What is going on with Nathan Ison as hot scores destroy handicaps at Nambucca
BONVILLE’S Allan Thomas shot the lights out at the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Course on Saturday with a blistering eight better than handicap.
The 17-marker carded 44 points to win the Kerry McCoy Cup Div 2 prize, edging local Nathan Ison (16 handicap, once was) who also astonished with 43 points.
Thomas had nine pars and a birdie on the par three 8th for 78 off the stick while Ison matched that gross score and opened with a bird on the 1st before adding 10 pars.
The scoring was more restrained than a support dog on its best behaviour in Div 1 where Colin Wormleaton (10 – still too high, sunshine) posted 37 points for the W, one better than the in-form Keith Wallis (6).
Heather Gray (26) had a commendable 39 points to sweep Div 3 from Michael Trist (32) on 37.
Andrew Mackinnon opened in rollicking fashion with the Ecomist longest putt on the 1st and pins went to Gray on 5, Skye Lacey on 7, Stuart Bell on 8 and Wallis on 15.
South West Rocks’ Les Greenup’s so-so day was transformed when he scored a hole-in-one on the short 13th to win a box of pills as well as the Pizza This Pizza That prize. Robert Reid banked the very nice $80 Pro Pin on the last.
On Friday 14 August the women enjoyed a four-player ambrose sponsored by Kylie Gough and her team at Eyecare Plus.
The bumper field of 132 included players from Inverell, Dorrigo, Bellingen, Safety Beach, Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Bonville, Bowraville, Macksville, Tallwoods, Kempsey, Fredrickton, South West Rocks, Emerald Downs, Forster, Tuncurry and Nambucca.
Lyn Neaves, Mary Ann Perry, Oonah Harvey and Jennifer Maxwell won the show with 56.87 nett – half-a-shot better than runners-up Sue Webster, Eileen Swain, Dianne Hickson and Narelle McMillan.
Glenys Thompson, Deidre Fletcher, Joanna Long and Kylie Blay were third with 58.62 nett.
Pin-botherers were Jessica Lambert on 5, Lexine Bailey on 7, Dale Rabbett on 8, Heather Menzies on 13, Jenny Thorne on 15 and Sharon Dance on 18.
The home of marry me crumbed pork, Nambucca Heads Butchery, presented a medley stableford on Thursday 13 August when jack of many trades Nathan Ison (16) was again to the fore with 42 points to slay Div 1. Geoffrey McCann (19) was noble with a well-compiled 39 points to be runner-up.
John Crosby (26) also ran riot with 42 points for the Div 2 salute from Garry Thurlow (27) on 39.
Warren Fuller holed an anaconda on the 1st and pins went to Keith Wallis on 5, Dan Wassens on 7, Grant Ellis on 8 and Peter Shepherd on 15. Warwick Lean pocketed the $60 Pro Pin on the last and Bill Mann will eat well after hitting it handy on 13 for the gourmet pizza.
The women contested a Monthly Medal on Wednesday 12 August which saw a countback needed in Div 1 to separate the top two. Elizabeth Hobday (12) getting the nod with 69 nett from Glenys Thompson (16).
Mullumbimby’s Wendy Welch (31) had 68 nett to take Div 2, also on a countback, from Heather Gray (27). Lillian Lukins (34) secured the Div 3 Medal with 71 nett.
Gross winners were Kerrie Eichorn, Gray and Lukins.
Pins on 5 were claimed by Susan McWilliam and Rhonda Rowe, Eichorn on 13 and Ann Antcliff found a $36 payday on the last with the Pro Pin.
Nambucca’s Colin Dunne (27) finished with a birdie on the par three 18th for 41 points to win the Nambucca Butchery medley stableford on Tuesday 11 August. Dunne had only one wipe – on the 7th – where it’s a fair bet he got wet and wild.
Keith Wallis capped a remarkable week with the pin on 5, Nathan Ison also hinted of things to come being closest on 8 and Thomas Wattison was nearest on 13. Dunne picked up the $30 Pro Pin on the last.
Players keen to represent Nambucca in the 2027 Mid North Coast men’s pennant competition need to put their name on the sheet in the clubhouse this week. No tyre-kickers, please, only those available to play Sundays in February and March.
Catchya on The Island where the two-tiered 16th green has re-opened and the hole is back to tiger-tuff. Or, if you’d prefer more palatable options, mark yourself safe in the clubhouse restaurant and river bar.