Again, a successful northern Victorian Triple Golfanza held at Cohuna on Saturday, Barham on Sunday and Kerang on Monday, over the Labour Day long weekend. This was the 49th edition of the Triple Golfanza with plans for a big 50th anniversary next year. All the courses were in great shape and near capacity fields at each venue with 133 at Cohuna, 160 at Barham and 130 at Kerang.

There were 35 different clubs represented, with large groups from Mooroopna, Goonawarra, Beacon Hills, Neangar Park and Carrington Park. The three clubs’ hospitality was second to none and competitors were full of praise for the excellent organisation of the weekend.

In the men’s section, Belvoir Park’s Ben Tatt was again the winner with rounds of 80, 73 and 76 for a 229 total, to win by one shot from George Barnes, also from Belvoir Park. This is Ben’s fifth title after first winning in 2009. Local member and potential star, Olive Spitty, is the ladies winner for the first time, by a huge 15 shots, finishing with a course record 71 at Kerang on Monday, to go with her 87 at Cohuna, 80 at Barham for a total of 238. Congratulations to our champions for 2022.

In the men’s B Grade, Shannon Cronin, a first time Golfanza competitor from Rich River, was the scratch winner and Gary Kirk (Leongatha) with 224 nett was the handicap winner. Men’s C Grade champion is Peter Collard from Apollo Bay with scores of 41, 32 and 31 points for a 104 total, just in front of Jeff Craig (Melbourne Airport) on 103 points. The ladies B Grade champion is Diane Watson (Rich River) with scores of 37, 27 and 33 for a total of 97 points, just in front of Michelle De Saulniers on 96 points and the runner-up prize. In C Grade, Cheryl Turner from Kooringal was the winner with scores of 33, 33 and 36 for 102, on a countback from Donna Guille also on 102 points. 

The A Grade men’s handicap was won by Craig Geradts (Leongatha) with 226 nett and in the ladies, Jenny Chandler (Beacon Hills) was the winner with 227 nett.

The winner of the free draw for the $400 voucher from Drummonds was Cheryl Lillingston from Ballarat. At the presentations on Monday, tournament co-ordinator, Howard McClelland congratulated the three clubs for their enthusiasm for the tournament and thanked all the visiting players for their support, indicating that the 50th version in 2023 will be the best ever.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 17 March 2022.