Noosa, seeking an unprecedented four A grade pennant titles in a row, roared into this year’s semi-finals after smashing Maroochy River 5-2 in the final fixture match on Sunday.
The in-form Noosa lads will play Maroochy River again on Sunday, but so emphatic was their win they will be heavily favoured to again beat Maroochy River, despite the semi-final being played at their Bli Bli circuit.
That will likely set Noosa up for another final against Headland, the team Noosa has beaten for pennant honours in the past two seasons. Headland completed an unbeaten season by downing Peregian 4-3 on Sunday.
Noosa’s win was secured because of the consistency and strength of its team from top to bottom. At the top of the list, George Giblett took care of Maroochy River’s dangerous Jarrod Whittal 1up, while Ryan Mulder (6&4), Alex Officer (3&2), young Bronson White (3&1) and Grant Baker (2&1) all scored good wins.
Noosa’s B grade pennant team set up a semi-final clash with Cooroy after beating Gympie 4½-2½ on Sunday, Michael Nassereddin starring with an emphatic 6&4 win over Gympie’s Darren Burns.
Cooroy, however, will be hard to beat after walloping Noosa Springs 5-2, Jason Norris (5&3) and Mark Arundel (7&6) scoring big wins down the list.
Sunday’s semi-finals will be played at Maroochy River with the action beginning at 7am.
In junior pennants, defending Division 1 champion Noosa Springs earned a place in the final by defeating cross-town rivals Noosa 3-1 in an absorbing contest.
No 1 player Sunday Moore, who has led her team admirably throughout the season, went down 4&3 to Maddison Kelly, but her sister Coco (2 up), Alex Bray (2 up) and Jasmine Lena (2&1) won their matches to complete an unbeaten run for Noosa Springs.
The three girls, all members of last year’s champion team, and Alex will take on Maroochy River 2 in the final – just as they did last year. Maroochy River 2 won a finals berth by beating Maroochy River 1 2½-1½.
In Division 2, Noosa played its way into the final by drawing with Maroochy River 4, before Noosa’s Amy Coates beat Maroochy River’s Rhys Cusack on the first playoff hole with a net birdie. They will now take on Mt Coolum for the title.
The finals will be played at Headland on August 21.
Check out all the weekend results on www.sunshinecoastgolf.org.
Ted retired too late
The only thing Ted Clark regrets about retiring to Noosa is that he didn’t do it 10 years earlier.
The former Victorian plumber and commercial cleaner moved north a couple of years ago, joined Noosa Golf Club, and quickly proceeded to make up for lost time on the golf course.
He even bought himself a retirement present – a new set of Ping i525 irons, a Calloway Rogue ST driver and a couple of Titleist TS2 fairway woods.
Armed with a bag full of impressive gear, Ted’s game rapidly improved, assisted by advice from club pros Anthony Edwards and Shane Healey, and tips he picked up from watching YouTube videos.
A year ago he won the Noosa Vets C grade net and gross championships and Ted, in his own words, became a golf tragic.
“My wife says I spend too much time playing golf, but I enjoy it so much,” he said.
Ted’s long left C grade ranks, and these days his name regularly features on the A grade leader boards in Vets competition.
Indeed, last week he won the A grade trophy, scoring 43 points despite two double bogeys. The performance saw his handicap trimmed by two strokes, but Ted couldn’t be happier.
“I’m excited to be playing so consistently,” he said.
“I seem to be getting everything together.”
Ted played only social golf while he was living and working in Victoria, and relishes the chance to devote more time to the game in retirement.
He plays Vets on Wednesdays, seldom misses the members’ competition on Saturdays, and practices whenever he can.
“I love life at Noosa,” he said. “I only wish we’d moved here eight or 10 years ago.”
Robyn contends in US title
Robyn Puckett, the former Dalby girl who now divides her time between California and Noosa, did Australia proud last week when she reached the playoffs of the US Senior Women’s Amateur at Anchorage golf course in Alaska.
Robyn, twice a winner of the Australian Women’s Senior Amateur and runner-up in the 2017 event when it was held at Maroochy River, shot rounds of 76 and 78 in the stroke play section to be tied 12th and qualified for the round of 64.
That, alas, was as far as it went for Robyn, who lives in California for much of the year, but always spends a few months at Noosa, where she and her American husband Bernard become part-time members of Noosa Springs.
She was knocked out by American Lynn Thompson, who later went all the way to the quarter-finals. The only other Australian in the event – Victorian Sue Wooster – reached the final, only to lose to Canadian Shelly Stouffer 4&3.
Robyn has had an impressive amateur golf career, representing Australia in the World Cup.
She played professionally on the LPGA Tour in the US, choosing to remain in that country after her career came to a close.
Spring golf classic ends at Noosa Springs
Following the sell-out Sunshine Coast Winter Classic, which attracted golfers from throughout Australia, organisers are busily processing applications for this year’s Spring Classic, to be played in October.
The 72-hole stableford event, graded and open to men and women, will be played at four of the Sunshine Coast’s finest courses, culminating in the final round at Noosa Springs on Friday, October 14.
Earlier rounds will be played at Maroochy River, Peregian and Twin Waters with play beginning on Monday, October 10. The Wednesday will be a rest day, providing visitors with an opportunity to explore our region.
The $695 entry fee includes four days of golf in electric carts, daily lunches, a welcome function, gift pack, optional practice rounds at reduced rates, and generous prizes for daily and overall winners.
Bookings are being accepted now, with entry forms available by visiting golfsunshinecoast.com.au
Club competitions
NOOSA
Monday 1 August
Women’s stableford: A grade – Michelle Linklater 39; B grade – Dianne Moncrieff 36; women’s, 9 holes: Lou Bowen 17.
Tuesday 2 August
Men’s stableford: A grade – Karl Gottschalk 40, David Connolly 37c/b, High Dolan 37c/b, Richard Remy 37c/b; B grade – Mal Condon 40, John Osmaston 39, Derek Pousette 37c/b, John Henry 37c/b; C grade – Dave Wellington 43, Michael Jedynak 40, Peter McDonald 38c/b, Lloyd Pardon 38c/b.
Wednesday 3 August
Vets stableford: A grade – Ted Clark 43, David Murray 39c/b, Brian Jackson 39; B grade – Phil Griffiths 39, John Duke 38, Michael Kumm 37c/b; C grade – John Sharp 39, Dudley Hobbes 37c/b, Paul McKernan 37c/b.
Thursday 4 August
Women’s stroke: A grade – Allana Moore 69, Fiona Watson 71c/b; B grade – Christine Baker 70, Megan Breid 73; C grade – Denise Read 69, Jennifer Thrasher 71c/b; women’s stableford: Liz Bennett 37.
Saturday 6 August
Men’s stroke: A grade – Warick Redwood 68, Richard Van Den Heuvel 71c/b, Peter Fryer 71, Michael Nassereddin 72c/b; B grade – Tony Lincoln 65, Graham Dacombe 69, Mark Ostwald 70, John Osmaston 71c/b; C grade – Miles Roxbury 68, Robert Upham 69, Rex Lawn 70c/b, Peter Baynes 70; women’s: Janis Rimkus 71c/b, Paula Jeffrey 71, Peta Mancktelow 73c/b.
NOOSA SPRINGS
Monday 1 August
Men’s stableford: A grade – Jack Chalmers 37, Peter Foulsham 36, Greg Taylor 34; B grade – Jeff Forbes 35, Robert Hobson 34, Robert Ellis 31c/b; women’s: A grade – Sally Simmons -2c/b, Elise Fisher -2, Dianne Hudson -3c/b; B grade – Jillian Wilson -3, Barbara Stott -6, Marlo Douglass -7.
Tuesday 2 August
Men’s stableford: Stuart McFarland 32c/b, Lindsay Burton 32, Ian Donnachy 31c/b; women’s: Susan Rowell 34c/b, Pam Burton 34, June Feetham 30.
Wednesday 3 August
Men’s stableford: Jonathon Edwards 40, Paul Liddy 38c/b, David Hay 38; B grade – Nils Faerch 38c/b, Darryl Dent 38, Vince Green 37; mixed 4BBB stableford (Millford Challenge): Mike Angus & Dana Angus 45, Kerry McFarland & Kerry Sunderland 43c/b, Stephen Walker & Helen Ringrose 43c/b.
Thursday 4 August
Men’s stableford, black tee: Dan Flanagan 38; men’s stableford (Millford Challenge): Mike Angus 35, Brett Dudley 33, Les Nelson 32; ladies: Helen Aynsley 43, Lee-Ann Hay 39, Susan Walker 35.
Saturday 6 August
Men’s Monthly Medal, stroke: A grade – Peter Schouten 71, Jean-Paul Ricca 72c/b, Paul Betar 72c/b; B grade – Paul Bell 74c/b, Renato Monacella 74, Neil Cutting 76c/b; women’s: Tracey Carter 70, Noi Pike 74, Dorothy Marlow 75.
Sunday 7 August
Men’s stableford: A grade – Paul Bell 42, David Geddes 38, Ned Richards 36; B grade – Robin O’Connell 36, Joshua Bell 35, Michael Foskett 34; women’s: Rosemary Scarborough 41, Wendy Hopping 36.
COOROY
Tuesday 2 August
Women’s stroke, 9 holes: Toni Mason 33, Wendy Morse 34, Wendy Pearson 35.
Wednesday 3 August
Vets stroke: A grade – Kerry Davies 69, Keith Harkins 71c/b, Greg Michael 71; B grade – Ross Maloney 68, Peter Palmer 71c/b, Neville Kunst 71c/b; C grade – James Henderson 67, Steve Paice 70, Paul O’Hare 72.
Thursday 4 August
Women’s stableford: Elaine Henman 36, Wendy O’Hare 34c/b, Aileen Morton 34.
Saturday 6 August
Men’s par: A grade – Jason Martin +5, Mitch Davies +3c/b, Terry Magill +3; B grade – Ross Maloney +9, Daniel Davy +1, Derek Clayton 0.
