FORMER elite cricketer Craig Haworth showed the hand-eye coordination hasn’t missed a blip as he squeaked home to win the men’s Nambucca Open golf competition at The Island.
The longtime local now calls the majestic Toowoomba club home and he was a ‘visitor’ along with players from Woolgoolga, Urunga, Coffs Harbour, Bowraville, Bellingen (yes, they’re back), Macksville and Dorrigo on Sunday.
Haworth (14 handicap) had 68 nett for the salute on countback from another former longtime Island member, Joe Street (17), who is now on Urunga’s books.
Troy Herbert (2) swept the gross with 73 off the bat, five shots clear of the next best.
Greg Jager (9) took out the single division overall gross with 78 on countback from Ashton Herbert (4).
(S)mashton was middling things – hitting an iron onto the green for his second into the par five 11th while his drive on 17 smacked the she-oaks up past the end of the left water hazard on 17. Hit the trees high up otherwise bound for the 10th tee. True story.
He was cruising for a 74 off the stick until a calamitous quadruple on the last which did not involve a penalty. Be sure to ask him about it.
Nearest the pins (each receiving a sleeve of balls) went to Andrew Bagust on 5, Jager on 7 and 18, Ashton Herbert on 8, Luke Beaumont on 13 and Troy Herbert on 15.
Michael Summerill is one of Santa’s helpers and Christmas came early for him as he sleighed the field in the Kempsey Toyota 500 Challenge.
The 30-handicapper was super festive in posting a miraculous 45 points for the win, while Henny Oldenhove (16) won the women’s with 37.
Summerill’s round on Saturday, 29 November, included a birdie on the par three 7th hole – for five stableford points!
Rod Hardy (13) swept Div 1 with 39 points, one clear of runner-up Ken Klem (9).
William Mann (23) conquered Div 2 with 40 points, two ahead of the resurgent Dave Mattacott (18). Coffs Harbour’s Jake Crehaune (24) was too good in Div 3 with 42 points, four clear of Heath McKenna (28).
Craig Riddington slotted the longest putt on the 1st for the Ecomist prize while the pins went to Greg Jager on 5, Adrian Smith on 7, Peter Matten on 8 and Hardy on 15. Chris Brownlie will dine like a king after zeroing in on 13 for the Pizza This Pizza That voucher and Colin Hunter picked up a healthy $105 Pro Pin on 18.
Andrew Mackinnon (19) will have the tailors busy after winning the Nambucca Heads RSL Dolphin Day medley stableford with 40 points on Thursday, 27 November.
His embroidered shirt trophy round saw back-to-back birdies on 6-7, which is becoming quite the saying with youth.
Garry Johnstone (13) carded a beaut 39 points to take out Div 1 ahead of Ken Klem (10) on 38.
Sparrow starter Roy Louis (31) wowed with 40 points to win Div 2 ahead of Les Mohr (29) on 39.
Stuart Garvey sank the putt from afar on 1 and the closest to the sticks were claimed by Troy Herbert on 5, Mackinnon on 7, Dylan Mann on 8 and Michael Jolly on 15. Greg McCoy boxed the pizza on 13 and Dan Wren pocketed the $75 Pro Pin on the last.
Martine Murray (21) stormed home round the back with four pars to post 38 points to win the women’s single stableford Div 1 on Wednesday, 26 November.
Hot on her heels (or most likely flats as the shoes would be) was Denise Paluch (16) on 37. Marilyn McNally (29) swept Div 2 with 44 stonking points – the best score of the day – including a bird on 15. Runner-up was Susan Barnett on 39.
Lillian Lukins (35) had a party with 39 points to win Div 3 from Robyn Dyer (34) on 34.
Pins on the 8th were shared by Paluch, Thea Kimber and Faye Hopkins. Coral McCann was closest on 13 and Rhonda Rowe banked the $37 Pro Pin on 18.
Those up for a test got what they wished for in the Toyota Genuine Service Island Challenge stroke comp on Tuesday, 25 November.
Rodney Kinnear (19) was the only player to better his handicap – with a one-under nett 68 for the ‘W’. Geoff Goesch (21) was very much thereabouts with 69 nett while Denise Paluch (16) had a sweet week with 71 to place third.
Troy Herbert (2) shot 76 to take the gross.
Pins went to Michael Jolly on 5 and 7, Stuart Johnston on 8, Kerrie Eichorn on 13 and Troy Herbert on the last.
By Chris KNIGHT
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