THE inaugural Geoff King VW Safety Beach Golf Club Classic, held on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, is set to become an annual event.

Attracting over 200 contestants it will act as a qualifying event for the NSW Golf Open next year.

“The event is a big deal for the Club and the area’s golfing fraternity,” Keith Cameron, Group Marketing Manager at Wyong Leagues Group, for Safety Beach Golf Club, told News Of The Area.

Billy Flanagan, Coffs Harbour Golf Club Champion, at 21 years old, won the 2022 Geoff King VW Safety Beach Golf Classic, which saw some of the region’s best golfing talent tee-ing off early in the day on a course covered in a Scottish mist with some frustrating showers and little to no breeze.

“The conditions, however, didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the contestants who played some great golf,” said Keith.

“As the mist and showers faded, the course presented in immaculate condition with fast true greens.”

Playing in an early group, Billy Flanagan worked his magic around the course to record a 2 under par (70) which made him the club house leader after round 1, taking a handy 4 shot lead over the field.

“The final seeded group for day two was a clash of four players representing four golf clubs.”

Billy Flanagan from Coffs Harbour GC, Logan Toms from Safety Beach Golf Club, Gio Zugajev from Bonville Golf Club and Matt Mc Kee from Grafton Golf Club.

On day two, the Sunday conditions were a world away from the previous day’s first round.

“Conditions were sunny and warm with strong blustery winds which made shot making tricky,” said Keith.

At the end of the tournament, Billy Flanagan prevailed in trying conditions for a 5-shot win with rounds of 70 and 77.

He was followed by Logan Toms (74 and 78) and David Orr who produced a second round of 76 to add to his first round of 79 which saw him jump into third.

With a two-round total of 155 in 4th place was Bonville’s Gio Zugajev with rounds of 75 and 81.

“Congratulations to all golfers who participated in what is hoped will become a major weekend in their golfing calendar,” said Keith.

Safety Beach Golf Club NSW is an 18-hole seaside course with a challenging par of 72 of 5,678 metres and a layout where position takes precedence over length.

Water comes into play on fifteen holes with gently sloping greens to multi-tiered greens frequented by plenty of spectators in the form of the vast native kangaroo population.

By Andrea FERRARI