Tournament director Michael Manser said 196 players lined up for last weekend’s Stroke Open, with David Donnelly of Mullumbimby Golf Club declared Open Champion. Around 90 per cent of the field were visitors to the club, coming from Redcliffe, Ipswich, Ballina, Yamba, Toowoomba, Mullumbimby and other clubs.

“It was beautiful playing conditions,” Mr Manser said. “The visitors had nothing but good comments. The greenkeepers did a good job.”

Local players also earned podium finishes, with Barry Daly third in the Men’s A Grade 2-Day aggregate gross. George Little was named B Grade champion, just ahead of Brian Curry with Jason Austin placing fifth.

Denis Parsons, John Edmonds and Peter Mustoo earned first, second and fourth places (respectively) in the C Grade.

Among the lady players Tenterfield didn’t win a ribbon in Division 1 but placed second, third and fourth in Division 2, courtesy of Julie Page, Karen Manser and Ronnie Foster, respectively.

Some players preferred their chances in the Stableford Open on November 12 and 13. While John Anderson of Sandy Gallop Golf Club took out the Men’s 2-Day Aggregate, local players among the placegetters were Matthew Townes (second), George Little (third), Frank Moor (fifth), Ben Austin (sixth) and Jackson Fitzgerald (eighth).

It was almost a clean sweep for Tenterfield in the Ladies’ 2-Day Aggregate, won by Kay Little ahead of Letitia Jones (second), Kath Devereaux (third) and Ronnie Foster (fifth).

In the meantime there are so many nominations for the Willows event in February it will now be run over two weekends (February 18/19 and 25/26) Mr Manser has already received more than 300 nominations, with 200 the maximum the club can comfortably accommodate on a single weekend.