198, 195 Fraser Ambrose fields

Big fields of 198 Saturday and 195 Sunday, together with Friday activities and the ripper Sportsman's Night Saturday made for another highly successful event. Organiser Shaun (Magro) Whitechurch said this year's new format with different numbers of tee shots for the three person teams proved difficult. The group's highest handicapper had to tee off eight times, the middle handicapper six times and the lowest handicapper on three occasions.

"But it was well received by all," the organiser told The Free Press. "Friday's shoot out didn't go off so the prize jackpots to $2,000 next year; Nelson Aviation company will add to the excitement next year by chipping in an extra $1,000 on the condition, someone gets within six-foot of the handing drum - that prizemoney is just brilliant.

"Mizuno continues to be a great sponsor for us. Everyone appreciates their support of this event."

Saturday night's sporting auction raised some $2,500 and the three sporting celebrities proved excellent choices by Magro.

"Local Corowa boy Travis Osborne enlightened us about wakeboarding, Tony Shaw was very good and Wayne Phillips was great," Magro said. "It was a night full of laughs."

Collingwood's 1990 premiership captain loved being in Corowa. "The course is sensational. I love this river country course. It's in good nick," the eight-handicapper from Heidelberg told The Free Press. Australian Test batsman/wicketkeeper Wayne Phillips, who plays off 10 at Royal Adelaide, was also full of praise for the Corowa course and his tee shot on the Par 3, 12thhole was a beauty, winning NTP.

Following on from last week's Free Press preview of the 12" Fraser Ambrose, which included Marcus Fraser playing in the New Zealand Open with Ricky Ponting and Ash Barty, the packed clubhouse wanted to hear more about the trio.

Both are members at Mornington Peninsula where Marcus is head coach and are good friends with the 46-year-old, who couldn't speak highly enough of them. "Ricky's a top bloke and Ash is just a wonderful person,” he said. Brilliant golfers too, the former Australian Test captain off a one handicap and the Wimbledon champion off four.

Marcus is back into tournament play. After flying from New Zealand and arriving Friday night in Corowa, he flew out Sunday for Singapore.

He carted around last Saturday, overhead some interesting descriptions of shots and loved being back at the club where it all started.

"I love being home, absolutely, always!" he told The Free Press. "It's nice coming home and seeing everyone - I'm so grateful for all the players being in this event, for people like Magro organising what is a big event, The Free Press coverage and I just want to contribute to this great club."

Included in the big fields was a 26-player contingent from Sandhurst. "We all love playing in this event," Gary O'Donoghue, popularly nicknamed 'God', said.

Corowa Golf Club' General Manager Kim Gregg said the event was the club's biggest of the year. "It means a lot to us. It shows Marcus' loyalty to the club over the years, with the whole concept to help the club," she said.

“It’s also important for him to come back to see his Corowa family. He's certainly a Corowa favourite.”