DSC00791The inaugural Royal Melbourne Classic has been run and won by NSW golfer Rick Oliver (81, 73, 82) in a playoff over fellow NSW senior Denis Dale (80, 82, 74). They both finished 236 for the 54 hole event with Denis finishing with the low round of the day, 74 on the composite course. The playoff was won by Rick with a par down the first playoff hole, the 18th.

The Nett event was won by Devil Bend’s Robert Burford with nett scores of 81, 75, 75 total 231 by one shot from Spring Valley’s Gary Easte and a further shot back to Rick Oliver and Commonwealth’s David Taylor.

The event was played in good conditions with a capacity field, many more entries than places. It was probably the most elite field of seniors to play a Seniors event in Australia with many interstate and overseas players.

The organization was terrific and the value for money and effort by the club fantastic. There were lunches, a great presentation lunch, drinks on course and gifts thrown in – just a great event. The greens were hard and fast (stimpmeter 12 on day one) and there were some challenging pin positions for day one and two in particular. After 2 days there were a number of “I ain’t coming back” but after day 3 and some reflection most players are looking forward to the opportunity to try again next year. The course was played as we mere amateurs rarely experience it and it has opened the eyes of many to what great and tough courses Royal Melboune’s are.