THE JIM Barrie Express – a well-travelled courtesy coach of the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club – may need a forensic clean after history was made at the Coffs Harbour course on Sunday.
The mini bus must have been filled with aromas of sweating bullets and excitement on the way up the M1 for the Mid North Coast men’s pennants grand final – and pungent with the whiff of refreshments and bodily secretions on the way back after Nambucca’s Div 4 side defeated Frederickton 3 to 2.
It marked the first men’s pennants win for the club in more than five years, when Andy Mackinnon’s unruly mob smashed the Div 3 title.
Nambucca’s successful Div 4 squad included Team Captain Dylan Mann, Stuart Hughes, Kye Garzoli, Harrison Lee, Paul McElhinney, Ray Guiana, Dom Lambie and Jai Wassens.
In the big dance on the final day Lambie stomped his match 5 and 4 as did Mann, while Lee brought the honey home with a 3 and 2 lock.
Jewels or boulders golfer Dennis Ashton (20 handicap) was on like Donkey Kong to post 42 points to win Div 2 of the Nambucca Liquor medley stableford on Saturday, 5 July.
Ashton’s round included an incredible eight pars and he needed every one to pip Trevor Hopkins (22) on a countback.
In Div 1, Scott Burley (16) had 37 points to also win on a countback from Daniel Wassens (12), who carded eight pars and 81 off the stick.
The day was remarkable in that many played off a daily handicap lower than their Golf Australia (GA) handicap, a reflection of the ease of the shortened course in the wake of the flood.
But matters are on the change, as the 4th and 9th holes have returned to full length, and the resilient greens staff continue to work toward reopening the full 18-hole layout on 27 July.
The holiday will also then be over for those who’ve enjoyed extended dips at the prize table as competition scores will be handicapped on a rated course.
Sorry, not sorry.
Chirpy Graham Weary (9 – can play) will find another gear after acing the tough 7th par three on Saturday and in doing so collects a trophy, De Bortoli wine and a box of balls.
Other nearest the pins were claimed by Geoff McCann on 5 ($65 Pro Pin) and Steve Doherty on 8. Hard-working Club Captain Ray Guiana scored the Ecomist voucher for the longest putt on the 1st.
Club Champion Troy Herbert had just one handicap shot to play with but beavered well with three birdies, nine pars and a nightmare double on the short 9th for 74 gross and all for a ball in the rundown which went down to 31 points with Graham Watson (3) the last to collect.
That man Dennis Ashton was again to the fore on Thursday, 3 July, winning the McGrath Real Estate medley stableford on 39 points.
That was just enough to head home Paul McElhinney (25) on 38 and Liam Sweeny (15) on 37.
Ashton snaked the putt from afar on one, while Sweeny was closest on 5 ($30 Pro Pin), Graham Watson on 7 and Trevor Hopkins on 8.
In the women’s stableford on Wednesday, 2 July, the unstoppable Deidre Fletcher (12) saluted with 34 points ahead of fellow 12-marker and runner-up Denise Paluch on 32.
Catchya on The Island, where we’re high, dry, and happily watching green shoots emerge on the 10th fairway which few of us ever hit.
By Chris KNIGHT
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