THE welcomed wave of visitors in town for the 36-hole Island Classic at the weekend was powerful enough to stoke the already overheated immigration debate – but the locals more than held their own on the Nambucca Heads golf course.
In the men’s off-scratch event, Kempsey two-marker Michael Flanders recorded 61 points to head home Nambucca’s Keith Wallis (6 handicap) by a point.
Local star Kerrie Eichorn (10) carded 40 points to win the women’s off-scratch, two better than Bonville’s Adrienne Smith (13).
The near-capacity field on Saturday made parking trickier than Westfield Parramatta at the Boxing Day sales with players from Tanilba Bay, Urunga, Royal Sydney, Taree, Coffs Harbour, Shortland Waters, Macksville, Safety Beach, South West Rocks, Kingaroy, Uralla, Sawtell, Bulahdelah, Kew, Yamba, Waratah, Crescent Head, Leongatha, Bowraville, Frederickton, Armidale, Carbrook, Shortland Waters and Port Macquarie as well as the aforementioned Kempsey, Bonville and of course Nambucca.
The well-named Aaron Whackett (13) didn’t have to do so often as the man from Joh Land Kingaroy accumulated 72 points to win the Div 1 36-hole comp from local Stuart Johnston (12) on 68.
Macksville’s Dewayne Laverty (11) won the Saturday event prize with 35 points and former local Nev Newman (9) who switched to The Rocks took Sunday’s, also with 35 points.
It was a 1-2 salute for Nambucca lads in Div 2 overall; Paul Finn (19) carding 73 points to edge Patrick Handsaker (18) on 70. John Nebauer (19) was trumps on Saturday with 33 points and Dave Mattacott (20 – you can’t be serious) on Sunday to complete a dolphin-wash of the division.
Jordan McRae (28) – another trusty Island member – topped the podium in Div 3 overall with 72 points to head home clubmate Robert Reid (23) on 69. Kempsey’s Steven Morrison (23) spanked with 40 points to salute on Saturday and local Ross Morpuss (22) secured the Sunday prize when 34 was enough.
It was another all-Bucca masterclass in the women’s two-day tourney, with Tiffany Paul (21) sweeping the field with 70 points to edge Jennifer Ainsworth (34) by a point.
Jennifer Johnston (31) had 38 points for the Saturday jig and Shayne Scott (45) assembled 36 and the Sunday W.
Retired school principal and former Sydney hockey rep Debbie Grenenger (43) had the highest individual score of any player with 46 points on the Saturday but was ineligible for Island Classic glitter after nominating only for the first round.
“I never play like this,” Grenenger said, as she carded a battery of 3-pointers and then back-to-back 4-pointers around the front nine to turn in 24.
Toyota Genuine Service sponsored the medley stableford on Wednesday 26 August when gun golfer Henny Oldenhove (18) was way too good with 39 points – and will be fitted with a Dolphin Day shirt for her heroics.
Only four pars, but Oldenhove also had just one double bogey and the rest bogeys as she carded 85 off the stick.
Colin Wormleaton (10) returned 39 points to win Div 1 from runner-up Brad Fortescue (6) on 37 and Jennifer Ainsworth (34) took Div 2 with 36 points, one better than Garry Thurlow (26).
Cheryl Fortescue binned the longest putt on the first for the Ecomist prize pack and pins went to Di O’Leary on 5, Thomas Wattison on 7, Brad Fortescue on 8 and Liz Hobday on 15. Marilyn McNally zoomed the Pizza This Pizza That desirable on 13 and cagey Drew Glasson pocketed the $75 Pro Pin on the last.
Catchya on The Island where the course, thanks to the professional greenkeeping team and volunteers, is in Instagram-worthy condition.
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