30/08/2026
Avenel golf club notes 31.8.26
The weather gods smiled upon Royal Avenel Golf Club for our tournament weekend after a very wet start to the week, a power of work was done to get the course into shape and Mark Hannigan’s team of volunteers did a fantastic job! The afternoon tea provided on both days was a credit to our members, large thank you to the ladies in the kitchen, just amazing!
Saturday we kicked things off with the Pioneer Park 4bbb Par event, the Mallacoota storm front rolled into town with a strong team of 15 players and the Sandrake trophy from last year’s victory in hand. A good field of 46 players assembled, Matt Owen & Ken Morrison won the day with a very nice score of +9, Matt only letting his playing partner on the card 3 times!
Runners up on a three way count back was Life member Dale Smith & his grandson Lindsay Smith on +7.
Balls went to Jed & Rachel Smith +7, Kevin Lindner & Shane McCormick+7, Rayden Hannigan & Lachie O’Brien +6.
Straightest drive on the 4th Ladies Dhana Furlanetto, Men Shane Culpin.
Longest drive on the 9th Ladies Lyn Carracher, Men Chris Ball.
Nearest the pins Ladies 5th Rachel Smith, 14th Irene Keogh. Men 5th Po Nip Ly, 8th Craig Groom, 14th Ken Morrison, 18th Alex Smith.
The Avenel Open men’s tournament was then played on Sunday with a bumper crowd of 72 in attendance, Beer Auto Group had a brand new car, Chery Tiggo 4 Urban, up for grabs if a hole in one was scored on the 18th hole and but for a few near misses the prize wasn’t claimed this year!
Our open champion this year was Ed Carracher, Ed played a great round shooting a one under par 71 to win by two shots from Ryley McDonald, Ryley won the A grade net on a countback from Luke Rogan with net 74, great effort from Luke on his first time playing sand greens.
B grade scratch winner was in disbelief after getting the win, unhappy with his round, Dale Smith won on a countback from Graeme Hogg on 86. B grade net winner had to be decided on countback too. Mallacoota v Mallacoota with Craig Groom getting the nod from Leon Ellis on net 74.
The C grade scores were a bit better than B grade with Ron Davey our scratch winner with a great round of 87. Our very own Sandrake Challenge maestro Rayden Hannigan had the round of the day to win the C grade with net 68, single handedly delivering Avenel a 3 shot advantage heading into the return round at Mallacoota in November.
The junior winner on the day was a young man from Beechworth Ashton Leary on net 83 on a countback.
Straightest drives on the 4th A grade - Cam Roper, B grade - Nathan Macauley, C grade - Nick Lynch.
Longest drives on the 9th A grade - Darcy Doyle, B grade - Graeme Hogg, C grade - Ron Davey.
Nearest the pins 5th Nick Batten, 8th Nick Hart, 14th Campbell Smith, 18th Dale Smith.
John Moore from Strathbogie is a great supporter of our tournament, he’s been playing it since he was 13 years old and his hole out eagle on the second from 86 meters was shot of the day!
I’d like to thank everyone at our club for all their hard work in hosting the tournament, many hands make light work and a volunteer run course and club relies on everyone rallying together, I’m proud of you all.
Our sponsors make it possible for us to have such a great event and we’d like to thank Beer Auto Group, Annabelle Cleeland, Avenel Equine, Countrywide Turf, Final Embrace Funerals, Inbound Aviation, Imperial Hotel Avenel, Greenlight Electrical, Tabilk Winery, Gaehl Real Estate, JCS Electrical Solutions, Bendigo Bank.
Next week the Friday night 6:30pm members draw will be $70 after Charlie Lynch was drawn last week and unfortunately was not present.
Saturday is the Semi finals of the club championships for those qualified and the daily competition is a stableford round from the Blue/Red tees for everyone so come along and see who makes the final!
Our ladies tournament is then on Thursday 10th of September, please send entries to Sam Hannigan on 0432367159 or email [email protected]
Cheers and good golfing.
