By Peter Owen
FRESH from a three-month break from competitive golf, Peregian’s Cassie Porter is about to head to the United States for a series of tournaments that could lead to securing a priceless opportunity to compete on the rich US LPGA Tour.
Porter, who impressed everybody with a series of consistent performances on the Australian Women’s PGA Tour earlier in the year, has been in limbo since that tour went into recess in April.
“It’s given me an opportunity to rest, practice and work on my game,” Porter said. “Now I can’t wait to get back into tournament play.”
Porter will fly to the US on August 4 to prepare for the Four Winds Invitational at South Bend, Indiana – a 54-hole tournament which will be played from August 12 to 14.
The event is part of the Epson Tour, secondary to the LPGA Tour, and will provide Porter with an opportunity to test her game against some of the world’s most promising golfers.
“Lots of girls I competed with in Australia play on the Epson Tour and I’m looking forward to catching up with them,” she said.
Porter plans to return to Australia after that event, and go back to the US for a series of events leading up to qualifying tournaments for next year’s LPGA Tour.
After turning professional just before Christmas, Porter reeled off a string of ultra-consistent performances that stamped her in the top bracket of Australian professional golfers.
She tied for 18th in the Melbourne International before five straight top 10 showings – in the TPS Victoria, Victorian Open, TPS Murray River, TPS Sydney and TPS Hunter Valley – before contending strongly in the Australian Women’s Classic at Bonville and the Women’s NSW Open at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads in April.
Steve grabs the chance to play
HAD IT not been for the dismal weather forecast for the rest of the week, Steve Grey would not have even been playing in Noosa’s Tuesday Club stableford event last week.
He hadn’t played for four weeks, the pressure of his work as a carpet cleaner taking precedence over his desire to tee it up with his mates at his favourite golf course.
“But it looked like it was going to rain for the next few days and I thought I’d best get in at least one round of golf while I could,” he said.
Steve’s glad he made the decision.
In perfect conditions before the rain began to fall last week, he his drives straight, made many of his putts, and signed for a round of 43 points – easily good enough for a win in B grade.
“It wasn’t anything special,” said the modest golfer who has been a member at Noosa for the past six years. “I’m certainly no champion player, but things went my way this time.”
When he can find the time, Steve plays regularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays and, like most golfers, says the real pleasure is spending time with good mates and enjoying their company.
He’s lived on the Sunshine Coast for 20 years but, until he joined Noosa, Steve was a social golfer, taking up the game more seriously to generate a better balance between work and recreation.
His great play – which included shooting one-over par on the front nine – led to his handicap being trimmed by two strokes.
But Steve doesn’t care. “Maybe it will give somebody else a chance to win next week,” he said.
Rain shuts down Cooroy Open
COOROY’S Women’s Open, postponed once before because of flooding rains, was called off again on Friday as heavy rain made the course unplayable.
The event, the highlight of the Cooroy women’s golf calendar, had attracted a strong field of golfers from throughout southeast Queensland.
It is unlikely the event will be rescheduled this year.
Acupuncture is the answer for Katelyn
PEREGIAN teaching professional Katelyn Must, rejuvenated by a program of acupuncture that has recharged her body, has been selected to represent Australia in the Women’s PGA Cup to be played in the United States in October.
Must, who worked as a coach at Noosa Springs before becoming the teaching pro at Peregian, will fly to the US in mid-October for the international event, which will be played at Twin Warriors Golf Club in New Mexico from October 24 to 29.
“It’s a great thrill to be wearing the green and golf and representing your country,” Must said. “It’s the biggest thing I’ve done in golf.”
A former trainee at Horton Park who relocated to Western Australia to further her career, Must has struggled with back injuries for most of her career.
But she says a decision to consult a Coolum acupuncturist has worked wonders and restored movement to her body.
“I’ve never felt better and I’m really looking forward to the future,” she said.
Each team in the Women’s PGA Cup comprises five players who are PGA members working in the golfing industry. Must won the Queensland qualifying tournament at Bribie Island in June.
The 54-hole competition saw America beat Canada in the inaugural event in 2019, with Great Britain & Ireland third on 698 points, followed by Australia and Sweden.
“But we’ve got a very strong team this year and we’ll be hard to beat,” Must said.
The 2022 field will consist of 30 players, representing seven countries and six professional golfers’ associations including Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, Sweden and the United States.
Noosa settles for a draw with Peregian
WITH George Giblett and Toby Harding scoring important wins, Noosa held on for a 3.5-3.5 draw with Peregian in third round A grade pennant competition on Sunday.
Playing at home, Peregian put up a strong showing against a team that has won the past three A grade pennants, indicating the even nature of competition this season.
Joining Giblett (3&2) and Harding (3&1) as Noosa winners was Alex Officer, who beat Nic Duncan 3&2. Grant Baker and Peregian’s Billy Ashton squared their match.
In other A grade contests, Mt Coolum surprised Maroochy River 4.5-2.5, and Headland continued its unbeaten run, thrashing Caloundra 5.5-1.5.
B grade and Masters pennant action was called off because of the condition of the course at Tin Can Bay. Each team will be awarded one point.
Entries open for Noosa Springs’ signature event
ENTRIES are being accepted for this year’s Noosa Springs Open – an opportunity to play Noosa Springs’ outstanding golf course at reduced rates while competing for exceptional prizes.
This year’s Open, to be played on Sunday, September 11, is an 18-hole stableford event and is open to all golfers with an official Golf Australia handicap.
It costs $89 ($39 for Noosa Springs’ members) and players can download an entry form from the Noosa Springs website or contact the Golf Shop on 5440 3325.
Club competitions
NOOSA
Monday, 18 July
Women’s stableford: A grade – Alison Keogh 40, Jillian Graham 37; 9 holes: Robin MacKenzie 21, Trisha Dunn 20.
Tuesday, 19 July
Men’s stableford: A grade – Tony Giles 37, Chris Wright 36c/b, Joe Ottaway 36, Alex Officer 35c/b; B grade – Steve Grey 43, Robin Versluys 41, Robbert Willink 40c/b, Michael Kerz 40; C grade – Gregory Hinson 39, Dieter Hoffman 38c/b, John Hughes 38, Robert Upham 36.
Wednesday, 20 July
Vets stableford: A grade – David Whiticker 39, Graham Farrell 38, David Murray 37; B grade – Murray Joseph 36c/b, Phil Griffiths 36c/b, Rex Lawn 36; C grade – Paul Davis 36, Ken Wales 33, Renze Bais 32.
Saturday, 23 July
Men’s stableford: A grade – James Lonie 38, Carl Harrison 37c/b, Michael Cookman 37; B grade – Trevor Payne 39, Dale Robinson 35, Jack Bryant 34c/b; C grade – Grainger Mayfield 39, Jon Friend 35, David Young 34; women’s: Jess Fleming 34, Allana Moore 32c/b, Tash Baker 32.
NOOSA SPRINGS
Monday, 18 July
Men’s 4BBB stableford: Michael Hart & Christopher Wilson 45, Mike Dehnert & Rob Probert 43, Peter Butt & Julian Harburg 42; men’s stableford: A grade – Mike Dehnert 38, David Hay 36; B grades – Terry Quinn 39, Peter Butt 37c/b; women’s: A grade – Dianne Tonge 37, Rosie Randall 33c/b; B grade – Sarah Bate 36, Jo Clayton 35,
Tuesday, 19 July
Men’s stableford: John Taylor 31, Graham Owen 30c/b, Kede Carboni 30; women’s: Jodi Carboni 35, Wendy Dauphin 34, Fay Geddes 33.
Wednesday, 20 July
4-ball aggregate stableford (best 3 count): Paul Phillips, Silvana Phillips, Elise Fisher & Ray Fisher 99; Norman Larcombe, Jill Larcombe, Kevin Perkins & Rosemary Perkins 98c/b; Mike Angus, Dana Angus, Peter Catchlove & Margot McGhie 98.
Saturday, 23 July
Men’s stableford: Peter Catchlove 35, Paul Sanderson 33, Doug Oates 32; women’s: Tracey Carter 30, Kelly Lynch 29.
Sunday, 24 July
Men’s stableford: A grade – Simon Hennessy 35c/b, Wade Steinbach 35, Craig Hooper 34; B grade – Carl Beck 42, Ray Brown 33, Bruce McCleary 31; women’s: Maralyn Beamish 33.
COOROY
Tuesday, 19 July
Women’s 9-hole stableford: Prue Aldridge 20, Jennifer Webster 18, Carolyn Foster 17c/b.
