By Peter Owen
Alan Wong, the Brisbane accountant with the Midas touch, won Thursday’s Mercedes Trophy at Noosa Springs and continued his remarkable run of golfing success on Sunshine Coast courses.
In the last few months, Alan has won Maroochy River’s monthly signature Black Swan event twice, and was beaten on a countback in a third. And, with a few of his mates, he finished second in the national Scramble Championship final at Twin Waters.
So it was almost inevitable that Alan, a member of Ipswich’s Sandy Gallop Golf Club, should also claim Thursday’s hotly contested stableford event at Noosa Springs.
The competition was confined to Mercedes-Benz owners and guests. Ironically, though he’s very much a Mercedes-Benz client, Alan doesn’t drive himself.
Instead he buys Mercedes-Benz cars and presents them to members of staff at his Indooroopilly accounting firm who notch up 10 years’ service.
Trying to make sense of his remarkable run of success on Sunshine Coast courses, Alan modestly suggested: “I’m just having a wonderful run of luck.”
Whenever Alan comes to the Sunshine Coast, he brings with him a group of friends – fellow golf tragics, like himself, who enjoy each other’s company and love playing our courses.
On Thursday, for instance, his playing group included his property developer mate Warren Seeto, who was also a member of the team that represented Mt Coolum when runners-up in the Scramble final at Twin Waters in March.
Alan tallied 40 points to win the Mercedes Trophy from visitors Lance Masterton and Harry Mostert.
In the women’s division, Sunshine Coaster Rosie Randall scored 36 points to beat Jessica Barrett and Madeleine Scott by two points.
Mark sets fine example for veteran Gus
Popular Noosa pro Mark Tickle will be the first to admit his best days on the golf course are probably behind him.
But that doesn’t stop the former head pro at Noosa Golf Club from being an enthusiastic member of the national Legends Tour and a regular competitor in Noosa club events when he’s at home.
That’s where he found himself last week – playing alongside longtime member Gus Torney in the Tuesday Club’s stableford competition.
“It’s a privilege to play with somebody like Mark,” Gus said.
“He’s a great player, a great bloke and he doesn’t mind passing on a suggestion or two when asked.
“Playing with him helps you to stay focused and get the best out of your game.”
It certainly worked for Gus who’s been a member at Noosa since he relocated to the Sunshine Coast from Albury 37 years ago.
He scored 43 points to win the A grade division, and reckoned that playing well, enjoying the company of his playing partners and sharing a few beers after the round amounted to a pretty good day.
Gus, who learnt the game as a young man in Albury, joined Tewantin Noosa on his arrival, but wasn’t a regular player in those early days.
Instead he tried his hand at a number of jobs, including running a backpacker hostel in Gympie Terrace and managing pubs, before becoming a successful builder.
He plays golf at Noosa and Noosa Springs, and is looking forward to retiring one day soon, when he will be able to spend more time playing the game he loves.
Legendary golfer left his mark on Noosa
Many people associated with the early days of the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic in Noosa will have shed a tear at the passing last week of the legendary founder of that iconic event.
Jack Newton, who died at the age of 72, was a trailblazer, fearless competitor, respected commentator and a mentor of countless young Australian golfers.
But, despite his 1970 Australian Open victory and his runner-up finishes in the 1975 British Open and the 1980 US Masters, perhaps his greatest legacy is Australia’s longest running and most successful celebrity golf tournament, which began at Tewantin Noosa 42 years ago.
The first celebrities were Ronnie Corbett and Ricky May, who set the trend and helped create the great feel of the event. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke was a regular competitor, as were some of Australia’s most famous actors, sports identities, comedians and television stars.
The event grew in size and reputation and in 1992 relocated to Twin Waters, which could accommodate all the guests under one roof. In 2006 Newton took the tournament to the Hunter Valley region of NSW, where it is now hosted at the Cypress Lakes resort.
Newton turned professional in 1971, becoming one of Australia’s most successful golfers throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
Tragically, his career was cut short following a near-fatal aircraft accident in July 1983. After walking into the spinning propeller of a plane, Newton lost his right arm and eye and sustained severe abdominal injuries.
During recent years the great man had suffered from dementia and his death was put down to health complications.
Bowditch comeback hits a snag
Steven Bowditch, striving to make a comeback to big-time golf after a two-year absence, again failed to make the cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event at Arlington, Texas, last week.
It was the second time Bowditch, the two-time PGA winner who honed his game as a Noosa junior, had played a Korn Ferry Tour event in the past few weeks.
Both times he finished near the rear of the field.
Competing last week in the Veritex Bank Championship, Bowditch shot rounds of 74 and 76, with only fellow Australian Rhein Gibson (80, 76) behind him in the standings after 36 holes.
Spotlight turns to Cooroy in June
Two of the biggest events on Cooroy Golf Club’s calendar – the Cooroy Women’s Open and the Cooroy Men’s Open – will be played in June.
The women’s open, on Tuesday 7 June, will be played in three divisions – Divisions 1 and 2 playing a stroke event, while Division 3 will be a stableford competition.
Everybody will play stroke in the men’s open on Sunday 19 June. There will be gross and net winners in three grades, with an overall gross and net winner.
Noosa junior stars in big Headland event
Noosa teenager Shane Dunning shot rounds of 79 and 78 to win Division 2 of the Men’s Sunshine Coast Amateur Championship at Headland at the weekend. Shane also finished third in the junior category.
Outright winner was Brookwater’s Will Florimo, who fired two outstanding rounds of four-under 69.
Club competitions
NOOSA
Monday 11 April
Women’s stableford: A grade – Lynette Cuss 35c/b, Rosemary Caffyn 35, Diana Stagg 34c/b; B grade – Mary Stockwell 37, Maureen Burgess 36, Christine Baker 35.
Tuesday 12 April
Men’s stableford: A grade – Gus Torney 43, Craig Strudwick 41, Michael Nassereddin 40, Peter Cossins 39c/b; B grade – Bart Jaques 38c/b, Geoff Clayton 38, Michael Norman 37c/b, Bob Cox 37c/b; C grade – Keith Moore 39, Graeme Martin 38, Robert Upham 37c/b, Billy McNally 37c/b.
Wednesday 13 April
Vets stableford: A grade – David Hinder 41, Dave Whitehead 40, Peter O’Brien 36; B grade – Colin MacFarlane 38c/b, Graeme Caffyn 38, David Young 37c/b; C grade – Colin Dean 40, John Kerr 39, Danny Woodward 38c/b.
NOOSA SPRINGS
Monday 11 April
Men’s Senior Medal, stroke: Brian O’Keefe 66, Steve Walker 68c/b, Paul Grant 68; women’s: Jenny Aitken 70, Lin Stafford 72c/b, Sandra Probert 72.
Tuesday 12 April
Men’s stableford: Timothy Fletcher 41, Graham Owen 35c/b, Phillip Bushby 35.
Wednesday 13 April
Men’s stableford: Mike Angus 42c/b, William Jaede 42, Darryl Dent 41; women’s: Marie Osborne 40c/b, Sue Jackson 40, Fran Clements 37.
Thursday 14 April
Men’s stableford, Mercedes Trophy: Alan Wong 40, Lance Masterton 39, Harry Mostert 35; women’s: Rosie Randall 36, Jessica Barrett 34c/b, Madeleine Scott 34.
Saturday 16 April
Men’s stableford: Paul Weatherstone 42, Finn Boyle 40, Jim Williams 38; women’s: Lorna Gibson 38, Elise Fisher 37c/b, Dianne Hudson 37.
COOROY
Monday 11 April
Vets stableford: Div 1 – Andy Stewart 38, Mike Kent 37; Div 2 – Geoff Pembroke 36, Mat McQueen 34; Div 3 – Don Clelland 39, Alex Kologaras 37.
Wednesday 13 April
Vets stableford: A grade – Mike Kent 41; B grade – Greg Flanagan 39; C grade – Graham Burgen 43.
Thursday 14 April
Women’s stableford: Tina Thomas 38, Lynne Dawson 36.
