RUGBY league’s State of Origin is billed as mate against mate, but it had nothing on the rivalry when two Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club teams were pitched against one another in the first round of the Mid North Coast pennant competition.
Teams from Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, South West Rocks and Macleay Valley also did battle on Monday 17 March at The Island but the keenest interest centred on the hometown ding-dong between the host club’s Dolphins and Stingrays sides.
No quarter was given as the Stingrays took a nail-biter 3 matches to 2.
“With six rounds remaining we look forward to one of our teams taking out the honours,” Dolphin Henny Oldenhove said.
In the Home Instead medley par event on Saturday 22 March, Daryl Wall hit his surname on the first hole, shuffling off with a seven and an easy minus.
But regather he did, with 11 pars and two birdies on the remaining 17 holes for a 74 off the stick to finish plus-4.
That gave the 10-marker the chocolates in Div 1, ahead of Ashton Herbert (6 handicap) who found beast mode to finish on plus-3.
Geoff McCann (16) had a so-so today with minus-1 but it was enough for the win in Div 2 from Patrick Handsaker (17) on minus-2.
McCann had further reason to party as he hit it to 84cm on 13 to win the Pizza This Pizza That and secure a straightforward par on the hole.
Bernie Dugdale (27) found the par event very much to his liking with plus-4 to belt Div 3 with the next best being David Dickings (42) on square.
Greg Smith scored the Ecomist longest putt on the 1st while the pins went to Nathan Beverley on 5, Greg Jager on 7, Nev Newman on 8, and Stephen Kimber on 15 while dual member (Sawtell and Nambucca) Joey Franck won the $90 Pro Pin on the last.
Warren Fuller’s (23) white hot form continued on Thursday 20 March when he posted 40 points to take Div 2 of the Home Instead medley stableford.
Toronto Country Club’s Glenn Trubody (21) was runner-up on 38.
In Div 1, Daniel Wassens (15) saluted with 37 points to edge Greg Smith (11) on a countback.
Peter Bush got the putt from afar on 1, while Nathon Ison won the pin on 5, Hans Jensen on 7, Graham Watson on 8, John Crosby the pizza on 13, Andrew MacKinnon on 15 and Garry Johnstone the $70 Pro Pin on 18.
The women played an American foursomes stroke on Wednesday 19 March with Lyn Grose and Thea Kimber combining magnificently like cheese and Vegemite to post 67.87 nett for the W.
Henny Oldenhove and Denise Paluch were runners-up on 71.75, squeaking home ahead of Martine Murray and Glenys Thompson on 72.62.
Gillian Anderson won the pin on 5, Thompson on 13 and Lyn Parkes the $44 Pro Pin on the last.
Michael Jolly (7) had a red-letter day with 70 off the bat and a whopping 42 points to win the Home Instead medley stableford on Tuesday 18 March.
The closest in his rear mirror was Ben Honeybrook (12) on 39 commendable points.
Jolly also collected the pin on 15, while the others went to Ashton Herbert on 5, Hans Jansen on 7, Nev Newman on 8 and Colin Habgood pocketed the $40 Pro Pin on 18. Rhonda Rowe snaffled the pizza voucher on 13.
The Mid North Coast men’s pennants competition also got underway this week, and Nambucca’s top side was overwhelmed away to Sawtell in Div 2.
On dewy greens, four of the matches ended brutally quickly, leaving the visitors to ponder ‘who killed Kenny?’ in the remaining game. Thankfully Ken Klem saved blushes for The Island as he took his Sawtell opponent to the last, prevailing 2-up. Sawtell 4, Nambucca 1.
The club’s Div 3 side was also away, heading south to Kempsey where they secured what could prove a very valuable halved match.
Joe Street and pennant debutant Garry Johnstone secured fabled victories while team captain Steve Doherty squared his contest. Kempsey 2.5, Nambucca 2.5.
The Island’s Div 4 side had an easy win over the bye, and the young and not-so-green lads are champing at the bit for selection, and action, this weekend.
Catchya on The Island if the river doesn’t grab you first.
By Chris KNIGHT
