The Score: Jason Akermanis banned from local golf club
Jason Akermanis and controversy have long been pals and they’ve bonded together again with the former Brisbane champion being banned by a local golf club - but Aker says it’s an ‘absolute joke’.
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Some people just can’t escape it.
Jason Akermanis and controversy have long been pals and they’ve bonded together again in the former Brisbane champion’s latest sporting pursuit.
Aker last year revealed his desire to become a professional golfer but he’s hit a snag after being banned from one of his local golf clubs over claims of cheating.
The 2001 Brownlow medallist has had ongoing issues with the committee of the Thurgoona Golf Club, near Albury, and says he won’t be going back after the latest incident saw him banned for a month.
“I’ve never had any trouble at any other club,” Aker said. “This was the sixth time I’ve had issues there and I’m not going back.”
A recent complaint came from a member who lives on the course who claims during the monthly medal he saw Aker play from out-of-bounds on the third hole after he’d pulled his tee shot.
He wrote a letter which initially got Aker suspended for a week but he challenged the ruling and had the ban rescinded.
Then two weeks ago a member who was standing in a playground near the 17th hole claimed he saw Aker have six shots when he’d signed for a par four.
“I knew he was watching, my first ball was in for four and I told my playing partners to watch this so I had a bit of a play around,” Aker said.
“I knew what the guy was doing, it’s an absolute joke.”
Aker, who is a member of three other golf clubs in the area, remains determined to follow his dream after failing to get past the first qualifying stage last year.
He started with a triple-bogey on the opening hole at Noosa Springs in December which put him behind the eight ball.
The three-time premiership star plans to returning to Q-school later in the year and is also eyeing qualifying for the Japanese Tour.
SIMMONS’ SALUTE TO ‘EGG BOY’
AUSSIE NBA superstar Ben Simmons continues to use his sneakers for political commentary.
It’s becoming common place for Simmons to write a message on his shoes pre-game as he did earlier in the week after the Christchurch shootings, scribbling down “Pray for NZ”.
Yesterday he continued that theme by writing “EGG BOY” on his new Nikes in support of Will Connolly, the teenager who egged Senator Fraser Anning following the Queensland politician’s controversial comments on the New Zealand massacre.
His Australian teammate Jonah Bolden joined him by writing #LEGENDEGGBOY on his sneakers.
The messages were certainly a good-luck charm for the Philadelphia 76ers who defeated Charlotte 118-114 on the back of one of Simmons’ best game of the season where he hit 11/12 shots for 28 points.
EAGLES PIP PIES ... AGAIN
POOR old Collingwood are being haunted by the West Coast Eagles.
After having to deal with last year’s Grand Final loss, the Pies now have to also cop that they can’t even beat the Eagles in the revenue stakes.
Industry research company IBISWorld has once again analysed every clubs 2018 financial results and come up with a ladder which has Collingwood sliding from No.1 the previous year to behind the Eagles.
West Coast recorded $86.3 million in revenue compared to the Magpies $82.1 million.
Richmond and Hawthorn rounded out the top four with 2016 premiers the Western Bulldogs the surprise packed at No.5 although their figure was boosted by help from the Victorian Government who transferred land at the Whitten Oval to the club.
Given the growth of the AFL as a code, only two sides reported a revenue decline — Gold Coast and Essendon who slipped to sixth on the ladder.
The Bombers decline was mainly due to the drop in donations which had been larger than normal previously as they’d encouraged fans to help them with costs associated with the ASADA investigation.
THE WHISPER
DID a dressing down from a top racing chief this week make the infamous Mike Fitzpatrick-Richard Colless phone call look like a teddy bear’s picnic? We hear it solidified the recipient’s decision to switch teams.
Originally published as The Score: Jason Akermanis banned from local golf club
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