MORNINGTON NEWS scoreboard
Mercedes team shine at celebrity pro-am AFTER a ten-year hiatus the Peninsula Sotheby’s Portsea Celebrity Pro Am made a huge comeback in 2023, winning Metropolitan Pro Am of the Year at the Victorian Golf Industry Awards. A major event on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Golfing Calendar, the 2024 event was also touted as one of the best social outings of the summer. Proceedings kicked off on 2 January where a crowd of 320 filled the Continental Sorrento. The room included familiar names across the sporting, celebrity and corporate worlds. Pommery champagne, Stone and Wood, and Sticks wines were flowing throughout, as attendees dialled in their arcade skills, winning Swisse gummy products from the Swisse Claw Machine. The night raised over $10,000 for the Sorrento CFA, as Rob Curtain from naming rights sponsor Peninsula Sotheby’s auctioned a TaylorMade club fitting experience; an MGI AI buggy; and a Mornington Peninsula experience – which included a weekend in a Mercedes Benz, courtesy of Mercedes Benz Mornington, accommodation and dining at the Continental Sorrento, and rounds of golf in carts at Portsea. On the Wednesday, Lucas Higgins, drawn in the Higgins Coatings group, shot six under for
the best score in the morning. There was drama throughout, as lightning almost bought the event to a standstill, however some luck meant that play could continue. No one could claim Crown’s $100,000 hole in one on the seventh hole, however the 450 strong in White Top’s marquee were still entertained by a star-studded field of professionals and celebrities, which included Andy Lee holing a 25-foot putt and bringing the crowd to its feet. The professional event was won by New South Welshman Darcy Boyd, who holed a six footer on the 18th to sign for seven under par and avoid a playoff with Lucas Higgins and Tom Power Horan who finished at six under. Darcy played with winning amateur and Port Adelaide hero Dan Houston who coolly signed for 42 points, which meant that Chris Thoday and the Mercedes Benz Mornington team not only bought home two winners, but also took home the team event, making it a clean sweep. The Portsea Golf Club are once again contenders for Pro-Am of the year for 2024 while already developing plans for the 2025 event. Winning feeling: Geoffrey Quirk, Darcy Boyd, Daniel Houston and Chris Thoday. Picture: Supplied
Family fun and a serious run at Rye Gift By Barry Irving THE Rye Gift continues to go from strength to strength as crowds flock back to the family day after Covid. This year we were blessed with cooler weather ideal for an athletic carnival. A couple of sprinkles of light rain, but there were no complaints from the runners. Again there were many compliments from the competitors and the Victorian Athletic League officials with regards to the preparation of the running surfaces. Thanks once again to the Mornington Peninsula Shire team of contractors who prepared an excellent surface. The Junior Gift was conducted by the Little Athletics Southern Peninsula that was well attended by both junior competitors and supporting families. Giant slide and face painting ensured that families were catered for. With the canteens and the hamburger stand serving drinks and food. All six local junior and senior Rye Sports and social Clubs members competed in junior and senior community relays with the equipment related to their respective sports. urged on by the very vocal crowd. More than 80 sponsors and supporters attended the annual sponsor’s luncheon cooked and served by the cricket club volunteers. Senior Manger Fiona Somjee and staff represented the major sponsor from Community Bank Southern Peninsula, along with Antonella Celi representing the Shire. Onto the gift where last years winners both men’s and women’s found the pace really hot with neither able to reach the finals in two very hot fields in which both had blanket finishes with placegetters separated by hundreds of seconds.
Results: 120 metre Mens Gift 1st Jake Ireland: H’cap 5.013m. Time 12,569 2nd Jerome Lugo: H’cap 9.00m. Time 12.576 3rd Chris Vi: H’cap 7.00m. Time 12.581 Results: 120 metre Womens Gift 1st Amber Van eede: H’cap 13.00m. Time 13.703 2nd Ruby Crisp: H’cap 16.25m. Time 13.725 3rd Amelia Spenceley: H’cap 11.00m. Time 13.923 If you did not come this year then make a note in your diary 2025 Rye Gift 2nd Saturday in January. Above: Junior Gift competitors and supporters Right: The winning duo Jake Ireland and Amber Van eede Below: Declyn Tanner led the boys home in the 800m Open Pictures: Bary Irving
Mornington News
16 January 2024
PAGE 35
