Illawarra VGA Week of Golf
Mon 16th February – Fri 20th February 2026
132 veteran golfers (82 men and 50 women), from 48 clubs in NSW and Queensland, attended the 34th annual running of the Illawarra Veterans Week of Golf with players enjoying great weather over the whole playing week. The only rough day occurred on the Wednesday rest day.
Tournament Director Steve Wicks made comment about the number of early entrants this year, so much so that a wait list had to be put in place some six weeks before the start of the event.

The program saw a fourball event conducted on the Monday at the Links Shell Cove, followed by a 2-day 36-hole event on Tuesday and

Thursday featuring the NSWVGA shield and Illawarra VGA shield competitions at the Grange and Port Kembla clubs, and then finally a standalone single stableford event on the Friday at Kiama GC.

All players appreciated the fact that they were able to play four vastly different courses during the week, all presented in top condition, and so becoming familiar with four of the five courses selected for the 2027 AVGA National Championships. The fifth course is Shoalhaven Heads which some players experienced in last weeks Shoalhaven Week of Golf.

The Friday afternoon presentation dinner at Kiama

was a fitting finale to a successful week of golf following the Kiama shot gun start at 8 a.m. Players commented very positively about morning scones and the spotters around the course.
The NSWVGA Council was represented by President John Daley (Grafton), Councillor John Knox (Kiama) and Councillor Catherine Pautsch (Crescent Head), with Catherine carrying out the official duties of presentation of the NSWVGA Shields, as well as checking on all participants re their membership of the NSWVGA.
Monday Fourball Results:
The field at the Links Shell Cove was split into two sections, one containing men pairs, and the second made up of all mixed pairings.
Section 1 results for MM
Winners: Karl SCHUHMEIER (Antill Park) and Shaun HAHN (Tully Park) 45
R/Up: Gary BUCHANAN (Gungahlin) and John FIELDING (Kiama) 44
3rd: Paul DALEY and Wayne FINKELDE (Forster/Tuncurry) 43
Section 2 results for M/F
Winners: Nigel EVES and Charmaine PATTISON (Nelson Bay) 48
R/U: John DALEY and Lee DALEY (Grafton) 47
3rd: Graeme BOYD and Diane Boyd (Chindera/Tweed) 46
36 Holes Event for the NSWVGA Shields and accompanying prizes.
The IVGA added some funds to those forwarded by the NSWVGA to ensure that the two NSWVGA shield winners received the highest value prize for the whole week, as per NSWVGA policy.
In conjunction with this 36-hole event, the IVGA presented mini shields and vouchers for both men and women for the annual IVGA shield over the 36 holes.
Men’s 36 holes NSWVGA Shield Results

Winner: Alan MELRICK Everglades 79

R/U: Kevin Mc INNES Charlestown 72
Women’s 36 holes NSWVGA Shield Results:

Winner: Jennifer DAVIDSON Toukley 74
R/U: Alison JOHNSON Coolangatta/Tweed 73
Men’s 36 holes IVGA Shield Results
Winner: Geoff HOWARD Coolangatta/Tweed 77
R/U: Kurt SCHUHMEIER Antill Park 71
Women’s 36 holes IVGA Shield Results
Winner: Jacki WHEELER Kiama 73c/b
R/U: Marianne LANHAM Gosford 73
Men’s Daily 18 Holes Results Tue/Thur.
Tuesday at the Grange:
A grade Winner: Steve JONES Forster/Tuncurry 41
A Grade R/U: John MASON Howlong 39
A Grade 3rd: John DALEY Grafton 36
B Grade Winner: Paul Mc GILVRAY Emerald Downs 36
B Grade R/U: Danny PETITH Nelson Bay 35c/b
B Grade 3rd: John Knox Kiama 35

Thursday at Port Kembla
A Grade Winner: Chris ROSE Ballina 36
A Grade R/U: Ben DERWENTSMITH The Ridge 35c/b
A Grade 3rd: Robert Mc KENZIE Toronto 35
B Grade Winner: Henry KUBACKI Tully Park 38c/b
B Grade R/U: Allen DAVIES Richmond 38
B Grade 3rd: David SHEARER Magenta Shores 36

Women’s Daily Results Tue/Thur.
Tuesday at the Grange:
A Grade Winner: Carolyn AFFLECK Hawks Nest 36
A Grade R/U: Suzanne WAUGH Gosford 35
B Grade Winner: Margaret WHITBY Tallebudgera (Q) 37c/b
B Grade R/U: Catherine FOWLER Belmont 37

Thursday at Port Kembla:
A Grade Winner: Faye O’BRIEN Emerald Downs 37
A Grade R/U: Therese JONES Forster/Tuncurry 36
B Grade Winner: Diane BOYD Chindera/Tweed 39
B Grade R/U: Dorothea ROSE Ballina 37

The stableford competition on Friday at Kiama Golf Club was run independently from all other events.
Men’s Results:
A Grade Winner: Wayne FOWLER Charlestown 38c/b
A Grade R/U: Wayne FINKELDA Forster/Tuncurry 38c/b
A Grade 3rd: Peter ELLIOTT Nelson Bay 38
B Grade Winner: Gary BUCHANAN Gungahlin 36c/b
B Grade R/U: Dean BENSLEY Shelly Beach 36
B Grade 3rd: Nigel EVES Nelson Bay 35

Women’s Results:
A Grade Winner: Dora HABGOOD Headland (Q) 39
A Grade R/U: Wendy Mc KAY Sussex Inlet 37
B Grade Winner: Diane BOYD Chinderah/Tweed 43
B Grade R/U: Jennifer Davidson Toukley 36

Tournament Director Steve Wicks was pleased with the way the week went, reflecting the effort he put into the organisation of same. It was noticeable the number of players who approached him personally at the completion of the presentation luncheon event to thank him for his efforts.

 

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