March 23, 2015
Craig Dodd, from Blackwater, took out the 2015 Queensland Indigenous Championship played at the Murgon Golf Club at the weekend.
Craig relegated his brother – and 2013 champion – Rickie Dodd to second place.
After previously finishing runner-up four times, Craig wasn’t to be denied this year and fired the low round of the tournament on Sunday (68), extending his three shot overnight lead to a seven shot final margin.
The first local golfer home in the A Grade competition was Noel Bird (Wondai GC) who had an 80, 79 and 86 to come in 14th place.
Just behind him were Max Conlon (Murgon GC) 83, 82 and 82; Lindsay Bligh (Murgon GC), 86, 81 and 81; and Arthur Georgetown (Murgon GC), 91, 82 and 83.
In B Grade, Ashley Malone (Murgon GC) and Brod Bird (Wondai GC) came equal third with 83, 85 and 88; and 77, 87 and 92.
Darren Bligh (Murgon GC) was 7th with 81, 89 and 91; and Rodney Rewald (Murgon GC) and Jack Watson (Murgon GC) equal 10th with 92, 84 and 88, and 81, 90 and 93. Warren Collins (Murgon GC) was 15th with 89, 94 and 104.
In C Grade, John Stanley (Murgon GC) was 5th with 95, 96 and 92; followed by Cyril Alberts (Murgon GC) 93, 98 and 95; and Dean Alberts (Wondai Golf Club) with 95, 94 and 98. Ken Bone (Murgon GC) was 9th with 106, 100 and 106.
In the Junior competition, Burleigh junior Shalun Hay rocketed up the leaderboard with a final day one-under-par 69 to not only take out the Junior competition but to come third overall.
As a leading junior, Hay has been offered a scholarship with Hills International Golf School.
Darron Bligh (Murgon GC) came third in the Junior competition with 81 and 89.
In the Nett division, Gayndah junior Jesse George dominated. George finished with nett scores of 65, 55 and 60 for 180 total and has now dropped almost eight shots off his handicap.
Both Craig Dodd and Jesse George have earned a start in the 2015 Isuzu Queensland Open Pro-Am to be held during tournament week at Brookwater.
Kimberley Crawley (Horton Park) has made the Women’s Indigenous Championship her own in the past few years, and 2015 was no exception.
Crawley played beautiful golf and rounds of 77, 71 and 71 produced a record low score for the Women’s Championship.
Shalun Hay’s sister Ashleigh was runner-up.
In the Senior Men’s Division, Scott Ridgeway (Maryborough) had consistent scores over the three days. Ridgeway returned rounds of 79, 81 and 81 to defeat Elgar Harrison by three shots.
[Courtesy of Golf Queensland]
(Photo: Golf Queensland)
