A strongly credentialled field of 82 players (41 pairs) tackled the Lakes course of the Vines Golf and Country Club for the annual 36-Hole Drummond Golf Country Foursomes Championship yesterday. Overnight showers softened the course and together with calm winds made scoring more favourable however the foursome format is always a challenge.
The winner of the Drummond Golf Stroke Championship on Tuesday partnered with fellow Bunbury member Aron Jones and were setting themselves for a good morning turning in a 1 over 37 followed with a birdie on the 10th but a series of soft bogeys saw them post a disappointing 6 over 78. Three pairs fired 5 over 77’s which included Brookton pair Chris Rawes and 2018 State Sand Greens Champion Ryan Sheridan mixing 6 birdies with 3 doubles and 4 single bogeys in a boom or bust round which can so often be the case in foursomes.
Quietly going about their business to lead the gross section after the first 18 was the experienced pair of Evan Sewell (Manjimup) and Michael Stirk (Pinjarra) with a consistent 3 over 75. If not for back to back bogeys at the close of each 9 it could have been a much bigger lunch time lead. Sewell and Stirk have a proven record in this event teaming up for 2 runner up finishes in 2015 and 2017 with a win in 2018.
The afternoon round saw Sewell and Stirk (in their matching shirts) take a comfortable 3 shot lead into the back nine and it was again their consistency at the end adding a 2 over 74 to their morning round to triumph over fast finishing Bunbury pair Matt Simmons and Greg Golinski who closed their day with 3 over 75 with their morning effort of 77.
The nett section had Busselton pair Cobus Botha and Guy Kerrell-Vaughan set their day up with a 71½ off a handicap of 7½ to be the only team in the red at lunch time. A slow outward 9 was followed by a much needed 1 over 37 to match their morning score and take a deserved win.
A great day with some great stories to end the Drummond Golf Men’s Country Week. Thanks to Wayne Tardrew from Drummond Golf in Osborne Park for the fantastic support of the event week and also to all of the 14 host venues that welcomed the 340 country golfers to their fairways and clubs.
