Local Golf Clubs win Major Pennant titles

By Noel Rowsell

Three local Golf clubs from the Western Sydney region (WSr) have won Pennant flags on Sunday at Riverside Oaks GC, in the respective Finals of the 2023 Golf NSW Men’s Major Pennant competition.

Glenmore Heritage Valley GC were the first of the local clubs to head out on course, facing Campbelltown GC in the Division 4 Final. Four hours later, Glenmore had secured a 4-3 win to claim this year’s Pennant flag and move to Division 3 in 2024 with bragging rights as Div 4 premiers.

The full Glenmore squad is: Andrew robb, Steve Zingle, David Bishop, Will hoven, Ben Michelmore, Steve hunt, Scott Dowsell, Matt Mayers, Gordon McCall, Matthew Talley, Damian Smith.

richmond GC were next out in Division 3, facing Massey Park GC. Once again, it would be a triumph for the local western Sydney team, recording a powerful 4.5-2.5 win to also move up a division (to Div 2) as the reigning Div 3 premiers.

The full richmond squad is: Matt Gallahar, Trent McMillen, Patrick Murphy, Dave Dennis, Red Davies, Jason Moss, Daniel Ayre, reggie Papps, Craig Ellings, Damion Miller, Ti Fox, Frank Gal (manager).

Stonecutters ridge GC would complete the impressive trifecta for western Sydney, scoring an even larger 5-2 win over Cromer GC to win the Division 2 Final and move into the prestigious Division 1 ranks in 2024

The full Stonecutters squad is: Darcy Mackay, ryan Cadle, harrison Wilde, Daniel Williams, Kade Webber, Ryan Suckling, Jacob Carpenter, Daniel Beattie, Raymond Costello, Jackson Northey, Craig Baird (manager), Allan Ison (ass manager).

In other Golf news, the 2023 Women’s NSW Open was held on the Tuncurry Course at ForsterTuncurry GC. 18-year old amateur Grace Lee (Glenmore Park) made the cut with scores of 75 and 71 in the first two rounds, then shot 78 in the final round to finish in a tie for 18th spot, 13 shots behind joint leaders Momoka Kobori (NZ) and Claire Shin (NSW). Momoka would go on to win the title in a sudden-death playoff.

Four local juniors competed in the inaugural JNJG U12 Tour event, which was held at Springwood CC on Sunday 26th March.

Evelyn Oram (Richmond GC) finished 3rd in the Girls 11 Years & Over age group, Hunter McMillan (Twin Creeks GC) finished 5th in Boys 10 Years & Under, Jack Gillett (Stonecutters Ridge GC) and Harrison Oram (Richmond GC) finished tied 7th and tied 9th respectively in Boys 11 Years & Over.

The next JNJG tour events will both be held at the Links Shell Cove GC and Kiama GC on 13th14th April. The two tournaments are the second JNJG U12 Tour event and the 2023 Illawarra Junior Masters.