That was the assessment of Walcha officials and organisers who presided over one of the best tournaments in memory.

“For us to get 100 players was sensational,”  spokesman Cooge Cross said.

“It was a great day all round.”

Cross said scratch winners Tim Stackman and Vic Coulter carded a square round to beat Quirindi’s Guy and Knox Fisher by three shots.

“I don’t know how Vic can hold his sticks,” he said of a former timber industry worker who suffered two serious accidents to his hands.

“The nett was close.

“It went to a three way countback. Owen Presnell and John Izzard won on countback from Col Higgins and Doug McDonald with Johnny Grills and Matt Allston third on 

countback.

“We, Jack O’Hara and I, won the front nine (+5) while Quirindi’s Ken Cronin and Peter Upperton won the  back nine with a +4 on countback from Brendan McNamara and Matt Willcox and Tim Beaumont and Warwick Hagan third on countback.” 

 Stackman won the A Grade long drive as well, with Andrew Mellor winning B Grade and Barraba’s Graham Bowman the C Grade long drive.

Nearest the pins went to John Grills (3rd), Bruce Crossing (9th), Max Holstein (16th) and Warwick Hogan (18th).

“We had very good support from our sponsors too, Drummond Golf, Walcha Post Office, Home Hardware, Market Fresh,” Cross said. “Darren Henderson from Drummond Golf was  on hand to make the presentations.”

o Turn to Pages 28/29 for all the local golf reports plus more Walcha Open pictures.