Tenth Fraser ambrose milestone

By Robert Muir

Mar 16, 2022

At Saturday’s celebrity night were Daniel Peacock, Warwick Capper, Shaun Whitechurch, John Fraser and Michael Corboy.

Despite the changes in dates and cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic over the last three years, the 10th anniversary of the Marcus Fraser Ambrose was an outstanding success last weekend.

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In glorious fine, sunny high 20’s temperatures, 230 golfers took to the fairways of Corowa’s 27-hole championship golf course last Saturday and Sunday.

Twenty females and 210 males throughout Victoria and NSW joined Corowa golfers. Beforehand, on the Friday evening, 80 golfers competed in the shoot-out.

“The shoot-out was a very good event,” Fraser ambrose event chief organiser Shaun Whitechurch said. “We very much appreciate the support and sponsorship of Mizuno, Lion Nathan Lyon and everyone else involved in the shoot-out and the two-day weekend play.”

Overall winners for the two-day event were Trav Merrett, Scott Reid and Kerrod Tuckett from Howlong.

Recalling the event’s origins, the organiser, popularly known as ‘Magro’ who is in his fifth year as Deputy Mayor of Federation Council, said Marcus wanted to put something back into the club he grew up with learning his golf.

Zac Overend from Rutherglen drives off the 11th hole.

“He approached me and asked what could he do and between the two of us, the Marcus Fraser Ambrose was born,” Magro said.

“We had 100 golfers the first year, Year 2 became a two-tee time then it was a two-day, two tee start with up to 300 players ever since.

“We’ve attracted so many great celebrities over the years, the celebrities contacting their mates to do the sportsman’s night for nothing to help our club. The celebrities have been fantastic giving of their time, and what they’ve put in.”

Some of the celebrities have played in the Marcus Fraser Ambrose. But all have enlightened the good crowds in the Corowa Golf Club on the Saturday night, with MC Magro conducting a question and answer session with each special guest in front of a big, 250-plus crowd.

Albury’s Sam Plunkett tees off the long 213m Par 3 16th hole.

Former Corowa boy Michael Corboy loves accepting a speaking engagement in his home town. The retired assistant police commissioner was extremely well received by attendees.

Comedian Des Dowling made people laugh. He is one of Australia’s most versatile stand up comedy performers and headlines top comedy clubs around the nation.

Corowa Golf Club supporters Natasha Randall and Bob McCrone ensured golfers didn’t go thirsty.

Brilliant, flamboyant AFL full-forward with the Sydney Swans Warwick Capper doesn’t mind people hearing all about his spectacular high flying footy days.

The 58-year-old blond bombshell nicknamed ‘The Wiz’ kicked 388 goals from 124 games, 90 with the Swans after 34 with the Brisbane Lions, including 103 goals in 1987 to be the league’s leading goalkicker.

Corowa Golf Club General Manager Daniel Peacock said the annual Marcus Fraser Ambrose event has helped the club substantially over the past decade, especially in the early stages when the club was in a concerning financial situation.

“The event has probably raised well over half a million dollars,” he said. “We say a big thank you to Magro and to Marcus for letting us use his name as our brand. We thank John Fraser – the whole Fraser family.”

Last week’s total of golfers was terrific. But that player Covid doesn’t help. The number would have been close to 300 if not for Covid. The big omission from the event was Marcus himself, whose son Archie has been struck with the virus.

Marcus’s dad, real estate agent and Fraser Ambrose auctioneer John Fraser was in full swing again this year, the sporting auction raising over $2,000. “The event’s enjoyed good tenure,” he commented about the decade-long event.

“Marcus is very sorry he can’t be here this year but he wants to be assured that everyone is having a great time. He appreciates the fact the event gets a lot of support by golfers and sponsors, despite the event being changed on more recent occasions because of this wretched disease Covid.”