Almost 500 in 9th Fraser event
A total of 492 golfers competed in the ninth annual Marcus Fraser Ambrose event at the championship Corowa Golf Course, with 52 players in the Friday evening six-hole sprint, and 220 on both Saturday and Sunday.
The big, usually-played January event had to be cancelled due to Covid when it looked as though a record number of golfers would take to the championship course.
“It was another successful weekend,” star international golfer Fraser told The Free Press.
“I think the club was very happy with the numbers, seeing the event was postponed from January. I think everyone was pretty happy.”
Asked about next year’s 10th annual event, the 42-year-old said the milestone would be great for the club, “especially so after the event commenced as a Sunday afternoon one and has grown to being over three days”. “Hopefully the event will continue to grow and just get better and better.”
Corowa golfers Reagan Schmidt and Chris Collins, together with Wodonga’s Travis Merritt
won the 36-hole competition by two shots with a score of 122 points.
Sandhurst’s Michelle Cole, Jacinta Martin and Lyn Clark won the women’s section by 14 shots, with a score of 132 points.
Event organiser Shaun Whitechurch was pleased with the numbers and, like everyone who attended, loved the sportsman’s night.
“Retired Qantas pilot and Royal Hotel owner Michael Newman, and senior Corowa football coach Peter German spoke, were brilliant and set the scene for a memorable night,” he said.
“Then Steven Bradbury took over. Steve was sensational, speaking and conducting the last man standing for a large, signed photograph of himself in that never forget win in the Olympics.
“He had the crowd enthralled with his rise to glory and will be talked about for a long time by all those who attended.”
The three-day tournament was “another great event in exceptional circumstances having postponed the event” according to Corowa Golf Club General Manager Daniel Peacock.
“We still had fantastic numbers, the course was superb and it was particularly pleasing having juniors compete – and compete well – in the event.
“What a great night of entertainment in our clubhouse Saturday night! Retired pilot Michael Newman was left field but was really interesting, Peter German was fantastic and Steve Bradbury was sensational.
“Magro (Shaun Whitechurch) organised another fantastic event and as always, put in a lot of work behind the scenes. His work was fully appreciated.
“To have this event coming up to ten years next years is an outstanding achievement.”
Plans are already being considered for the tenth year, including a possible long weekend in March date as the preferred option.