WHEN the dust (literally) settled at the conclusion of 2025’s most prestigious open event at the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Course, two accomplished left-handers stood supreme.
The Good Time Charlie’s Cup was played over 36 holes on the Sunday and Monday of the long weekend and for the first time it was accorded Vardon event status, which catches the eye of elite amateurs from across NSW.
Newcastle’s Steven Slappendel (+2.3 handicap) posted rounds of 69-67 to win the Div 1 gross, one ahead of rising youngster and fellow cack-hander Max Neal (+3.1) who carded 71-66.
“It was challenging out there being so dry but the greens were unbelievably good – everything just rolled so true,” Sawtell junior Neal said.
Nambucca’s Ashton Herbert (5) won the nett with 137, one better than clubmate Ken Klem (10), with Troy Herbert (4) taking third on 140.
Bonville’s Nathan Trezise (+1.3) won the Sunday nett with 70 ahead of Graham Watson (6) on 71. Daniel Wren (9) smashed with 66 nett to win on the Monday from Port Macquarie’s Paul Dawson (6) on 67.
In Div 2, Steve Doherty (18) took the 36-hole nett with 140, one better than Macksville’s Michael Ziebell (12). Kempsey’s Tony Graham (15) was third on 141.
Garry Johnstone (15) won the Sunday nett from Daniel Wassens, and Stephen Kimber saluted in round two from Dylan Mann.
The women and Div 3 men got a ticket out of jail, playing a stableford instead of strokeplay.
Kerrie Eichorn (11) was simply the best for the 36-hole main prize with 51 points, four ahead of runner-up Deidre Fletcher (13).
Louise Ainsworth (36) collected the nett ahead of runner-up Denise Paluch (17) and Narelle Delaney (32).
Heather Gray (25) and Angela Van Zeeland (16) headed the field home on Sunday and Jennifer Ainsworth (35) and Henny Oldenhove (19) walked the walk on Monday.
Burleigh Golf Club’s Philip Woodgate won the men’s Div 3 with 75 points, six clear of runner-up Andrew Cuthbertson.
Meanwhile, in form Daniel Wren (10) and Port Macquarie’s Samuel Johnson (6) got their kicks on a famous American highway in the Nambucca Liquor men’s Monthly Medal on Saturday, 4 October.
Both carded 66 nett, with Wren taking the A Grade on countback. Peter Farrell (5) won the gross with 74.
Stephen McNeil (15) has been in a deepest patch of purple since Prince turned himself into a symbol – returning the best nett of the day, 64, to scorch B Grade from Garry Johnstone (15) on 68. Paul Ryan (16) won the gross with 85.
Christopher Lucas (19) was too strong in C Grade with 66 nett, three ahead of Ray Guiana (28). Urpo Ylinen (20) won the gross with 90.
Ken Klen nailed an anaconda-length putt on the first to bag the Ecomist voucher, while the pins went to Mike Raymond on 5, Paddy Byrne on 7, Steve Frost on 8 and Guiana on 15. Tristram Edwards scored the Pizza This Pizza That prize on 13 and Christopher Lucas had $70 in his kick from the Pro Pin on 18.
Rocco Kinnear (38) broke the ton off the bat for 44 points to smash Div 2 in the Nambucca Newsagency medley stableford on Thursday, 2 October. The playing nicely, if you don’t mind, Club Captain Ray Guiana was next best with 40.
Ken Marriott (20) took out Div 1 with 40 points, one ahead of young gun Ashton Herbert (4).
Nathan Ison got the putt from afar on 1 and the pin on 8. Stephen McNeil was nearest on 5, Rob Coneybeare on 7 and Andrew Donovan on 15. Guiana boxed a gourmet pizza on 13 and Steve Doherty swept the $65 Pro Pin on the last.
Henny Oldenhove (18) is riding a rampant run and posted a stonking 43 points to blitz Div 1 of the single stableford and Top Ten qualifier on Wednesday, 1 October. Maxine Townsend was runner-up on 37.
Jan Harris (30) had 38 points to beat Kay McGoldrick (33) on countback in Div 2.
Harris and Mavis Davis (wonder if she ever had a gig with Avis) won the pins on 8, Narelle Delaney on 13 and Lyndee Thomas was cheering with the $29 Pro Pin on 18.
Delaney (32) was again to the fore to win the Toyota Genuine Service Island Challenge on Tuesday, 30 September.
A par on the last gave her 66 nett, and it was needed to win the countback from Mark Seagrim (33). Heather Gray (25) completed the podium with 71 to win the women’s best nett prize.
Club Junior Champion Ashton Herbert had a fine one over par 70 to win the gross.
Each collecting a sleeve of balls for the pins were Ross Morpuss on 5, Darrell Flanders on 7, Philip Woodgate on 8, Bruce Fleming on 13, Paddy Byrne on 15 and Colin Habgood on the last.
Catchya on The Island, where the river grabbed me four times on the first two holes on Saturday and the handicap was all goooone. Far safer to linger on the clubhouse riverside deck and enjoy the restaurant food, refreshments and company and yell unsolicited advice to people teeing off on the 1st.
By Chris KNIGHT
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
