his second PGA Tour tournament. On the European Tour the Abu Dhabi hosts the first big tournament of the year. Richard Green is probably our best chance. Locally in Mildura the Riverside Summer Open over 36 holes was played last weekend. A first ever occurred when a "barefoot" champion won the title. Go to the 19th hole for the full story. |
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| 13 January 10 |
| Preparations for the 18th annual Tri-State Masters are in place and the entry forms almost ready to go to the printers. Everyone on our data base should receive copies by mid Februaryat the latest. We have had emails from Paul Gueorgieff who lives in Wellington NZ and our Mahunga Golf Club friends in Masterton NZ advising of their visits again this year. Paul will be here for the fifth time in six years which we feel is a terrific endorsement of our tournament and Mildura as a golfing holiday destination. Additionally it will be great to host the crew from Mahunga where fourteen of their members have played in the Tri-State Masters since 2006. We first hosted a golf tour to Mildura from Mahunga Golf Club in 1991 and then hosted their group on a golf tour to the Gold Coast in 1993. In 2006 Lance Duckett, that's right I said Duckett, won the tournament with 77-79-76 to become our first international champion. Last year local Riverside/Coomealla golfer Steve Spooner won with scores of 73-83-81 whilst Coomealla's Sue Laird won the ladies section with 81-80-83. Portsea's Jenny Jeffreys was the ladies senior (over 50) champion and Coomealla's Graham McClellan the men's senior champion. This week the 19th Hole recommences after the Christmas break. |
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| 23 December 09 |
| From all of us at Sunraysia Golf Tours we would like to wish you and your family a verry happy Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year. 2010 is going to be a great year and offer new opportunities for better golf and fun. Always remember that "memories live longer than dreams" and "it is always nice to meet nice people". |
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| 16 December 09 |
| We are preparing our December newsletter so anyone not on our data base please let us know. Preparations are well under way for the 18th Sunraysia Golf Tours Tri-State Masters which will be conducted fro May 16th -21. We are exploring a few changes to the format but a lot of our feedback from participants this year voted to leave the format as is. More news and views in the 19th hole. |
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| 10 December 09 |
| All is going well at the House of Golf Mildura. Some of the deals offered by the House of Golf chain are quite remarkable. After 23 years in the golfing industry I am learning more and more about golf retailing every day. Who said you can't teach and old dog new tricks? Lots happening in the golf world with the Australian PGA at Coolum, Matt Goggin or Greg Chalmers for me. The Dunhill South African Open in South Africa where Ernie should win and the Shark Shootout in the US where my pick is the Poulter/Fisher combination. More golf news in the 19th hole. |
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| 4 December 09 |
| Our last day of trading of the Sunraysia Golf Factory will be Saturday December 5. As from Monday the shop will become a House of Golf outlet with Garth and Salli Doherty as the new owners. Garth began working for me whilst he was still at school, then at 19 years of age he moved to Melbourne where he worked for 12 months at Bridgestone golf. He then worked for a year or so at the House of Golf in Sandringham and then returned home. After six years with us he and Salli built the Sunraysia Golf Range which commenced operation in November 2006. 18 months ago he introduced the House of Golf brand at the range to local golfers and their business really took off. We will still be involved working in both businesses with Kym working at the range and I will stay on at 152a 9th street. |
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| 30 November 09 |
| The Australian Open begins on Wednesday at one of my favourite golf courses in Australia-New South Wales.No big names from overseas but it is good to see South African Tim Clark back to defend the title. It will also be interesting to see if John Daly can make a cut in Australia. Stuart Appleby and Adam Scott appear to be etting back to their best and if Greg Chalmers can continue his great form in the Australian Masters he would have to go close. |
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| 11 November 09 |
| 16 year old junior Jake Laubsch wins Coomealla Golf Club Championship at the weekend by one shot from Greg Rhodes. Read the story in the 19th hole.
Who will win the Australian Masters at Kingston Heath? I'm tipping Michael Sim, John Senden or maybe even Adam Scott. |
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| 4 November 09 |
| Go to the 19th hole for the story of the first two rounds of the 2009 Coomealla Golf Club Championship where Sunraysia's number one golfer of the last 30 years leads at 2 under par. |
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| 28 October 09 |
| Go to the 19th Hole for current local golf news regarding the recent Rivertowns Classic and this weekend's Coomealla Golf Club Championships. |
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| 5 October 09 |
| Today we commence our closing down sale at our retail shop Sunraysia Golf Factory. The shop opened in May 1987 and provided the catalyst for our golf business which quickly spread to tournaments and golf tours. We have had a good run over that 22/5 years and are now looking forward to taking it a bit easier. More time to work on our annual Tri-State Masters golf tournament in May,take away a few more golf tours and spend more time with our grandchildren. |
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| 15 September 09 |
| It was great to see Marc Leishman finishing second to Tiger Woods in the US at the weekend. Local champion golfer Greg Rhodes who has played some excellent golfers in Melbourne Country Week including Stuart Appleby, rates Leishman as the best played he has played against. Greg also rates Leishman as one of the nicest young golfers he has met. Hopefully Leishman can kick on further and do well in the next couple of weeks and in the US Masters in April next year. Another young man who lived here in Mildura as a youngster Cameron Percy will also be strutting his stuff on the US PGA Tour next year after qualifying through his great play on the Nationwide Tour. |
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| 10 September 09 |
| Pat Giles from Goonawarra golf club was the winner of the third annual Coomealla Seniors championship yesterday. Giles had 76 on Monday to be one of the pace but found form with the putter on Tuesday for a 73. Hot on Giles heels were Yarra Yarra's Michael Jackson 75-77 and Cobram Barooga's Ross Percy 79-75. Giles was nervous before play commenced and it showed as he was four over after four holes. He composed himself soon after turning 41 and then parring the back nine for a 77 and a comfortable four stroke victory over Percy. Jackson was a further two strokes behind. Last year there were many complaints that the course was set up too hard for a seniors event but this year there was universal agreement that the course was extremely playable. Mind you, the scores didn't reflect that with only Giles 73 and John Beaumont's 74 yesterday breaking 75 for the week. It once again proves what a great test of golfing skill the Coomealla lay out provides. On Monday the course was set up the easiest for a tournament that I have witnessed in 30 years as a member, yet 75 was the best in. Coomealla really is a great golf course as many people are finding out. $110 membership is unbelieveably great value, surely the best on the Murray. |
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| 20 August 09 |
| Trentham Estate Winery has been great supporters and a sponsor of our Tri-State Masters golf tournament since it's inception in 1993. It was terrific to learn that they have won another award at the 2009 Inland Tourism Awards recently. This qualifies Trentham Estate as a qualifier in the 2009 New South Wales Tourism Awards later in the year. It also qualifies they for induction in the Inland Tourism Hall of Fame at next years awards in 2010. Congratulations and well done to Trentham Estate. Great wine and lovely people. |
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| 20 August 09 |
| Kym and I are delighted to announce that we will become grandparents for the 7th and 8th times in the next 8 months. Monica our second child is due to have her fourth child in December after Eden, Flynn and Dash. Our son's wife Salli will have a little brother or sister for Ben in April. Our eldestest daughter Carmen has Brooke and Blake. If they are both boys it will mean another two North Melbourne supporters, if they are girls they will probably follow Carlton as both mothers do. |
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| 18 August 09 |
| Local champion golfer Greg Rhodes had another weekend out at Coomealla golf club recently. Playing in the monthly medal off the back marks (6250) he shot a 68 off the stick to win the medal with a nett 69. On the Sunday he backed it up with a 71. Not bad going for a 50 year old! Last Sunday in gale force winds 15 marker Jason Hartley shot an amazing 78 off the stick for 45 stableford points, which is unheard of at Coomealla, even in good conditions. More local golf news in the 19th hole. |
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| 18 August 09 |
| We have been receiving some interesting feedback from this years competitors regarding a questionaire about next year's Tri-State Masters. Most people who have responded so far have indicated that they would prefer the format of the tournament to stay as is. About 40 per cent of the people who played this year have responded so we will now send the message to those who have played in the last five years, but weren't able to this year. |
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| 5 August 09 |
| 260,000 new golfers took up golf in 2008 according to figures released last week. Mildura is a great golfing destination with seven golf courses that measure up quite favourably with other similar regions. Coomealla golf club is regarded by many regular Murray River golf visitors as equal to any of the other 53 golf courses on the Murray. Throw in Mildura, Riverside, Red Cliffs and Wentworth and visitors can play a different course every day. After playing golf in Sunraysia for the last 30 years I can fully endorse a golfing holiday to Mildura is most enjoyable and extremely affordable. A round of golf at the five courses will cost all up $116 for the five rounds. Contact me on 03 50 222923work, 03 50246799AH or Email golf@sunraysiagolftours.com.au for further information regarding accommodation, restaurants and attractions. |
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| 28 July 09 |
| It was great to see Nathan Green win the Canadian Open this morning. He has worked really hard for a long time, hopefully he can now take the next big step and become a regulat top 10 performer. It was disappointing to watch Marcus Fraser drop off the top of the leader board in Sweden and then Greg Norman at the British Senior Open. Up until the 71st hole it was a pleasure watching Norman, his swing is still outstanding, just as Tom Watson's has stood the test of time. |
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| 15 July 09 |
| This week we will be sending all recent players in the Tri-State Masters a note asking them their preference of courses for the 2010 tournament. In recent years there has some concerns expressed by some players about travelling to South Australia for that leg. We will base our schedule on the feedback we get from our questionnaire. |
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| 2 June 09 |
| All stories on any local can current golf events can be viewed by going to the 19th hole page. In the coming weeks we will feature articles on the Tri-State Masters and where that tournament is heading, local pennant and the US Open which will be contested in New York at Bethpage golf club. Bethpage is a public golf course but very long and very difficult of the black tees. |
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| 25 May 09 |
| All scores and CCR's for the 2009 Tri-State Masters can viewed by going to the tournaments page then clicking the relevant grades. Further information can be accessed by calling Shane Doherty on 03 50 222923 or 0419 208 337. |
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| 23 May 09 |
| Steven Spooner from Riverside Golf Club in Mildura is the 2009 Tri-State Masters men's champion after rounds of 73-83-81. Cranbourne's Steven McPherson was the runner-up. Mildura's Sue Laird won the ladies section for the third year in a row after rounds of 81-80-83. Portsea's Jenny Jeffreys was once again the ladies senior champion and Coomealla's Graham McClellan was the men's senior champion. Best aggregate stableford team score of 409 points came from Mornington's Jan Dodman, Di Holdsworth, Gillian Lawrence and Trish Wech. The lucky team's draw for a holiday to New Zealand courtesy of JET SET Mildura was won by Tocumwal's Lindsay and Dianne Bright and Cyril and Wilma Saunders from Gisborne. |
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| 17 May 09 |
| Entries for the Tri-State Masters will still be taken up until May 1st. |
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| 24 March 09 |
| Entry forms for this year's Tri-State Masters can be downloaded by going to tournaments. Entrie close on April 17. So far more ladies have entered the tournament than men, which is a first. Thre are only 7 spots left at the winemakers dinner at Trentham Estate so be quick or you may miss out. |
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| 4 March 09 |
| We have been playing "simulator golf" at Sunraysia Golf Factory over the last few months and it is really catching on. It isn't easy but so far a 3 over par 38 has been the best score for 9 holes. Next month we will be conducting 9 hole stableford competitions with some great prizes. Phone 03 50222923 to book |
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| 3 March 09 |
| Entries have been coming in for the 17th annual 2009 Tri-State Masters. So far we have entries New Zealand, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria. First entries received were from the Kenways and Bassetts who were the lucky winners of the trip to New Zealand last year. As an additional part of the tournament a four person 54 hole aggregate stableford is tabulated with trophies going to the best visiting and local teams. All teams then go into a draw for the NZ trip at the presentation dinner. Seven mens and seven ladies sections are contested for the 54 hole event with daily prizes in three grades for both men and ladies. A feature social night this year will be a Winemakers Dinner at Trentham Estate Winery. Master winemaker Anthony Murphy will conduct wine tastings to begin proceedings followed by a delicious three course meal. Everyone attending will be coached to and from the winery. |
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| 2 January 09 |
| As from this week the weekly 19th hole section will recommence with news on local Sunraysia golf and national and international golf news and views. |
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| 2 January 09 |
| Happy new year to all and a safe 2009. We are hoping that 2009 will be a better year than last year. Our current focus is on preparing the entry forms for our 17th Sunraysia Golf Tours Tri-State Masters. The tournament will begin on Sunday May 17 (not 18)and already we have had lots of enquiries, which is great. The courses will again be Coomealla, Berri and Mildura which are all looking good at this stage of the year. |
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| 11/11/08 |
| Well, it is good to be back on deck after having a knee operation in September and re injuring it last month so I am back where I started. We are busily preparing for the 17th annual Sunraysia Golf Tours Tri-State Masters which will be on from Sunday May 18th - Friday May 23rd. We will be writing to everyone on our data base later in the month and sending out the entry forms at the end of January. Our next golf tour is planned for New Zealand (our 6th tour to NZ) from September 27th till October 9th. Contact us if you need any further information. |
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| 27/8/08 |
| The second annual Coomealla Senior Championship hits of next Monday. All of the State's top senior golfers will be here to contest the tournament on the toughest course on the Mighty Murray. Last year former club champion Ross Percy who now represents Cobram Barooga will start favourite. Chris Tatt from Buningyong looks to be his biggest threat. Tatt represented Australia three times and Victoria six times from 1979 to 85. Sandhurst's David McDonald is the other standout performer and is the top seed in the State rankings so far this year after 12 events. John Beaumont from Mount Gambier should also finish near the lead. Last year Percy won with an aggregate of 227 but with the greens harder and faster this year I will be most surprised if 236 is bettered. |
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| 4 August 2008 - Moonah Links Tournament |
| Unfortunately our planned tournament at Moonah Links will have to be put on hold as I am having a knee operation in September that will keep me off the streets for a significant period of time. We are disappointed to postpone but will explore the possibilities of a future event at Moonah Links further down the track. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused. |
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| 28 July 2008 - Perth Golf Tour |
| We have just returned home from our Perth WA Golf Tour after having a wonderful
time. The golf courses at The Cut, Secret Harbour, Meadow Springs and Joondalup were sensational. Top golfer on the tour was Brian Rouget from Alexandra golf club who played consistently at all six courses. Brian had been with us to New Zealand and visited Vietnam on another golf tour in May. Vince Dichiera was just pipped on the last day at Joondalup after playing well throughout the tour. Best stableford score of the tour came on the last day at Joondalup when Coomealla golfer Bob Smith who has only been playing golf for 18 months had 42 points. Next year we will be hosting our sixth golf tour to New Zealand and will be releasing details of that tour later in the year. |
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| 16 June 2008 - Moonah Links Tournament |
| Negotiations are currently being held with Moonah Links Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula. A 36 hole scratch & handicap tournament is planned for the weekend of October 4-5. A special two or three night accommodation package
will be available to all players in the tournament. We anticipate being able to announce full details in early July. Watch this space! |
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| 26 May 2008 - Teams Winners |
| Top local team in the 2008 Tri-State Masters this year was the Mildura combination of Sue Laird, Tom Gigg, Leigh Fuller and Mabel Crouch with 416 stableford points. Best visiting team was Wayne,Tim and Sharon Bridgman and Graham Smith from Gympie Pines and Croydon Golf Clubs. Both teams win a weekend and golf at the Home of Australian Golf at Moonah Links Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula. Winner of the Week at Sunraysia Resort was Curlewis's Marg Campbell. The lucky draw for three nights accommodation at Sky City Casino Auckland and return air fares to New Zealand coutesy of JET SET Mildura was the Portsea team of Colin & Lyn Bassett and John & Marj Kellaway. |
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| 26 May 2008 - Tri-State Masters Results |
| Results and CCR's can be found by going to the tournaments section of the web site and clicking results. Wayne Bridgman from Gympie Pines Golf Club in Queensland came from seven shots behind to edge out Cranbourne's Peter Bywaters by one shot. Bridgman played impeccable golf to record a 73 after earlier rounds of 89-79. Bywaters who was playing in the tournament for the seventh time was then awarded the Senior champion (over 50) title which was some consolation for missing out on the 2008 overall championship. Mildura's Sue Laird went back to back with rounds of 79-79-80 to easily win from Portsea's Jenny Jeffreys who also took home the Senior title for the ladies. Next year the tournament will be conducted from May 17th to May 22nd 2009. |
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| 17 April 2008 - Tri-State Masters Entry deadline |
| Entries for the Tri-State Masters will now be accepted up until Sunday April 27. This year we will again host golfers from New Zealand, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria. So far 41 first year players have entered the tournament from an assortment of different golf clubs. With 14 individual sections and three teams sections we expect most competitors will win something during their stay in Mildura. Entries forms can be downloaded and either faxed, posted or emailed to us. There has been an excited response to our course changes back to Mildura Golf Club and Berri Golf Club this year. Numbers for the tournament look like being similar to last year at this stage. Phone 03 50 246799 for any further information. |
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| 3 April 2008 - European holiday |
| Kym and I have just returned home from our European cruise adventure. We took an APT river cruise from Badapest to Amsterdam over a 15 day period. We had a delightful time stopping off in places such as Vienna, Nuremburg, Wursburg, Cologne, finally finishing up in Amsterdam. For all but three days we awoke to falling snow which covered the landscape for as far as you could see. Prior to leaving, Mildura had gone through a late summer with 12 days in a row around 40degrees and higher. So the snow was a real novelty for us. 120 people went on the cruise from all over Australia with Victorians being in a minority. We met lots of nice people but teamed up with three other couples from WA, SA and NSW whom we shared most meals with. The highlight day for us came early in the cruise when we stopped off at Vienna. After a walking tour of the city sights we hired a horse and carriage and went on a further city sights tour which was wonderful. Then we jumped in a cab and visited the Vienna Golf Club. That night we attended a Mozart concert with 200 other people which was a totally new experience for us. I would have no hesitation in recommending both JET SET Mildura and APT for their first class organisation, attention to detail, professionalism and friendliness with regards to our holiday. We are already looking forward to further holidays through them in future with Canada/Alaska at the top of our wish list. |
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| 14 March 2008 Tri-State entries filling fast |
| Entries have been coming in thick and fast for our 16th annual Tri-State Masters 54 hole golf tournament. Almost 90% of the entries received so far have elected to play in the optional ambrose on the Thursday at Mildura before the last round of the championship on Friday. Almost every State will be represented this year with entries coming in again from Wellington and Masterton on New Zealand's North Island. We have had a terrific response to our updated full colour entry form with the painting of Coomealla's par 5 hole on the cover. We have been delighted that some of our past players who haven't played in the tournament for a while have decided to join us again this year. They obviously agree with our motto that "It's always nice to meet nice people and that memories live longer than dreams". Entry forms can be downloaded from the tournaments page of our web site. We have entries from lots of folk who bring their partners even though some of them don't play golf but simply enjoy the social functions. Entries close on April 18. |
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| 29 February 08 An Evening with Glen Archer |
| Last night we had "An Evening with Glenn Archer" at the Mildura Workingman's Club. The purpose of the function was to raise money for the North Melbourne Football Club and it was a resounding success. Glenn donated his time and the 130 people in attendance were quite simply stunned at his genuine honest approach and demeanor. Everyone who attended were left in no doubt what a great bloke he is. Glenn will be out on the road with James Brayshaw and Ricky Ponting throughout the year and I would encourage everyone to support their crusade to keep North in Melbourne. |
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| 17 February 08 Tri-State Early Birds |
| Everyone on our data base should have their entry forms by now for this year's Tri-State Masters tournament. All people who enter by March 13 will go into a draw for 7 nights accommodation for 4 people (quad share) at either the Sunraysia Resort in Mildura or at Club Yarrawonga or at the Nepean Club in Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula. This would be a great prize to win for someone and would make them very popular with 3 others. An entry form can be downloaded from the tournaments page on our site. |
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| 11 February 08 Tri-State entry forms |
| Our new glossy entry forms are being sent out today to 560 Australian golf clubs and to our data base. As an early bird bonus all entries received by March 14 will go into a draw for 7 nights for 4 people at either the SUNRAYSIA RESORT - Mildura, Club Yarrawonga or the Nepean Club in Rosebud. This year we have decided to change the style of our major 54 hole trophies. After playing in several City events on the Gold Coast and Hobart kym and I were delighted to discover that the Tri-State Masters compared quite favourably but we are always trying to improve our event. The ladies winners will be particularly impressed this year. More than $25,000 in trophies will be distributed by weeks end but not everyone can be winners so it is important to us that everyone goes home happy. Golf is what brings us together but it's what happens after that, that makes the difference. |
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| 23 January 08 16th Tri-State Masters |
| Last minute alterations are almost completed on the entry forms for this year's 16th annual Sunraysia Golf Tours Tri-State Masters. Cost of entry is $189 and includes an opening Cocktail Party, competitor gift pack, 3 rounds of golf in 3 States and a closing Presentation Dinner. Once again there are 14 catergories up for grabs over the 54 holes including overall champions, over 50 scratch champions, A,B,C,stableford champions,55 to 64 stableford champions, 65+ stableford champions. An additional section ($10 per player) is a 4 person aggregate stableford over 54 holes with best local and visiting teams winning 2 nights at Moonah links plus golf. The teams event gives everyone in it something to play for right up to the 54th hole. All 4 person teams entered will then go into a draw for air fares 3 nights at the Sky City Casino in Auckland NZ coutesy of JET SET Mildura. |
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| 16 December 07 Last Sunraysia Golf Show |
| Sixteen years ago I began hosting a live Golf Show every Sunday morning on our only local radio station then, 3MA. After 625 shows 3MA decided not to open the station on Sunday for any live local content programs. Subsequently I began with new station EasyMix 1467am and completed my 100th show and 725th show today. I have enjoyed every minute of it and am grateful to 3MA and EasyMix 1467am for allowing me that opportunity. But it is time to move on. Next year I am looking forward to a few sleep in's on Sunday mornings for the first time since 1991 and also being able to travel to Melbourne to see my daughter and her family and see North Melbourne play a few games. I will always hold fond memories of interviews with Peter Thomson, Stuart Appleby, Peter Senior, Wayne Grady, Bob Shearer, Ron Barassi, Malcolm Blight, Kevin Sheedy, James Hird, Ricky Ponting and so many other sporting greats. Did you know? " that Memories will always live longer than dreams" |
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| 15 December 07 - Golf Achiever -Golf Simulator |
| Four weeks ago we installed a"Golf Achiever" golf simulator at Sunraysia Golf Factory. It has created enormous interest in golf and how it works for the 5000 or so golfers in Sunraysia. Our new motto for club fitting and lessons is "take the guess work out" and lots of Sunraysia people are. A Nearest The Pin competition is running on one of the simulator's par 3 holes (124 metres) and over $2000 worth of prizes are up for grabs. Nearest shot currently is 156cm so someone is sure to knock that off by the close of the competition on December 24. Cost of entry is only $2 per shot and the best five (5) shots will win some great prizes. Phone 03 50 222923 for further details. |
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| 12 December 07 - Tri-State Masters 2008 |
| Berri Golf Club will be our venue for the South Australian leg of the Tri-State Masters for the first time next year. Berri is one of the few "local" golf courses that hasn't been affected by the lack of rain as they have an excellent supply of "grey" water. Regular Tri-State players will be pleased to play a new course after Loxton and Renmark have been great hosts in the past. Similarly Mildura Golf Club will be our new Victorian hosts next year for the first time since 1977. Mildura's golf course is in great shape as is our New South Wales hosts course Coomealla Golf Club. We feel that we are obligated to play at the courses in the best condition. All three venues have on course accommodation and all Tri-State Masters players will receive an extremely good package that week. Entry forms will be posted in late January. Let us know if you would like to receive one or more. Cost of entry next year is $189 and includes an opening cocktail party, competitor gift pack, three rounds at Coomealla (May 19th)Berri (May 21) and Mildura (May 23) and a closing presentation dinner. |
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| 3 October 07 - 2008 Golf Tours |
| We are currently finalising plans for three proposed golf tours for 2008. After the 16th annual Tri-State Masters in May we will head of to Alice Springs-Darwin. Flying into the Alice then training up to Darwin on the Ghan. In July we are looking at taking our 3rd golf tour to Perth WA which is our favourite holiday destination in Australia. The big one will be on September 30 when we fly out on our first golf tour to the US. Kym and I have been to Las Vegas twice with Bridestone Golf and have decided that we want to go back. The planned itinerary is Auckland-San Francisco-Las Vegas and include 2 games in Auckland and Vegas and 1 game in San Francisco. Naturally anyone who wants to extend on in the US or somewhere else would be able to. We will be writing to our data base at the end of the month with full details to determine how much interest there is for each tour and go from there. We have now hosted 15 golf tours and over 400 people and each tour gets better and better. We can't wait for 2008 as it promises to be an exciting year. |
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| 1 October 07 - NZ Golf Tour |
| Everyone had a great time on our 5th golf tour to New Zealand. Steve Hind won the Ëllery Award" for the champion golfer of the tour. Steve and Barb were on their 4th tour with us after previous tours to Tasmania, Perth and Scotland/Ireland. Highlights of the NZ tour included our games at Cape Kidnappers, Wairakei and Gulf Harbour. Wairakei was voted the most popular course but it was hard to split them. Once again the dinner cruise on "Pride of Auckland" racing yacht was terrific and the dinner in the Orbit tower revolving restaurant at Sky City -Auckland was sensational. Photographs from the tour will be posted in our tours section soon. |
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| 15 September 07 - New Zealand Golf Tour |
| Tomorrow we take off to Christchurch on our fifth golf tour of New Zealand. Ken and Marg Ellery from the Riverside golf club in Mildura will be joining us for the fourth time to NZ and their eighth tour with us overall. I can't wait to play Cape Kidnappers next Saturday as it is rated number 27 in the world. More news about the tour next week. |
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| 1 September 07 - Draw results |
| Jason Pope from Merbein/Coomealla golf clubs was the winner of the Prime Television Yamaha motorised cart. Jim Collins from Coomealla/Riverside golf clubs was the winner of the Jack Abell LCD television. The promotion was a great sucess with well over 600 tickets in the barrel and our thanks are extended to Prime TV,Jack Abell and everyone who purchased product from us. |
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| 3 August 07 - Sun Golf Factory/Prime PROMOTION |
| Last month Prime Television celebrated 10 years in Mildura. Our shop - Sunraysia Golf Factory was their first client, so jointly we are running a PROMOTION until September 1. Anyone who spends $50 at Sunraysia Golf Factory during this period will receive a ticket in our big draw for a Prime Television Yamaha motorised cart. Second ticket drawn will receive a LG 81cm LCD television courtesy of Jack Abell. We have stayed exclusively with Prime Television since their arrival in Mildura and have been delighted with the results we have been able to continually achieve with exposure on their programs. |
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| 3 August 07 - Queensland Golf Tour |
| It was great to get back home and see our family after two weeks in Queensland. What a time we had. The food, service and friendliness of the staff on the Sunlander was first class and really appreciated by our group. In Cairns we played at Paradise which was undoubtedly the hardest test of golf that we encountered of the six courses that we played. A trip to Kuranda on the Sky Rail gondolas was exhilarating and thoroughly enjoyable. We were impressed with the renovations and improvements made at Hartley's Crocodile Farm since we were there last in 2001. Port Douglas was sensational and both golf courses returned the best scores across the board from our group of 23 golfers. Bob Pegrum from Melville Glades Golf Club in Perth was named our champion golfer of the tour and won the Ëllery" award comfortably. I would really recommend Port Douglas as a terrific place to golf and holiday and the Peppers Beach Club as an ideal place to say. Only 6 weeks till New Zealand. |
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| 24 July 07 - Queensland Golf Tour |
| Today is day three of our Queensland golf tour. What a delight it is to be in warmer weather playing golf. On Sunday we played at the Glades, nice golf course but the greens were fairly spiked up, obviously a very popular course. Yesterday we played at Robina Woods which is always quite majestic. Unfortunately the scoring wasn't as majestic. Today is a free day but tomorrow we will play at Palm Meadows where we are staying and later that evening we will visit Dracula's Theatre Resaurant. On Thursday we will board the Sunlander (Queenslander Class) and head up to Cairns. Following on from Cairns we will finish our tour at Port Douglas. In September we will take our 5th New Zealand golf tour where we will visit both Islands and play some of the most scenic golf courses on the planet. We still have vanancies for this tour. Next year we looking at taking golf tours to Perth, Tasmania and Alice Spring and Darwin. Let us know if you are interested in any of these destinations. |
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| 28 May 07 - Tri-State Masters 2007 Scores & Result |
| Scores, CCR's and results for all three days of the 2007 Tri-State Masters can be found by going to the tournament page and clicking results. All participants should direct their club handicappers to this page. |
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| 28 May 07 - Robert Dehne hole out |
| 2004 mens champion Robert Dehne (Mildura) holed out on Coomealla's par 3 7th on the opening day of the Tri-State Masters. Dehne finished with a 78 but came back into contention after a fine 74 at Renmark. On Friday a 78 at Red Cliffs left him seven shots behind but his prize of a $300 Precept bag was a great prize for his hole in one shot. |
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| 28 May 07 - Locals win again in Tri-State Teams co |
| Last year the Riverside boys cleaned up the JET SET Mildura teams prize of a weekend at the Sky City Casino in Auckland with an aggregate stableford score of 396 points for the 54 holes. This year it was Merbein's turn with Garth Doherty, Simon Gammon, Gavin Hocking and Ashley Whitehouse with a record score of 426 points to win a weekend at Perth's Novotel Hotel. In the Sunraysia Resort visiting teams section Peter Fox, Jeff Balmer, Robert Simpson and Glenys Anderson with 381 won narrowly from Aust/NZ comination of Lance & Graham Duckett, Yvonne Williamson on 380 points. Next year there will be two specific sections for visiting teams and local teams with the major prize going to the best visiting team. |
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| 26 May 07 - Tri-State Champions |
| One hundred and eighty five golfers from 69 golf clubs teed it up in this years tournament. Ashley Whitehouse from Mildura Golf Club became the 11th mens champion in 15 years with scores of 77-74-71. Whitehouse started poorly with a 77 at Coomealla to be five shots behind Garth Doherty but edged back to only one shot off the pace after a 74 at Renmark. A closing 71 at Red Cliffs which was matched by runner up Leigh Fuller Coomealla (78-76-71)was enough to get him over the line. Doherty who led for 44 holes was third with scores of 72-76-76. Mildura's Sue Laird easily won the ladies section with scores of 81-82-79 from Portsea's Jenny Jeffrey's 88-83-92. Coomealla's John Keogh 81-77-78 successfully defended his Senior title with a four shot win over Tasmania's Noel Dalwood 81-77-81. Jenny Jeffrey's walked away with her first Senior title from Mornington's Sue Evans. |
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| 21 April 07 - Tri-State Masters entry |
| Entries for this years Tri-State Masters can still be forwarded by fax on
03-50247243 or emailed to golf@sunraysiagolftours.com.au or mailed to P O box 1655 Mildura 3502. As at Friday April 20, 121 men and 69 ladies have entered the tournament this year. This is 12% down on last year but over 60 Australian golf clubs and 3 New Zealand golf clubs will have represtatives playing in the tournament. There has been much interest in the Teams section of the tournament as the winning team of 4 will receive a weekend at the Novotel in Perth including air fares and accommodation. The best aggregate stableford by a visiting medley team will win six nights at the sensational Sunraysia Resort in Mildura which is regarded as one of Australia's best time share facilities. Phone 03 50 246799 for any information regarding the Tri-State Masters or our golf tours to Queenland in July or New Zealand in September. |
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| 12 April 07 - Sunraysia Golf Factory Demonstation |
| Sunraysia Golf Factory will conduct a demonstation day on Thursday April 19th at the Sunraysia Golf Range. Beginning at 4pm till 8pm Australia's top golf companies will showcase their latest equipment. Representatives from Bridgestone/Precept, Callaway, Nike, Taylor Made and Srixon will be on hand to assist and advise on all of their golfing products. Patrons need to purchase a bucket of balls from only $7 and then select the golf clubs they wish to try. The Sunraysia Golf Range is located in Ontario Avenue between 14th and 15th streets. SUNRAYSIA GOLF FACTORY is at 152a 9th street Mildura ph 50222923. |
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| 12 April 07 - 5/10 year Tri-State Masters awards |
| This year 23 golfers will receive 10 Year Plates and 18 golfers 5 year badges in recognition of their support of the Tri-State Masters as competitors. Over 40 golfers will have played at least 10 times in the tournament which is fantastic. A further 150+ will have played at least five times. Bill Gray and Peter Fox have joined us from Melbourne every year and will both be playing for the 15th time. This year we have received entries from 58 different golf clubs. So far we have had members from over 150 Australian golf clubs and 12 New Zealand golf clubs compete since the tournament's inception in 1993. |
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| 11 April 07 - Tri-State Masters Precept petrol dis |
| Sunraysia Golf Tours in association with Bridgestone/Precept and Easy Fuel will offer 20 CENTS per litre off petrol for any Bridgestone/Precept purchase over $50 at Sunraysia Golf Factory. The offer is only available to competitors in the Tri-State Masters from May 20-26. To make this offer even better Sunraysia Golf Factory will give all Tri-State Masters competitors 20% off all Bridgestone/Precept products from May 20-25. Competitors will also receive 20% off all purchases at Lorraines Ladieswear and Ransoms Store For Men. Other additional offers will also be available to competitors during Tri-State Masters week. |
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| 5 April 07 - Tri-State Social Functions |
| This year we have had a great response from entrants to the social functions on offer during the week of the Tri-State Masters. The opening Cocktail Party and closing Presentation Dinner are included in the entry fee but other functions include: A Rock & Roll night on Monday night, Wine & Jazz afternoon on Tuesday, a Night at the Mildura Trots on Wednesday night and a Dinner Dance on the magnificent PS Mundoo on Thursday night. For those who wish to play golf every day a 4BBB stableford is on offer on Tuesday and an ambrose in 4's at Mildura on Thursday. We place much emphasis on the the social side of the week as we want people to have a great time, whether they play well or not. |
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| 3 April 07 - 2007 Tri-State Masters |
| Entries have been coming in from all over Australia and New Zealand for this year's tournament in May. We are delighted that Lance Duckett has elected to come back and defend his 2006 title. Lance said at the presentation dinner last year "The Tri-State Masters is the best golf tournament that I have ever played in and I will be back next year". True to his word Lance and his dad will line up on Monday May 21st at Coomealla. Coomealla's David Gardiner is hoping for a third time lucky after being runner up the last two years. Over 100 men have entered so far but only 64 ladies have signed up. Portsea's Jenny Jeffries is nominal favourite at this stage and will looking at clinching her fourth title in five years. There are seven(7) different catorgories of trophies in each gender including Chamion, over 50 scratch champion, over 55 stableford, over 65 stableford and A,B and C grades. Once again there has been lots of interest in the optional "teams" event which is a four person aggregate stableford over the three rounds of the tournament. Last year 393 points won which was an average of 33 points each day by each player. The winning team will receive air fares and two nights accommodation at the Novotel in Perth WA. |
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| 9 February 07 - Sunraysia Golf Range |
| Garth and Salli Doherty opened up the Sunraysia Golf Range in November last year and it has been received extremely well by locals and visitors alike. This year we are delighted that the Sunraysia Golf Range is sponsoring the 15th Annual Sunraysia Golf Tours Tri-State Masters. During the tournament week (May 20-25) all Tri-State Masters competitors will be issued with a 50% off voucher for range balls for the week. The Sunraysia Golf Range is open from 10am to 9pm which will give all players an opportunity to work on their swings. PGA golf professional Mark Bowd is also available for lessons at the range by appointment only. |
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| 7 February 07 - Tri-State Masters Entry Forms |
| Entry forms have been sent to everyone on our data base today. 450 golf clubs in Australia and 237 golf clubs in New Zealand will receive them next week. This year again we are delighted to have the support of the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club, PRIME Television, Bridgestone Precept,Trentham Estate, JET Set - Mildura, Sunraysia Golf Range Honda, Subaru,Ransomes Lorraines Ladieswear and the Sunraysia Resort. Cost of entry this year is only $179 which includes 3 rounds of golf at Coomealla, Renmark and Red Cliffs Golf Clubs, Cocktail Party, Presentation Dinner and a competitor gift pack including Trentham Estate Wine, cap, towel and various other goodies. Accommodation packages associated with the tournament are available at a number of facilities and are listed on the entry form which will be posted on the website next week. Details of our 2 golf tours to Queensland in July and New Zealand in September are listed under on the website under Tours. Details are also listed on the back of the Tri-State entry forms.
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| 7 January 07 - Tri-State Masters 2007 TEAMS EVENT |
| Last year JET SET Mildura made available a weekend in Auckland New Zealand for the winning team in the 2006 Tri-State Masters. The team of Dave Gardiner, Steve Spooner, Paul Wright and Greg Butcher really enjoyed their weekend at the Sky City Casino in Auckland. This year JET SET Mildura are offering a weekend at the Novotel in Perth for our winning team. We will also be offering prizes for other catorgories of teams. We will confirm details soon.
Cost of entry in the teams event is only $10 per player and people can enter in as many teams as they wish. |
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| 6 January 07 - 15th Annual Tri-State Masters |
| Entry forms for this year's 15th annual Tri-State Masters are currently being organised. For the first time since 1997 we will introduce a new golf course into the three State format. Red Cliffs Golf Club will be where we play our third and final leg of the tournament. Red Cliffs will become the third Sunraysia golf club to host the Victorian leg of the event. Mildura Golf Club were our inaugural hosts from 1993 - 1996, then we moved to Riverside Golf Club from 1997 to 2006. After playing at Red Cliffs on New Years day and seeing for ourselves the beautiful condition of the course, Kym and I agreed that it was time for a change. The first leg of the event will once again commence at Coomealla in NSW (20 minutes from Mildura)on Monday May 21 and move to Renmark Sth Aust for second leg on Wednesday May 23rd and finally at Red Cliffs on Friday May 25th. For the first time Merbein Golf Club will host the Tuesday 4BBB stableford and Mildura Golf Club will continue as our Thursday ambrose venue. More details on the social events will follow over the next couple of weeks. |
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| 27 December 06 - Qld & NZ Golf Tours |
| After a few computer problems we can now report that everything is organised for our two golf tours to Queensland in July and New Zealand in September. Complete programs for each tour are available by contacting us by Email at golf@sunraysiagolftours.com.au |
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| 12 September 06 - QLD & NZ Golf Tours |
| Kym and I have spent the last three weeks in New Zealand and on the Gold Coast, Cairns and Port Douglas putting together our 2007 golf tours. We have decided to take a golf tour to Queensland (Gold Coast,Cairns, Port Douglas) in July and one to New Zealand in September (rather than March). More details next week on both tours. |
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| 3 August 06 - 2007 Tri-State Masters |
| The 2007 15th annual Tri-State Masters will be conducted from May 20-25 next year. Feed back from this year's tournament has been excellent, particularly from the first year players. The New Zealand contingent (10) reported having a great time and naturally were delighted that their own Lance Duckett was able to capture the mens champion title. Moreover though, it was the social side of the week that was most enjoyable and is what keeps bringing people back to Mildura year after year.
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| 26 May 06 - Spooner holes in one |
| Riverside's Steven Spooner recorded his first hole in one today on Riverside's short par 3 4th. After playing poorly on Monday at Coomealla and Wednesday at Renmark it was enough to kick start a form reversal and he came in with 41 points to win A grade and help his team win a weekend at the Sky City Casino in Auckland New Zealand, courtesy of Mildura Jet Set. Spooner and teamates Greg Butcher, Dave Gardiner and Paul Wright(Coomealla) posted an aggregate stableford points score of 393 averaging 131 per round to win by five points fromPeter Bywaters (Cranbourne) John Reynolds (Mt Barker) and John Miller and John Erlenwein from Churchill Park. |
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| 26 May 06 - Wallis wins 3rd Tri-State title |
| In the most dramatic climax to the tournament in 14 years Heidelberg's Jan Wallis clinched her third Sunraysia Golf Tours Tri-State Masters at Riverside today finishing with 86-86-87. After concluding her round thinking she had won, a celebratory chardonnay was drunk to celebrate the occassion. Some ten minutes later Deniliquin's Denise Hunter handed her card in having made up the five shot deficit she faced at the beginning of her round 82-95-82. A playoff was called and then the fun began. Hunter hit her tee shot on Riverside's par 3 18th just short of the green and watched as Wallis hit into the greenside bunker. Hunter pitched to 10 inches and then Wallis blasted out of the bunker over the green above the hole. A downhill right to left putt of 40 foot was left to stay keep the match going, and she did it. Hunter was stunned, Wallis couldn't believe it and the crowd of 80 onlookers went beserk. Back to the tee where Wallis hit a great tee shot and two putted to victory as Hunter failed regain her composure. Hunter, though disappointed went home with the A grade ladies stableford trophies. 2003-04-05 champion Jenny Jeffreys was third with scores of 92-89-82. Lyn Todd from Deniliquin was B grade champion and Andrea Hall from Churchill Park was the winner of C grade. |
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| 26 May 06 - Kiwi Wins Tri-State Masters |
| Lance Duckett from the Wainuiomata Golf Club in Wellington New New Zealand became the first international player to win the Sunraysia Golf Tours Tri-State Masters in fourteen years. Duckett who plays off a four handicap shot 77-79-76 to win by five strokes from Coomealla's Craig Tung who had 79-80-78. Riverside's David Gardiner was third for the second year in a row with 82-80-77
John Keogh from Coomealla was the senior scratch winner and John Reynolds from Mt Barker was the A grade stableford winner. Robert Simpson from The Coast Golf Club was the B grade winner and Kevin Eastwood from Riverside Golf Club was the C grade winner. |
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