Golf déjà vu at Northern

By Michael Manley

The second reprisal of the born-again VRMA golf tournament proved a resounding success, and produced a back-to-back winner.

Northern Golf Club again hosted the event, held in mid-August, which saw six teams involving 23 players face the starter.

Former Age racing writer, Damien Ractliffe, captained last year’s winning team, and this year put together formidable line-up to defend the title.

He was again joined by Racing Victoria’s Shaun Kelly, but had to find replacements for John ‘Dr. Turf’ Rothfield, out injured but a starter at lunch, and Matt Welsh. And boy, did he come up with the goods.

Into the team came superstar retired jockey Damien Oliver, a single figure marker, and Racing Victoria’s Josh Grimwood, another fan of the fairway.

 Oliver was playing his first game back since undergoing hip surgery but still played magnificently, and under the Ambrose system the team produced a pretty impressive score of 56.87 points.

Second, with 59 points, was the team captained by Racing and Sports’ Craig Brennan,  who also had some talented playing partners in Jarrod Dooley off 8, Brad Bishop off 9 and Newton Chan off 23.

A team of racing journalists, Gilbert Gardiner, Tony Kneebone, Danny Russell and Michael Manley, finished third on 60.5.

Other entrants were Terry Clifton's team of Danny Power, Andrew Ryan and Peter Williams, a threesome consisting of Mark Harding, Mike Hedge and Brent Thomson, plus a team from the Moonee Valley Racing Club.

It was a great day but we reckon it can be better, so don’t be afraid to cast a critical eye over it – feedback is most welcome.

The winning team with the original perpetual trophy, first played for in the mid-1970’s.
From left - Matt Welsh, Damien Ractliffe, Shaun Kelly, Damien Oliver