Winning a championship is never easy but players competing in the Gunnedah Golf Club Championships have had an even tougher job than usual this year.
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Winds whipped up over the weekend with the Bureau of Meteorology recording wind speeds of 59 kilometres per hour on Saturday.
Just when players got used to the north-northwesterly winds, the weather gods threw a curve ball.
“It was two different winds, two days in a row. It just swung both ways,” Gunnedah Golf Club professional Luke Ryan said.
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The wind decided to change things up with a southwesterly blowing in on Sunday.
While the conditions were tough, Ryan said a number of golfers were still able to put their best foot forward.
“It was pretty impressive. Eight guys were in the 70s on Saturday. That’s the first time that’s happened in a few years,” Ryan said.
Leading the way was reigning champion Luke Streater.
He was tied on top with another previous champion in Troy Dries with a round of 72 before going two shots clear of Dries with a second round of 74.
In third is John Martin with a total of 152, four shots behind Dries.
Mark Benson (153) and Shane Wilson (155) round out the top five and Ryan said the title was anyone’s to win.
“There’s only one hole in it if the conditions are the same [this weekend],” he said.
While those players will fight it out in A grade, Barry Turner was a the standout performer, Ryan said.
Turner won the Captain’s Trophy for the best nett score in the first two rounds.
