LUKE Streater won his sixth Central North District Golf Association Open Championship at Tamworth Golf Club last Sunday but it could be his last.
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The talented Gunnedah golfer, who plays off a +2 handicap and who shot a two under par 68 to win the open title, isn’t leaving the area, giving up golf or anything like that.
It’s just that there might not be a CNDGA Open Championship after just over 30 golfers teed off in last Sunday’s CNDGA Open Championship for A, B and C grades as well as juniors and veterans.
And CNDGA secretary-treasurer Harry McKerrow has had enough.
He’s been the CNDGA secretary-treasurer for a number of years but is disheartened and disillusioned by the lack of support from players within the CNDGA for their own championship.
McKerrow said as much during last Sunday’s presentation ceremony.
At one stage he handed Tom Gill his CNDGA Junior Championship award.
Tom had shot 79 but was a certainty to win.
He was the only junior entrant!
There were just three in a C Grade won by Wayne Magann .
“To have a field of less than 50 for an event like this is disappointing,” McKerrow said.
He said next year’s CNDGA Championship would be held at Tamworth’s Longyard course.
“But I am sick of running something like this with fewer than 50 players turning up,” he said.
It means players such as Streater, runner-up Nathan Mann, Ben Lockwood and Troy Dries won’t be able to showcase their golfing talents.
And young players such as Gill, a rising star, won’t have the experience in big tournaments to compete in various State junior events.
No one begrudged McKerrow his comments.
He’s been an avid worker for the CNDGA the last half a dozen years and deserves to have a championship commanding at least 100 players from all over the region.
CENTRAL NORTH DISTRICT GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday - Tamworth Golf Club
Open Champion: Luke Streater (Gunnedah) 68, Nathan Mann (Tam) r/up 70. Veteran champion: Dave Thompson (Tam) 77. Junior Champion: Tom Gill (Tam) 79. Champion of Champions: Luke Streater (Gunnedah) 68. B Grade winner: Robert Bannister (Tamworth) 89, r/up Gordon Hile (Tam) 94. C Grade winner: Wayne Magann (Tam) 91. A Grade nett winner: Wayne Turner (Tam) 68. B Grade nett winner: David Carroll (Tam) 71. C Grade nett winner: Terry Flemming (Tam) 70. Veteran nett winner Michael King (Tam) 71. NTP’s: 3rd - Harry McKerrow (LY), 5th - Peter Henderson (Gunn), 9th Luke Streater (Gunn), 13th - Tom Gill (Tam), 16th - David Thompson (Tam). Teams Gross: Ben Lockwood, Nathan Mann, John Trevaskis, Grahame York, Chris Savoski (Tam) 293 1. Ball comp down to 77.