HAVING the opportunity to hit the ball every day.
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That’s the key to playing consistent golf, according to Ben Marron.
And the 30-year-old should know. He’s the reigning club champion at Taree and Wingham, having won both titles last year, while he added the Manning River Open to his list of achievements when he scored a four shot decision last weekend.
Marron is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.
He’s currently living on a few acres at Manning Point Road and as such, is able to hit a few golf balls most days a week.
“Doing that every day makes it easier to keep your eye in,’’ he explained.
“And I’ve also played in a few tournaments recently in Newcastle and Sydney. I have a mate in Orange meeting me halfway to have a game.’’
Marron admits he hasn’t had any great success playing away from home but says it does help hone his game.
He last won a Manning River Open about 10 years ago. Marron admits he was ‘pretty confident’ going into the two day event. He was nominated in the Times’ column Over the Fence as the favourite. Marron lived up to that billing when he was the overnight leader by one shot from Lower North Coast champion Wayne Stewart.
He was grouped with Stewart for the second day. Marron concedes he was expecting the big hitting Stewart to make a surge.
However, Stewart had putting problems and dropped out of contention. Marron finished with 69 to win by four shots to Shayne Jennings.
Now off +3, Marron said defending his Wingham championship will be the next assignment.
“I’m pretty confident I can do that, although there’s some handy players there,’’ he said.
“Hopefully I can get a few games in between now and then.’’
Lower North Coast district events aren’t on his radar yet.
“To be honest I don’t even know when they’re on. I haven’t even seen the program,’’ he said.
However he said the Seaside Classic at Port Macquarie in September is an event he’s keen to enter.
Marron mixed cricket and golf until midway through last season. A top order batsmen with Taree Leagues, he admits the commitment required for both sports was too much.
“I have a wife and three kids so it’s a bit hard to play sport all weekend,’’ he explained.