MORE than 100 hardy golfers played through the intermittent showers and some tricky holes in challenging for latest Rosewood Open honours.
Sandy Gallop member Steven Brunjes was the overall Gross and Perpetual Trophy winner with a round of 72 in the MDGA Order of Merit event.
However, the battle for the A-Grade title was a classic.
Rosewood club Division 1 pennants captain Tim Woodford [73-72] finished runner-up to Sandy Gallop competitor Nathan Jones [73-78] on a countback.
“He had a better back nine than me,” Tim said.
Talented all-round sportsman Tim also finished runner-up to Sandy Gallop opponent Jones during a pennants match at Laidley, last year.
“He beat me on the 18th hole,” Tim said. “It was another rainy day actually.
“He’s been around for a fair while.”
Tim is hoping to lead his Rosewood team to this year’s MDGA pennants final later this month.
He was pleased he made an early start playing alongside cousin Chris Mantell, another representative hockey player.
“I was pretty lucky,” the eventual runner-up said.
“We teed off at 6.30 in the morning so we were done by 11 and we only had a few sprinkles.”
Golfers who teed off later had to endure some rainy weather sweeping across the course, especially on the back nine.
“It was a bit soggy out there but I’m glad they [Rosewood Open organisers] went on with it,” Tim said.
It was only the second time Tim had contested the Rosewood Open.
Although being runner-up, he was looking back on his round to see where he could have picked up a winning shot or two.
The final Rosewood Open entry list featured 103 golfers, from the original 130 who nominated.
“As soon as there is rain about, you are always going to have people cancel,” the pennants captain said.
“It was still an impressive turnout.
“It’s always a good day out here.”
Club president Jamie Soppa was disappointed with the drop in numbers but not the players who persisted in the threatening conditions.
Those who ventured on made the most of the lush 18 hole course on Karrabin-Rosewood Road.
“The front nine is drier than what you would think,” Jamie said. “But the back nine, we haven’t been able to mow it, so the water is just staying there.”
The entrants included a large contingent of Rosewood club regulars along with golfers from the Ipswich, Sandy Gallop, Nudgee and Pacific clubs.
Among the Rosewood players were Caleb James and Shanker Silvadorae.
It was Shanker’s first Open as he has been with the club for 13 months.
“It was a tough day but it was good,” Shanker said.
Caleb is a Rosewood social member who enjoys golf outings with his mates.
“Good conditions actually,” Caleb said after his first Rosewood Open.
“It was a nice pleasurable game of golf.”
Other groups of Rosewood mates – like left-handed player Brian Gehrke, Richard Eacott, Richard Winrow and Robert Brooks – enjoyed their latest round despite the rainy periods.
Some players, like B Grade Gross winner Damien Hangan and Gary Collins, even stopped for a brief break after the ninth hole near the clubhouse. They grabbed a tasty hamburger before continuing through the final sections of the course.
Damien has been a Rosewood member for just over 12 months.
He played last year’s Open as a Sandy Gallop member before switching to Rosewood.
Gary, originally from Esk, also joined the country club a year ago after seeing Damien at a family funeral.
“We are half brothers,” Gary said.
“We met at the funeral. I didn’t know about him. He didn’t know about me so now we decided to get together.”
Damien won his B Grade title shooting 83 and 70.
Peter Walker was the C-Grade Gross champion with 90 and 76.
Chris Blythe won D-Grade (90-70).
Des Cox (86-71) was the Seniors (70 and over] winner and another long-time Rosewood club member Lisa Johnston (95-75) clinched the Ladies Gross title.
Andrew Moore took his challenging first Rosewood Open in his stride after finishing his round with mates Jerry Buckley, John Comp and Wayne Allan.
“Apart from the 11 on the 14th hole, it was clear,” he said with a laugh.
“The course played pretty well … a bit wet.”
After the major event of the year, Rosewood club members were preparing to enjoy their 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Saturday night.
