A GOLF handicap of 27 means you are normally about as consistent as Melbourne weather, so Colin Dunne’s effort at the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Course is noteworthy.
He had 90 off the stick on Saturday. No wipes. Pars on 3, 8 and 18. A birdie for a thousand points on the long par three 7th.
That gave him 42 stabledfords for the hottest round of the day in the Macksville Mitre 10 event for the win in Div 3, two clear of Geoffrey Poole (32 handicap) who carded a stonking 40 points.
The competition tripled as the qualifier for the Singles Knockout, and the first round chance to secure a spot in the Top Gun Shootout.
Div 2 saw Trevor Hopkins (20) oblivious to his shortening handicap as he carded 40 points for the win by one from Geoff Harris (19).
Hopkins had five pars and 85 off the stick. President Harris scorched home in 39 round the back including a bird on the 13th.
Kempsey’s Colin Habgood (9) took Div 1 with 38 points on a countback from Chris Knight (11 no longer). Both birdied the 10th and Knight was on a run with 24 points with eight to play before getting in the wrong queue and boarding the bogey train.
Geoff McCann collected the Ecomist prize pack for the longest putt on the 1st. Pins went to Stephen Kimber on 5 (the hole he sponsors), Darrell Flanders on 7, Habgood on 8 and Paul Ryan on 15. Harris will enjoy greatly the Pizza This Pizza That experience at the top of High Street after hitting it tidy on 13 and McCann picked up the healthy $80 Pro Pin on the last.
Head greenkeeper Greg Jager (11) rode a bumpy start to his round in the Macksville Mitre 10 medley stableford on Thursday 19 February.
He opened with a double, and then something unspeakable on the 2nd hole (we can only guess as it was recorded solely as a wipe).
But he dusted himself off, birdied the next and carded nine pars to post 36 points to win Div 1 on a countback from Dan Wren (12) who birdied the last after a costly duck egg on 16.
Peter Dawe (29) had 35 points in a roller coaster round to seal Div 2, one clear of Craig Riddington (25).
Wren binned the putt from afar on 1 and bookended his day with the $70 Pro Pin on 18. Other flag botherers were Geoff Harris on 5, Bryce McCarroll on 7, Jo Geddes on 8 and Stuart Johnston scored the gourmet pizza on the short but tricky 13th.
Lyn Parkes (32) shouldn’t par holes on that handicap but did so on 7, 14 and 15 to card 36 points for the Div 2 salute in the women’s single stableford on Wednesday 18 February.
Georgina Riddington (20) also posted 36 points and that was enough for Div 1 supremacy.
NTPs on 5 were claimed by Henny Oldenhove and Robyn Jones with Rhonda Rowe being closest on 13.
Matt Dyer (17) sizzled with 42 points to cinch the Macksville Mitre 10 stableford on Tuesday 17 February.
Dyer’s round included seven pars, birds on 3 and 6 and an oh-so-close 80 off the stick.
Kempsey’s Rodney Kinnear (17) was runner-up with a solid 38 points.
Pins went to Norman Devereaux on 5, Rory Talbot on 7, Gary Rumble on 8 and Craig Riddington picked up $35 in the Pro Pin on 18. Dyer capped off a mighty fine day by scoring the pizza on the 13th.
The Mid North Coast men’s pensants season on Sunday saw Coffs Harbour Blue defeat The Island 3 matches to 2 at Safety Beach. Fresh bench player Ken Klen won 7 and 6, while Elijah Cooper continued his stellar season for Nambucca’s other point.
In Div 3 Group 2, Coffs Harbour Green also got the money 3-2 against Nambucca at Safety Beach. Craig Haworth and Daniel Wassens recorded wins for The Island and all five matches were tightish.
There was better news in Div 3 Group 1 where Nambucca bested Kempsey 3 matches to 2 at Coffs Harbour. Glen Crow, Andy Mackinnon and Dave Rosser secured valuable wins for The Island.
The 2026 Nambucca Skins first qualifying round kicks off on Saturday. Open to men and women, simply pay $5 at the Pro Shop before you tee-off in the par competition. The five dollars covers you for the entire season of qualifiers and you need only one decent score to make the top 16 for the Skins’ finals.
Catchya on The Island – the home of star restaurant food, great chat and views from the river deck beer garden, plus memories made on the easy walking 18-hole championship golf course.
By Chris Knight
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