Report on the 26^th Mid North Coast VGA Open Championship 2008

The Mid North Coast VGA conducted their 26^th Veterans Open Championship at Coffs Harbour’s 27 hole course during the week August 18^th to the 22^nd. The event attracted 174 men and 101 women, a total of 275 from 70 clubs, and was played in excellent weather conditions, on a well presented course. New tournament director Frank Ryan did a great job and was well supported by his committee, and many other club helpers. Registration, the tournament itself, and the dinner at the Coffs Harbour race course complex, attended by 330 people, proceeded well, reflecting the preparation that went into the event. Mid North Coast VGA President Alan Hawkins praised the work done by Frank when Alan addressed the gathering at the dinner. It was pleasing to see Alan’s wife Margaret at the dinner, as she has given strong support to Alan during his many years as tournament director.

The presentation of trophies at the dinner was carried out expediently, and followed NSWVGA policy, with the only doubling up of any trophies occurring with those players who were able to win a NSWVGA trophy on the Thursday. The Monday fourball trophies were presented at the Club on the Monday immediately following the completion of the day’s play.

The field was split into two groups, green and gold, not based on handicap for the allocation of the 18 holes trophies. Each group then contained players from single figures to 27. The 54 holes trophies were awarded over the whole field as each group played the three different combinations of the course during the 54 holes, i.e. holes 1 to 18, holes 10 to 27 and holes 19 to 9.

Overall 54 holes Championship winners:

Men’s nett for the Jack Cathro Shield               :           Dick Farrant (Kiama)

Men’s gross for the Trevor Croal Shield            :           Frank Musgrave (Muree)

Women’s nett for the Glad Irvine Shield            :           Melita Watson (Branxton)

NSWVGA 18 holes winners:

                        Green                                                   Gold

Men:    1^st:    Dick Farrant (Kiama)                   Men:    1^st:   Brian Smith (Horton Park)

            2^nd:   Neil Clare (Bonville)                               2^nd:  Mick Watson (Newcastle)

            3^rd:   Ross Bartlett (Muree)                               3^rd:  Frank Musgrave (Muree)

Women 1^st:  Vicki Parker (Muree)                                1^st:  Melita Watson (Branxton)

            2^nd:   Robyn Kennedy (Moruya)                        2^nd:  Narelle Lyons (Richmond)

Dick Farrant (Kiama) had the highest men’s score of 42 points in this event and so received the NSWVGA perpetual shield.

Other 54 holes trophy winners:

                                    Green                                                   Gold    

Mens nett:        Peter Davidson (Sawtell)                      Col Robbie (Federal)

            R/u       Bob Clarke(Coffs H.)                            Don Ridge (Hawks Nest)

            3^rd        Max Harris (Coffs H.)                          Roger Bemmer (Coffs H.)

Mens gross:      Alan Wallace (Sawtell)             Mick Watson (Newcastle)

            R/u       Chris Gray (Bonville)                            John Ponton (Horton Park)

                                    Div. 1                                                   Div. 2

Womens nett:   Narelle Lyons (Richmond)                    Robyn Kennedy (Moruya)

              R/u     Jenny Tooth (Coff H.)                           Margaret Shay (Campbelltown)

18 Holes trophies:

Men    

                        Green                                                   Gold

Tuesday

Nett W.            Dennis Bayada (Royal Canberra)          Harley Mayne (Cool/Tweed)

       R/u            Ray Pensch (Bonville)               Sudhi Ghosh (Coffs H.)

       3^rd             Clarrie Graham (Sawtell)                      Brian  Gronn (Twin Towns)

       4^th             Harry Melville (Bellingen)                      Jack Purcell (Muree)

       5^th             Wayne Briggs (Keperra)                       Brian Turrell (Dubbo)

Scratch             Alan Hart (Coffs H.)                             Jim Forrester (Gosford)

Thursday

Nett W.            Ross Bartlett (Muree)                           Brian Smith (Horton Park)

       R/u            Andy Colban (Sawtell)                         Don Kaiser (Coffs H.)

       3^rd             Neil Clare (Bonville)                             Owen May (Toowoomba)

       4^th             Peter Holloway (Coffs H.)                    Bill Tearle (Charlestown)

       5^th             Keith Cooper (Twin Towns)                 Cliff Webeck (Coffs H.)

Scratch             Ken Madden (Merewether)                  Ian Hickey (Coffs H.)

Friday

Nett W.            Ian Harris (Nowra)                               Lance Sykes (Port Mac.)

       R/u            Trevor Durand (Redland Bay)   Les Thornborough (Coffs H.)       

       3^rd             Ian Bettenson (Mona Vale)                   Andy Grecian (Coffs H.)

       4^th             Brian Bayless (Sawtell)               Geoff Webeck (Pennant Hills)

       5^th             Robert Bonness (Coffs H.)                    Ken Aird (Maitland)

Scratch             Alan Hawkins (Coffs H.)                      Col Darley (Nowra)

Women

                        Div. 1                                                   Div. 2

Tuesday

Nett W.            Nola Sykes (Port Mac.)              Annia Bettenson (Mona Vale)

       R/u            Gwilma Newton (Coffs H.)                     Mary Robbie (Federal)

       3^rd             Sue Horton (Merewether)                     Thelma Bartlett (Muree)

       4^th             Anne Purcell (Muree)                           Margaret Holloway (Coffs H.)

       5^th             Patricia Lumley (Coffs H.)                    Anne Bulley (Coffs H.)

Thursday

Nett W.            Kit Goodsell (Coffs H.)   Vicki Parker (Muree)

       R/u            Kristine Douglas (Richmond)                Lynnette Elliott (Liverpool)

       3^rd             Helen Broadbent (Gosford)                  Lois Ellworthy (Coffs H.)

       4^th             Annette Beilby (Grange)                        Marie Bourke (Port Kembla)

       5^th             Pauline Hurst (Richmond)                     Marlene Bradley (Coffs H.)

Friday

Nett W.            Pamela Couch (Wantima)   Sue Boundy (Tugg. Lakes)

      R/u             Marion Thomas (Horton Park)  Marilyn Craig (Coffs H.)

      3^rd              Robyn Lander (Keperra)                      Marlene Graham (Charlestown)

      4^th              Joan Griffin (Coffs H.)               Barbara Olde (Everglades)

      5^th              Faye Ballard (Coffs H.)                        Zel Turrell (Dubbo)

Again Bob Irvine presented two magnificent timber chessboards for the Bradman winners, the recipients being Magda Riches (Grange) and Ian Ireland (Woolooware).

All proceeds that Bob can make from the sales of his special chess boards  are forwarded to missions around the world to assist in medical expenses and the supply of Christian literature.

Monday Fourball Results:

Men:                                                    Green                                                  

Winners            Kevin Findlayson (Horton Park) + Bob Harrison (Port Kembla)            44

R/u                   Wayne Briggs (Keperra) + Tom Clapham (Keperra)                             43*

3^rd                    Barry Glenn (Coffs H.) + Max Harris (Coffs H.)                                   43

4^th                    Arthur Shepherd (Bonville) + Chris Gray (Bonville)                               42

                                                            Gold

Winners            Terry Rapley (Sawtell) + Les Thorn borough (Coffs H.)                        47*

R/u                   Russell Bennett (Coffs H.) + Sam Tooth (Coffs H.)                               47

3^rd                    Peter Ponton (Horton Park) + Warren Noble (Nelson Bay)                  46

4^th                    Roger Bemmer (Coffs H.) + Robert Heaney (Hervey Bay)                    44

Women

Winners            Helen Broadbent (Gosford) + Joan Griffin (Coffs H.)                            47

R/u                   Kristine Douglas (Richmond) + Pauline Hurst (Richmond)                     43*

3^rd                    Marion May (Toowoomba) + Kathleen Sheridan (Bonville)                   43*

4^th                    Elaine Woods (Russell Vale) + Marji-Liisa Sutinen (Grange)                  43

Dick Farrant

Secretary NSWVGA                                                                                                  

Dick Farrant