THE WAR of attrition that is the Club Championships at a very thirsty Nambucca Heads Island Golf Course has been run and won for 2025.
Kerrie Eichorn (10 handicap) is the women’s club champion after rounds of 79-81-78 – eight shots clear of Deidre Fletcher (11) 85-75-86.
The men’s champion after 72 gruelling holes is Graham Watson (5) who was super steady with 71-76-79-83. That was two shots ahead of last year’s champion Troy Herbert (2) whose late challenge was put to bed when he doubled 17 on the final day.
The women’s championships were sponsored by Bernard Laverty Funerals and the Div 1 nett winner was Sue Brooks (14) on 218, two clear of Dianne O’Leary (19).
The women’s Div 2 champion is Heather Gray (26) who shot 105-93-101, four ahead of runner-up Judith Boyle (28) 100-101-102.
Thea Kimber (28) took out the nett on 221 ahead of Jennifer Thorne (26) on 224.
The women’s Div 3 champion is Kay McGoldrick (33) who shot 105-106-103, ahead of runner-up Kylie Blay (34) 104-106-108.
Faye Hopkins (36) won the nett on 225 from Joy Green (39) 228.
HLV Partners sponsored the men’s championships and the A Grade nett winner was Graham Weary (11) by a single shot from Brad Fortescue (7) on 288.
The B Grade champion is Scott Burley (18) who carded 86-81-86-90 to head home Garry Johnstone (14) 85-83-83-96.
Dylan Mann (17) nailed the nett on 287 on a countback from Dylan Baker (16).
Andrew MacKinnon (19) is the 2025 C Grade champion – his first ever club championship title – after posting 93-93-92 and scorching home in 82.
Peter Moxon (20) was runner-up with 84-94-93-92.
Warren Fuller (22) took the nett with 282, a couple clear of Bruce Mason (20).
Ashton Herbert (3) won the junior championship for the fourth and final time with rounds of 90-80-81-88.
Margins were wafer thin in the Allied Air Conditioning medley stableford on Thursday, 23 October.
Tristram Edwards (15) had 37 points – showing his potential with seven pars and bird on 5 – to win Div 1 on a countback from Bruce Mason (18).
In Div 2, Don Lavery (26), Keith Elphick (25) and Ken Marriott (20) all carded 39 points. After a confused 6-7 front nine, Lavery spinnakered home with pars on 15 and 18 to get the nod ahead of runner-up Elphick who closed out with a double-bogey on the last.
Marriott also doubled troubled the last and was the first in the ball run which went down to Macksville’s Kevin Wilson (27) the last to collect.
Wayne Van Sambeek all the way from Sale Golf Club in Mexico (Vic) pocketed $70 for the Pro Pin on 18 and Paddy Byrne will be dining like a king on one of Steve Ward’s Pizza This Pizza That humdingers.
Donald Wills bagged the longest putt on the first for the Ecoomist voucher (stubby cooler and a beverage) and it was for a seven – one of three in as many holes which is great in blackjack, not quite so in golf.
Pins went to Garry Johnstone on 5, Darren Key on 7, Geoff Harris on 8 and Dylan Mann on 15.
Andrew Donovan (sweet 16 no more) has found another gear of late, astonishing the watchers on the clubhouse deckin the Allied Air Conditioning medley stableford on Tuesday, 21 October. He opened with a bird, and carded another on the 12th – plus eight pars for a spanking round of 78 off the stick.
Donovan’s 43 points sealed the deal from Gary Rumble (27) on 41.
Glenys Tompson nailed the pins on 7 and 13 (pizza), Colin Habgood on 5, Troy Herbert on 8 and Stuart Garvey knows how to invest $30 after hitting it close on the last.
Catchya on The Island, where a big mob from Keperra Golf Club in Brisbane have been visiting. Told about the great food – they had no concerns: “It’s just the awesome views which make it so special,” said one.
By Chris KNIGHT
