Balfour is par king

By Dennis Fuller
BEN Balfour stood firm on the last day of the three-day par event for the Maurie Murphy Cup to take out the mug with a final round of 6up to stand at a staggering 11up at the Emerald Golf Club on Saturday.
With a course rating of 68, this was a one-point victory from Paul Thomas, who also carded a 6up round to finish one behind on 10up followed by a fast-finishing Stuart Courtney on 8up.
The day’s competition ended with Greg Horrocks taking out A Grade 2up, Thomas edged out Balfour on a countback on +6 to take out B Grade and overall honours, while Con Whitlock won C Grade with –1 to prove it was not a day for high scoring from the C Graders.
Others to produce a decent round were Dennis Fuller and Courtney on 5up, Alan Ecclestone 2up and the only other to end in a positive was Ross Martin with 1up.
Nearest the pins were won by Ecclestone on the 12th and the pro pin 18th, Fuller on the 13th and Ross Martin on the 17th.
Next week members have relief from three solid weeks of par to compete for the March Monthly Medal.