THIRTY-FIVE millimetres of rain was enough to take the bunkers out of play at The Island Golf Course on Sunday - but there was no stopping the local steam train that is Harry McMillan from scorching the Mid North Coast District Golf Association Championships.
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Young Harry - who plays off a plus-1 handicap - lives at Coffs Harbour but is very much a local, working in The Island pro shop.
The rain overnight on Saturday saw some of the traps flooded so they were deemed ground under repair, and preferred lies were also in play for the event.
While a few pulled out of the draw, we still had 122 players for the day, which turned out to be a great one for a golf championship - and a reflection of the high standard of the course for being selected to host this regional event.
The MNCDGA Champion for the year is Harry who returned a fantastic 67 off the stick, from runner-up Billy Flannigan (Coffs Harbour) with 70.
Nambucca was well represented in the field, with many using their local knowledge to feature in the trophies: Houston Baker was the senior nett winner, Bruce Berry senior gross winner, Chris Tinson Division 5 nett winner, Houston Baker Division 5 gross runner-up, Steve Doherty Div 4 nett winner, Warren Fuller Division 4 gross runner-up, Dennis Ashton Division 4 gross winner, Ben Honeybrook Division 3 nett winner, and Peter Farrell Division 2 gross winner.
A massive shoutout to all our greens, pro shop, club staff and volunteers for your professional and efficient service, and we hope to host the event again in 2022 - hopefully, with fine weather to showcase our great course at its full potential.
It was another busy week on The Island with no shortage of golf competitions to satisfy the most avid player.
Tuesday was a Medley Single Stableford with a good field of 57 including visitors from Kurri and Kingston Beach and lots of locals. A close finish in Division 1 (scratch to 19) saw Tony O'Rourke (1 handicap) from Bonville and local lass Henny Oldenhove (17), both scoring 35 points, with Tony winning on countback.
In Division 2 (20 to 45), Peter Shepherd (24) scored 37 points to win from Keith Elphick (24) with 36 points. Other good scores were carded by Leslie Mohr 35 and Heather Gray 34. NTPs went to T O'Rourke 2.1m on 2, Graeme Bassam on 5, R Anthony on 7, our chef Craig Mattick won the voucher on 8, Kevin Mulhall 186cm got the voucher on 13, Peter Shepherd 125cm got Stu's ball on 15 and Rod Kinnear took the chocolates on 18. In the ball comp you needed 30 points on countback to collect.
Wednesday was the first women's Monthly Medal Stroke for 2021 with 42 players facing drizzly conditions. Cheri Quinn visiting from Nudgee showed us how the course should be played coming in with 72 nett to be overall winner from A Grade runner-up and medal winner Sue Seymour on 76 nett.
Medal winner in B Grade was Ann Antcliff 76 nett from runner-up Wendy Ritchie 77. Lyn Vidler won the C Grade Medal with 79 nett from Sue O'Donnell runner-up 84 nett.
Sue Brooks had the best gross score with 92 off the stick and Wendy Ritchie won the putting competition with 26. Cheri Quinn won the pizza for nearest the pin on the 13th and Judy Boyle won the pro pin on the 18th. Ball run went to 80 nett.
Thursday was a Medley Single Stableford sponsored by FORTADE - thank you Brad Fortescue.
Threatening weather caused a few cancellations, but we still had 76 starters, and I do not believe anyone had to get the brolly out. In Division 1 (scratch to 18), Colin Wormleaton (11) and Stuart Johnston both scored 35 points - Col won the countback - no doubt due to all the practice that he got while completing the recent Longest Day challenge, where he and Duffo completed 101 holes of golf in one day.
In Division 2 (19 to 45) it was great to see Paul Maxwell (27) have a win with 37 points from Lee Fewings (32) with 35 points. Other good scores were returned by Peter Fredericks 35 and Bryan Ussher 34 points. The ball comp went down to 31 points on countback. NTPs went to Peter Miller on 2, Col Habgood on 5, Peter Bush on 7, Greg Smith on 8, Bruce Berry got the voucher on 13, Ross Donnelly got Stu's ball on 15 and the pro pin jackpot of $71 on 18 went to Garry Thurlow.
Friday was the first round of this year's Haval Island Challenge - a stroke event where the overall monthly winner will get the chance to test drive one of the Haval SUVs for a day, in addition to winning the usual competition trophy.
This month's winner is club treasurer Andrew Johnston (21) who scored a nett 76. Runner-up was our lad Harry McMillan with a nett 69 (and, he had a lost ball on the 4th hole - great golf, Harry).
Scratch winner was Chayse Thorpe (Lynwood) with 76. The women's nett winner was Rhonda Rowe with 77. Other good scores were carded by Peter Moxon 71, and Dennis Ashton, David Gourley, Bryan Ussher, Johnathon Zirkler, Geoffrey McCann and David Alderdice (Toowoomba) all with 73.
NTPs went to Harry McMillan on 2, 'illegible' (so please write clearly) on 5, Harry McMillan again on 7, Kel McGoldrick hit it to 17cm on the 13th, and Harry again on 15, and Rhonda Rowe on 18.
Saturday was a 4BBB Stableford and qualifying round for the Men's Knockout, sponsored by Philip Mander, with a good field of 109.
Winners were Linne Street and Gregory Lucas with a great score of 49, followed by Andrew Macdonald and Garry Thurlow 47, on countback from Colin Wormleaton and Steve Frost. Other good scores were returned by Peter Mizzi and Kevin Mulhall 46 with the ball comp going down to 43 on countback.
NTPs went to Paul Maxwell on 5, Walter Bortoletto on 7, Daniel McInerney on 8, Bill Percy got the voucher on 13, T Robbins got Stu's ball on 15 and the pro pin jackpot of $108 on 18 went to Jacob Newberry.
Congratulations to all 16 qualifiers - a play-off draw is on the golf noticeboard.
Men's representative pennants are on the near horizon. Competition starts on Sunday April 11 - and members wishing to play are asked to put their details on the nomination form on the noticeboard.
This week's golf will see Medley Single Stablefords on Thursday, and Saturday. The ladies are playing a Canadian Foursome on Wednesday. On Friday there will be a 9 hole Chook Run.
Open events coming up include the Women's Opening Day on Wednesday February 24 and Dolphin Day on Thursday February 25.
See you on the Island!
