MORNINGTON NEWS scoreboard

Junior club champ eyes off Masters

12373786-RC49-17

By Ben Triandafillou JUNIOR golfer Aidan McDonagh picked up the golf bug just under two years ago and now has a junior club championship to his name. The 15-year-old, who currently holds an 11.8 handicap, said he got hooked on the sport after going for a couple of rounds of golf with his father and a few friends from school and hasn’t looked back since. Last month McDonagh won the junior club championships at Mornington, carding rounds of 89 and 84 to win by two shots over Tom Matthew. McDonagh said he was ecstatic with the results having also finished in seventh place in the Men’s B-grade club championships. “I didn’t really think I had a chance after my first round in the juniors but I was able to turn it around in the afternoon,” he said. “I’m really happy with how I went.” He has had a year to remember having won his first nett event at Long Island in January as well as winning the Peninsula Division Pennant earlier this year. Over the last few weeks, McDonagh teamed up with a Mornington junior’s team to compete in the metropolitan level Golf Victoria Junior Pennant competition where they made it through to the semi-

finals. After putting together a string of wins, the team suffered their first loss and were defeated by Essendon on Saturday 9 December. It wasn’t long before McDonagh was back out on the golf course as he entered into a team’s event at Long Island two days later where his team finished runners-up. McDonagh, who trains five times per week, has a couple of upcoming tournaments but said he has his eyes set on the Victorian Junior Masters in January next year. “I will need to drop my handicap to below 10 so I will play as much as I can and practise a few things in my game so I can hopefully make it into the tournament,” he said. “I’ll probably work on my wedge from 50-80 metres from the hole and then probably my mentality and work on keeping a positive attitude as I go through the course.” The Victorian Junior Masters has been a great stepping stone for future golfing stars with the likes of Adam Scott (runners-up), Marc Leishmann and Jason Day all on the honour roll.

Top shots: Runner-up Tom Matthews, left, with junior club champion Aidan McDonagh. Picture: Supplied

GOLFERS! Win supplied by Centenary Park Golf Course

Simply play a round of golf at any of the below courses between now and January 8, 2018, and send in your

With stunning views over Port Phillip Bay & surrounds our beautiful new Function & Event Centre offers the perfect venue for your upcoming celebration. We offer cocktail menus, 2&3 course menus and more - all coupled with superb wines and outstanding service. Book in today for your wedding, birthday, conference or presentation night! All catering by our official caterers - Wise Choice. Open now for bookings, so call us on

0466 673 524 or email: enquiries@functionsbythebay.com.au

Functions by the Bay, Cnr Plowman Place & Young St, Frankston 3199

scorecard for a chance to win. Edithvale Public Golf Course – Fraser Ave, Edithvale Centenary Park Golf Course – McClelland Drive, Frankston Mornington Golf Club – Tallis Drive, Mornington Devilbend Golf Club – Loders Road, Moorooduc Cerberus Golf Club – HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point Safety Beach –10 Country Club Dr, Safety Beach Rosebud Country Club – 207 Boneo Road, Rosebud Moonah Links – 55 Peter Thomson Dr, Fingal ONE SCORECARD PER ENVELOPE. INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS & PHONE ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE. ENTRIES CLOSE 15/1/18 POST TO MPNG GOLF, PO BOX 588, HASTINGS 3915 PAGE 62

Mornington News

19 December 2017

Sudoku and crossword solutions