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Leonay Golf club played host to the penultimate Western Sydney Veteran Golfers Association Interclub Challenge for 2026 in the warm spring sunshine last Tuesday and made good use of their home course knowledge by taking out all but one of the major individual prizes available.
Katherine Hadley led the way for Leonay, recording an impressive 43 stableford points (the equal highest on the day) to win the women's B Grade contest ahead of Dunheved's Elaine Williams (39 on countback).
The other best score of the day also went to the ladies with Shirley Owen taking out the women's A Grade section of the competitions with 43. Following was Leonie Manczak for Richmond with 37 points.
In the men's A Grade Mark Blackburn and Peter McFarlane, both members of Leonay, finished equal on 37 points – Mark taking the top prize on a countback. Neil Johnston snuck into third place with 36 (on a countback) ensuring Penrith got amongst the prizewinners.
It was Leonay again in the men's B Grade contest with Graeme Parker's 41 points getting him home just ahead of John Pagett from Dunheved on 40 and Penrith's Ian Napier in third with 39 points.
Leonay again in C Grade for the men, with Mark White leading on 39 points. Wallacia's Ian Gibson secured second place on a countback over Joe Ornelas (Leonay) after both finished with 37 points.
While Leonay dominated the individual prizes they were outgunned in the 2BBB events.
The best 2 ball score of the day was recorded by Noel Hoppe and Christine Hoppe (Wallacia), a total of 49 was enough for them to take out the Medley 2BBB ahead of Marrick Jones and Sharon Blacklock representing Richmond who finished with 48 points and getting the prize on a countback.
The men's 2BBB was just as close and almost as high scoring with the Springwood pairing of Rick Paynter and Jonathan Grosse amassing a total of 48 points to edge out Glen Brown and Ian Wright (Dunheved) who gained second place on a countback.
With only one round to go the Club of the Year and Player of the Year competitions are very close – Except in the ladies Player of the Year.
The points for Player of the Year are the player's 3 best individual stableford scores over the eight rounds of competition.
In the ladies, Carmen Salkeld representing Richmond Golf Club has a handy leafd of 8 points over fellow Richmond member Sharon Blacklock. Richmond are also in third position with Carolyn Lozier on 102. Julies Berg (Penrith, 99) Dorothy Wilmington (Glenmore, 98) and Christine Hoppe (Wallacia, 98) round out the top group.
The men's competition is extremely close, especially as three of the leading four are from Wallacia Golf Club and so cannot score points at their home course.
After 7 of the 8 rounds of competition, the men's Player of the Year has Bobby Lees (Wallacia) leading with 112 points. Just behind is Peter Cromer, also Wallacia, with 111. Lai Jayawardane (Glenmore) is next with 110, ahead of Noel Hoppe (Wallacia) on 109 in 4th place.
Also with a chance are Sean O'Shea (Dunheved, 106), John Pagett (Dunheved, 105), Glenn Brown (Dunheved, 105), Glenn Vine (Wallacia, 105) and Graham Anderson (105).
All the best to all players and teams at Wallacia on October 16th.
Penrith Golf Club turned the rain off and the sun on when hosting the latest Western Sydney Region Veteran Golfers Association's interclub challenge last Tuesday. They also made the most of their home course advantage by claiming a healthy share of the prizes on offer.
Margaret Haworth and Maureen Proctor led the way for Penrith, taking out the medley 2BBB stableford competition with 45 points. Elaine Williams and Di Bowen amassed 43 points to secure second place for Dunheved Golf Club.
The men's 2BBB was very closely contested with Peter Curtis and Paul Dengate (Wallacia) edging out James Field and Anthony Rassmussen (Penrith) on a countback after both pairs finished with 45 points.
The results of the single stableford competitions was just as close and again illustrates how close the competitions are with 6 of the 8 clubs in the Association taking home prizes.
In the women's competition Margaret Haworth (Penrith) with 37 points finished just one point ahead of Di Bowen (Dunheved).
Dunheved also came second in the men's A Grade section with Sean O'Dea (37 points) just one behind Lal Jayawardane (Glenmore).
The men's B Grade was even closer with a countback being necessary to separate the winner, Graham Anderson (Wallacia) and Michael Harrison (Richmond) after both finished with 35 points.
This was repeated in the men's C Grade with a countback putting Bob Sproul ahead of fellow Leonay member Mick Pavert, with each recording 30 points.
In the team event the best 4 individual stableford points provide the team score for each club. And for the first time for several years a countback was necessary to separate the top scores. The top place was awarded to host club Penrith after they finished level on 141 with Dunheved. This pair were closely followed by Wallacia (130), Glenmore (138) and Richmond (137) with Leonay (121), Stonecutters (120) and Springwood (119) a little further back.
With just two interclub challenges remaining for 2026 the battle to be Club of the Year is on in earnest. The Penrith results have demoted Leonay (824 points) from current leaders to third position behind new leaders Glenmore (839) and 2025 winners Richmond (829). Wallacia (821) and Dunheved (819) are close behind with Penrith (798), Springwood (735) and Stonecutters (578) following.
The home club tends to do well in this competition and with the final rounds to be held at Leonay and Wallacia any of the current top five remains a chance of securing the trophy for 2026.
The next challenge will be hosted by Leonay Golf Cub on Tuesday September 15th.
Springwood Golf Club turned on a surprisingly warm July day last Wednesday when hosting the latest interclub challenge for the members of Western Sydney Veteran Golfers Association.
Playing the short course allowed some players, and pairs, to record outstanding stableford scores – three players managed 42 points each while the best two ball team combined for a mammoth 50.
Mark White and Bruno Mitrovic, representing Leonay, defended their two ball title with the 50 points (they won the same prize last year while playing for Wallacia). Wallacia took second place through Martin Berg and Bobby Lees who achieved 45 points.
The medley two ball competition was much more closely contested. Margaret Haworth and Richard Doyle (Penrith) amassing 45 points to finish one ahead of Sharon Blacklock and Marrick Jones from Richmond.
Some of the individual stableford scores were almost good enough to take out the two ball prizes. And in a rare achievement all seven clubs competing on the day had a representative among the individual prizewinners.
Robert Lees (Wallacia) finished on top in the men's A Grade with a monster 42 ponts. But this was just one head of second placed club-mate Peter Cromer.
The men's B Grade was similar with Jim Boylan (Springwood) also recording 42 points to defeat Dunheved's Sean O'Shea by 3.
42 was also needed to win the men's C Grade competition – and it was obtained by Bruno Mitrovic (Leonay) from Sheldon Crane of Glenmore (39 points).
In the ladies competition, Margaret Haworth led the way for Penrith with 40 points, followed by Carmen Salkeld on 38 for Richmond.
After finished second in the team event at the last two interclub competitions, Wallacia finally broke through for a win with Bobby Lees, Peter Cromer, Glenn Vine and Terry Sharpe recording a total of 153 stableford points between them.
Following were Leonay (149), Glenmore and Dunheved (146), Penrith (145), Richmond and Springwood (144). Stonecutters did not participate.
With three events yet to be held the team event scores are being closely watched as they are used to decide the Club of the Year.
At present Leonay reign superior with a total of 703 points but their lead is narrow with Glenmore just behind on 701. Other totals are Richmond 692, Wallacia 682, Dunheved 678, Penrith 657, Springwood 616 and Stonecutters 458.
The Player of the Year awards for both men and women are awarded to the players with the best three stableford scores over the eight competitions held, but leaving out the score on each player's home course.
In the men's standing Wallacia dominate with 4 players in the top seven who each have over 100 points. After a strong result at Springwood Peter Cromer (Wallacia) has taken the lead with 108 points, He is followed by Bobby Lees (Wallacia, 10-7), Vince Preca (Leonay, 104), Lal Jayawardane (Leonay, 104), Martin Berg (Wallacia, 101), Max Loftus (Richmond, 100) and Stephen Francis (Wallacia, 100).
Top of the field in the ladies is Carmen Salkeld (Richmond, 110)Julie Berg (Penrith, 99), Margaret Haworth (Penrith, 95), Clea Bain (Dunheved, 91), Suzanne Still (Richmond, 91), Christine Hoppe (Wallacia, 89), Sharon Blacklock (Richmond 88), and Tarana Khanna (Springwood, 88).
The next event is to hosted by Penrith golf club on Tuesday 18th August.
Western Sydney veteran golfers resumed their interclub competition last Tuesday with Richmond gold club hosting 144 very cold players for their 8am tee off.
For the first time this year the home club took out the prestigious Club Team Event (scores being the sum of the four best stableford scores achieved by their members) with Sue Still, Ian Jordan, Jane Mackie and Carolyn Lozier amassing a combined 136 stableford points to finish narrowly ahead of Wallacia (135 points).
There was a gap before Glenmore (126), Penrith (124), Leonay(122), Dunheved (118), Springwood (116) and Stonecutters (115) followed.
With the season now half over the total points for each club in this competition are becoming important. Only seven points separate the leading three clubs- Glenmore (555), Leonay (554) and Richmond (548). Dunheved (532) and Wallacia (529) may still be within range while Penrith (512), Springwood (472) and Stonecutters (458) would need some good victories to challenge the leaders.
With these latter clubs yet to host the Association this is still possible.
As the team event results tend to indicate, Richmond and Wallacia dominated the winner's list in both the two-ball and individual stableford competitions on the day – taking home four of the six prizes in the 2B events and eight of the twelve individual prizes.
For Wallacia, Stephen Small and Stephen Francis combined for 43 stableford points to lead the Men's 2BBB competition, two strokes ahead of Rod Tuckwell and Ian Jordan (Richmond, 41) who edged out the Glenmore pair of Gary McSullea and Time Dawes on a countback.
Richmond turned the tables in the Women's 2BBB with Sue Still and Carmen Salkeld (43 points) just ahead of Noel Hoppe and Christine Hoppe (Wallacia, 42). Julie berg and Margaret Howarth filled third spot for Penrith with 39 points.
The results in the individual competitions was largely similar.
The Men's A Grade was won by Ian Jordan of Richmond with 35 points, ahead of club mate Rod Tuckwell with 33.Wallacia filled third place through Stephen Small with 32 on a countback.
Wallacia proved dominant in the Men's B Grade, with Noel Hoppe (36 points) and Paul Williams (35) in the top two placings ahead of Peter Aronay from Glenmore with 34 points.
Hans Schneider with 33 points and Mervyn Damrow interrupted the usual flow by leading the field in the Men's C grade for Leonay, relegating Richmond to third through Adrian Jurd who finished with 29 points.
Normalcy was returned in the Women's individual competition where Sue Still (Richmond 36 points) was followed by Julie Berg (Penrith, 35) and then Richmond again in Jane Mackie (33 points). Just a note – Julie was a long time member of Wallacia before defecting.
As with the team competition, with the season now half completed the scoring in the Men's and Women's Player of the Year competitions is heating up. In these, each player's score is the total of their best three stableford scores – but the score obtained on their home course cannot be included (so the good scores the Richmond players achieved on Tuesday cannot be included).
After the Richmond game the leading players in the Women's Player of the Year are Carmen Salkeld (Richmond, 103), Julie Berg (Penrith, 97), Tarana Khann (Springwood, 88), Suzanne Still (Richmond, 87), Jane Mackie (Richmond,83), and Christine Hoppe (Wallacia,81).
With many more men than women contesting each round it is probably understandable that the men's Player of the Year is more hotly contested.
After four rounds the joint leaders are Stephen Francis (Wallacia, 100) and Max Loftus (Richmond, 100). Then Peter Cromer (Wallacia, 98), Joseph Kent (Leonay, 96), John Mathews (Glenmore, 96), Julian Cuff (Wallacia, 94), Philip Rashley (Penrith, 94), Noel Hoppe (Wallacia, 93), Ian Jordan (Richmond, 93). Vince Preca (Leonay, 93), Michael Harrison (Richmond, 92), Graham Anderson (Wallacia, 91), Martin Berg (Wallacia, 91) and Glenn Brown (Dunheved, 91).
Western Sydney Veteran Golfers Resume Their Year
WSR Veteran Golfers Association's third Interclub challenge for 2026 was hosted by Dunheved Golf Club last Tuesday after a gap to allow for Easter and Anzac Day.
Despite forecast rain and early morning fog the veterans rallied to play.
Glenmore Heritage Valley dominated the final results, including the much treasured Team Event. This is made up of the best four stableford scores achieved by members of the respective clubs. The Club of the Year is decided by total points after all eight competitions have been played – Glenmore have had a run of wins until being ousted by Richmond last year.
In the final tally Glenmore with 144 finished just ahead of Wallacia (142) who were followed by Dunheved (141), Richmond and Leonay (134), Penrith (131), Springwood (118) and Stonecutters (116). The Glenmore team comprised Lai Jayawardane, Gavin Johnson, Dorothy Willmington and John Mathews.
After three interclub events this leaves Leonay in the top position with 432 stableford points. They are closely followed by Glenmore with 429, Richmond on 417 and Dunheved 414. The remaining clubs are Wallacia (394). Penrith (388), Springwood (356) and Stonecutters (343).
The individual competition were very evenly contested with six club featuring among the eight prize winners.
The Men's A grade was taken out by the 2025 Player of the Year Paul Fairbrother (on his home course) with 37 points – but only just as it took a countback to separate him from Glenmore's John Mathews.
In the Men's B Grade, Scott Bailey representing Glenmore also finished ahead on a countback from Wallacia's Julian Cuff. Stonecutters took out the Men's C grade through Gregory McDonald, just ahead of David Kirk from Leonay who finished with 35.
In the ladies individual competition Carmen Salkeld dominated, finishing four points ahead of second prize winner Dorothy Willmington representing Glenmore.
Dorothy Willmington appears again in the mixed prize winning list – teaming up with Bobby Lees of Wallacia (after their respective playing partners were unable to attend) to record a best ball score of 45 stableford points. With this they relegated the Glenmore pair of J Towns and Lal Jayawardane to second place on a countback.
It may be also relevant to point out the Dorothy Willmington has teamed up with Wallacia men on several occasions – winning prizes with Steve Francis and Peter Cromer in recent year. I have heard Wallacia are now claiming her as a de facto member.
Stonecutters narrowly won the Men's 2BBB competition with Gregory McDonald and Terrence Cheong combining for 43 points, just ahead of Gavin Johnson (Glenmore) and Kevin Gray (Dunheved) on 42.
The Player of the Year awarded by the WSRVGA goes to the player with the highest stableford points earned through the eight rounds conducted - but excluding any points scored at the players home club.
Now that three rounds have been completed these scores begin to become significant.
After three rounds the men's Player of the Year tally is led by Max Loftus (Richmond) with 100 stableford points. He is followed by Joseph Kent (Leonay, 96), Peter Cromer (Wallacia, 95), Julian Cuff (Wallacia) and Philip Rashleigh (Penrith) both with 94.
Amongst the women, last years runner-up Julie berg of Penrith leads with 90 points. Following are Tarana Khanna (Springwood, 88), Suzanne Still (Richmond, 87) and Jane Mackie (Richmond, 83).
The next round of the WSRVGA Interclub challenge is to hosted by Richmond Golf
Club on June 23rd.
Leonay have shown that they intend to be a force this year after dominating the second interclub challenge conducted by Western Sydney Region Veteran Golfers Association hosted Monday 16th March by Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club.
In the much treasured team event (where the best four stableford scores achieved by club members forms the team score) Leonay accrued a very creditable 145 stableford points thanks to Phillip Tucker( with 40), Joseph Kent (38), Vince Peca (36) and Ned Pilay (31). This proved only just to good for the ever-strong teams from Richmond (142) and Dunheved (141). These three were followed by Wallacia (138), Stonecutters and Glenmore (134), Penrith (131) and Springwood (120).
After taking out the same team prize at Glenmore Heritage Valley last month, Leonay have taken an early lead in the Club of the Year Competition. After the two round Leonay have totalled 298 points to have a lead on Glenmore (285), Richmond (278) and Dunheved (273). These four have already established a good lead on the remainder of the affiliated clubs – Penrith (255). Wallacia (248), Springwood (238) and Stonecutters (227).
Leonay featured prominently in the 2BBB Stableford competition, finishing second in both the men's and women's events. In the men's event Peter Cromer and Martin Berg or Wallacia, with 48 points edged out the Leonay pair of Phil Tucker and Vince Peca by a single point. In the women's 2BBB the Richmond pair of Suzanne Still and Carmen Salkeld (46 points) dominated the field finishing ahead of of Julie Sutcliff and Joe Ornelas from Leonay (40 points).
While not appearing amongst the team prizewinners, the hole club, Stonecutters Ridge, took home a swag of individual prizes.
Judy Loader won the ladies individual stableford competition with 33 points, just ahead of Lynette Luttinger of Richmond (32 points). Stonecutters also took out second place in the men's B Grade competition with Terence Cheong (33 points) falling behind Paul Evans (Richmond) with 39 points.
Greg McDonald reversed the trend in the men's C Grade, securing the win for Stonecutters with 34 points, a single point ahead of Dunheved's Frank Harvey.
Western Sydney Region Veteran Golfers Association began their 2026 season last Wednesday with Glenmore Heritage Valley playing host to the other seven affiliated clubs.
As expected of the home club, Glenmore dominated the prize lists in the individual competitions but were unable to dominate the team awards.
The members of Leonay Golf Club arrived in fine form with Peter Blazel, Stephen Archer, Andrew Burns and Vince Preca amassing an impressive 153 stableford points between them to out the coveted team event and take an early lead in the Club of the year competition.
Leonay were closely followed by Glenmore on 151 with defending champions Richmond a little further back on 136.
Two of the winning Leonay side - Stephen Archer and Peter Blazek - combined as partners to take out the men's 2BBB stableford competition with 49 points, the best 2B score of the day. They finished 3 points ahead of James Bullock and Max Loftus who representedRichmond.
Richmond also combined well in the 2BBB medley event scooping the pool of available prizes. Suzanne Still and Carmen Sakeld, with a combined 44 points outscored clubmates Sharon Blacklock and Marrick Jones who finished with 41.
However none of these Richmond players were among the individual prizewinners on the day.
The ladies stableford competition was taken out by Clea Bain from Dunheved with 35 points, ahead of Tarana Khanna with 32, representing Springwood.
It was in the men's competitions that Glenmore illustrated their home ground advantage.
Dan Schembri took out the men's A grade for Glenmore with 39 points, just ahead of Stephen Archer of Leonay on 38. It was a similar story in B Grade with Stephen Chester (Glenmore) on 35 finishing just ahead of Richmond's Michael Harrison on 34.
The tables were turned in C Grade where Leonay's Peter Blazek trioumphed with 41 points, the best individual score of the day. Glenmore in the form of Wayne Tupackovski did come second with 38 points.
Following the game WSRVGA President Les Knox presented the 2025 Club of the Year trophy to the Richmond Golf Club which Noel Byles accepted on their behalf. The lady Player of the Year , Elain Williams (Dunheved) and runner-up Julie Berg (Penrith) were also presented with their awards.
The next interclub event will be hosted by Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club on Monday March 19th.