Terry Pilkadaris was the last man standing on a day of record-breaking golf at the Sheen Panel Service Legends Pro-Am at Portarlington on Tuesday.
The Victorian, once ranked 153rd in the world after great success on the Asian Tour, took some great advice from the Port members in his group and peeled off a memorable five-under-par 67.
That score proved good enough when a late Peter Lonard charge came to a cruel end with a bogey on the 18th hole to leave him at 68.
The jetlagged but ultra-consistent Richard Green signed for a bogey-free 69 to share third with the affable Tim Elliott, whose morning round was the polar opposite with seven birdies and four bogeys.
But remarkably, in terms of highlights, they were all upstaged not once, but twice on a day of tremendous action and atmosphere around the “Sheen Alley” where a boisterous, good-natured crowd had settled.
Firstly, Curlewis youngster Ben Bowers was nothing short of spectacular in firing an amateur course record of eight-under-par 64 to win the amateur division with 41 stableford points off his +3 handicap.
Not only did the svelte teenager put a first course record on his resume, he did it in the same group as Green, toppling one of the world’s great senior golfers by five strokes.
“It was a lot of fun … great to play with Greeny, Hodgey (Green’s caddie and Clifton Springs resident Phil Hodge) and Dave (Curlewis amateur David Walder) – we actually had a few people watching us, too,” Bowers beamed.
“I made a couple of mistakes, but yeah, made a few nice shots, too,” he said with great understatement after his round of 10 birdies that left many in the galleries pondering his bright future.
But then even Bowers was undone in the highlights department when the brilliant David McKenzie fired a spectacular albatross on the par-4 13th hole, right in front of the bulk of the gallery.
It was the eighth career “ace” for McKenzie, who had no idea his ball had gone in because his tee shot was obscured by a bunker at the front of the green.
“But I’ve never had a “3-under” one before, I‘ll take that every time!” he beamed.
“That’s unbelievable,” McKenzie said as he took the plaudits while declining a “shooey” celebration that was offered.
He was later presented with an honorary Portarlington Golf Club membership for his history-making shot.
But none of the drama, including a fine 39-point round from Port’s Jackie Rowe to win the women’s amateur division, took the gloss of Pilkadaris’ fine round.
The jovial Melburnian played with three great characters among the Port membership and used his Greek heritage to form a team with the club’s own Yani Lathouris against Andrew Wootten and Matt Marles.
Despite some great play from the “Aussie” team, the “Greek” connection won the day with Pilkadaris using advice from his new mates to full advantage after starting on the 15th tee.
“They told me if I could start reasonably well that I could really cash in after we got around to the sixth and really score from there around to the 13th,” the 51-year-old said.
“So I managed a few pars early, hit a really good one in close on the second hole and the round just took off a bit once we got around to the sixth.”
Pilkadaris, fresh off a win at the Moama Masters last week, proceeded to birdie holes 6, 8, 9, and 11 to make his move.
“I actually thought I might have stuffed it up when I didn’t get another on the 13th, but it worked out for me in the end,” he said.
“But some pretty good advice from the boys and we had a heap of fun out there today.
“It was an amazing atmosphere around the course and everything out there was just in such amazing condition, it was a really great day.”
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