CLAYTON’S SMALLEST OF WINS FOR TITLE NUMBER THREE

Maitland’s Clayton Small has won his third Hunter River District Championships by the narrowest of margins over Kurri’s Harry Atkinson. Small fired off a 4 under 68 at Scone to defeat Atkinson by one shot and said it was the consistency with the driver that was the key to his victory. “Well I didn’t really miss many fairways and when I did I scrambled pretty well,” he said. “I made up and down pretty much from everywhere and made two bogeys which was 9 and 18, coincidentally. “They are tough holes but other than that it was just driver and

NEWCASTLE RETAIN INTERDISTRICT TITLE

The annual match against Newcastle was played at Aberdeen Golf Club on Sunday 19th July 2026. A cool winters morning course tested all players on the well-presented Aberdeen layout. The strong Newcastle team finished a bit too strong for the Hunter boys winning 7.5 matches to 4.5 matches. The senior matches were ties 3 all with Newcastle proving too strong in the juniors. This was good result for our very young junior team; all will have gained valuable experience from this match. The Aberdeen course was in great condition, a credit to the club volunteers who maintain this enjoyable layout

HRDGRA WINS INTERDISTRICT BATTLE IN CONVINCING STYLE

The Women’s HRDGA representative side has defeated their southern district foes, Central Coast Womens Golf Association, 8-4 at Muswellbrook today. The Hunter Ladies got off to a flyer with both Dordie Bragg, playing at number 12, and Leah Jamieson (no 11) posting solid wins to give the team a morale boosting early lead. At the conclusion of five matches, the HRDGA had their noses in front 3-2 but a string of W’s by the middle representatives, Clare McKinnel (no 7), Jen Jones (no 6) Renee Bean Wyper ( no 5) and Jane Holmes (no 4) helped seal the victory for

DENMAN DUO TAKE OUT HRDGA 2 MAN AMBROSE IN EXCITING FINISH

Denman’s Kyle Blinko and Josh Whittaker have won the 2 Man Ambrose Championships by one shot over four other pairings. Played at Muswellbrook, the duo scored an impressive 9 under 63 to defeat Cypress Lakes’ Max Wallington and Scone’s Mac Dawson, Matt O’Donnell and Jake Teague (Scone), Harry Atkinson and Bowen Small (Kurri/Maitland) and Kurri’s two J’s, Josh Stig and Josh Udbinac all with 64. In Division Two, Stephen Stig (Kurri) and Blake Tamburrini (Maitland) shot an even par 72 to defeat Denman’s Cameron and Thomas McLean by two shots. In the Nett, Scone’s Jake Teague and Matt O’Donnell had

STIG AND BEAN-WYPER MASTER THE SAND

Kurri Golf Club has cleaned up at the District Sandgreens Championships with members Josh Stig and Renee Bean Wyper claiming the the Men’s and Women’s trophies at Murrurundi on Sunday. For Stig it was sweet revenge after losing last year’s event on a countback. “This is my first win in the Sandgreens,” he said, adding:” despite hitting off the wrong tee on one hole but probably making birdie on five, that was a good hole,” he laughed. Stig finished the day with a 4 over 72 and pipped last year’s winner Max Wallington from Cypress Lakes by 1. In the

REID AND JONES WIN FOURSOMES

Vintage duo Mel Reid and Jen Jones have taken out both the Open and Closed District Foursomes Championship played at Cypress Lakes today. For Reid it is her second foursomes title to go with her maiden victory in 2024 while Jones was delighted to finally get her hands on a major trophy. “Its great to win this,” she said. “I think we had such a roller coaster day yesterday (playing together in the singles championships) that we actually learnt a lot about each other’s game and I think we both came this morning with a better focus and a better

WHITE WINS DISTRICT TITLE #5

Liz White has won her fifth District Championship with a two shot victory over Scone’s Lyn Banks at Hunter Valley Golf Club today. White, from the Vintage, was surprised to take out both the Open and Closed Championship. The Closed Championship is exclusive to HRDGA members. “My putting has been very ordinary so I worked on something yesterday and it was a lot better today, even if I still did have two three putts,” she laughed. “I’m pretty happy with an 8 over round given I went OB on 12 and had two three putts. It also helped that I

THE VINTAGE MAKE IT A MAGIC 7

The Vintage has won their seventh Rosella Shield Pennant, going through the season undefeated. In their final round at Muswellbrook today, The Vintage already had the flag in the bag but knuckled down to ensure a win in the final round would cap off their exceptional season. A 4-2 win over Hunter Valley wrapped up the pennant, while in the fight for runners up, Kurri and Scone battled it out, but last year’s winners defeated the horsies through their higher number of matches won, 24-19. Kurri posted a strong 5.5 – .5 win over Branxton today, while Scone grabbed the

NOMINATIONS CALLED FOR HRDGA BOARD

Nominations are open for all positions, inlcuding Captain and President, on the board of the Hunter River District Association. All positions will be determined at the 101st Annual General Meeting which will be held at Singleton Golf Club on Tuesday December 9th at 6pm. If you would like to nominate please see the form below. If you would like to attend please ensure you complete the appropriate form/s below. For any questions please contact the HRDGA Secretary Ross Banks via email rossandlynbanks@gmail.com

DICKSON WINS THE BATTLE OF ABERDEEN

Kurri’s Mandy Dickson has defeated Jodie Dunn on a countback to claim the Champion of Champions Trophy played at Abderdeen Golf Course. With both players finishing on 82, it was Dickson who played the better back nine to wrest the trophy from the reigning champ. In the Division Two Champion of Champions, Denman’s Ann Marie Murray was a two stroke winner over Branxton’s Katelyn Keogh, while in Division Three it was the same story, with The Vintage’s Robyn Moore claiming a two stroke victory over Scone’s Noreen Marshall. The Champion of Champions is a play off between winners of each

SCONE TAKES THE JAM AND CREAM IN ORDER OF MERIT RACE

Scone has taken all three top spots in the 2025 Melita Watson Order of Merit, with the perennial performer, Lyn Banks claiming the coveted title. “It’s an honour to win this Melita Watson award after all that she has contributed to the Hunter River District,” Banks said. “She is a life member, so it is certainly special.” Despite one round remaining with the Stroud Open on December 7th, Banks has an unassailable lead on 2060 points, 560 ahead of clubmate Leah Jamieson and 730 ahead of Julie Leckie. Banks said she was consistent all year but there was also a

ALMOND MILKS HOME COURSE ADVANTAGE TO WIN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

Fiona Almond has taken out the 9 Hole District Championship played on her home course, Singleton, today. A golfer for just ten months, Almond played a steady game to win the title on 15 Stableford points playing off a handicap of 23. She finished two ahead of another local, Tillie Dangel. “It’s not all about winning, I really only play to play better than I did last time, and today I did,” Almond said. “I didn’t really know what to expect today but it was good to play with other women of the same ability.” Almond, a former handy squash

CCWGA TOO STRONG FOR HRDGA

Central Coast Womens Golf Association proved too strong for the Hunter River District team scoring a resounding 9-3 victory at Gosford Golf Club today. Led by former Australian representative Kim Burke, the team from the Coast used their home ground advantage to full effect. While Burke eeked out a 1 up victory over Liz White, CCWGA number 2, Georgie Clune also ground out a hard fought 1 up victory over Mandy Dickson. Both lead matches were seesawing affairs and hung in the balance until the final hole. The winners for the HRDGA, Jane Holmes, Leah Jamieson and Helen Vandenbruggen were

IT’S BACK TO BACK FOR NHDLGA AT COUNTRY CUP

Despite scoring the three best rounds of the day, it wasn’t enough to get the Hunter District women over the line in their annual Country Cup match against the Newcastle Hunter District Ladies Golf Association. Played at Hunter Valley Golf Club, Branxton’s Leanne Daniels and Jan Scobie recorded 45 points, while the Murrurundi/ Hunter Valley combination of Christine Smith and Melita Watson and locals Pam Snaddon and Robin Woodward all posted 42. However, the overall score went the way of the visitors, 526 to 508 points, ensuring the NHDLGA retained their title they won at Tanilba Bay last year. NHDLGA

WALLINGTON AND BANKS MASTER MERRIWA

Cypress Lakes’ Max Wallington and Scone’s Lyn Banks have won the Hunter River District 2025 Sandgreens Championships played at Merrriwa Golf Club today. While it was Lyn Banks’ second Sandgreens title, it was a first for Wallington and he was relieved to win in a countback over Kurri’s Josh Stig, after a poor start. “I was six over through four holes and I ended up finishing the day six over, it was a slow start but we got there in the end,” he laughed. “It was interesting, it’s only my third time playing sandgreens and it was a bit cold

TWELVE TITLES OVER 56 YEARS AND NO ONE IS MORE SUPRISED THAN WINNER WATSON.

There really isn’t much that Melita Watson hasn’t done as a player and administrator in the Hunter River District golfing scene, but her incredible surprise victory as the Closed Champion at the Hunter River District Foursomes Championships surely has to take some beating. While Merewether’s Dom Kelly and Maitland’s Katrina Skinner-Oyston won the Open Foursomes title with a score of 86, Watson and her partner, Renee Bean Wyper, firing off an 88, proved to be the incredible story of the day. It was 1969 when Hunter Valley’s Watson won her first title, the inaugural Foursomes Championship with Pauline Thomas. Fast

BIRDIE AND CHIP IN SECURES TWO SHOT VICTORY FOR HAYNES AT HRDGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

A much needed birdie and a par saving chip in has helped Helen Haynes take the Hunter River District Championship title by two shots over local Tania Hutchins at the Vintage Golf Club today. After a tough start, where the Hawks Nest member was six over through just five holes, Haynes steadied the ship with a birdie on the par three fifth and a very welcome chip in for par on the par five seventh. “I had a few dodgy holes but I hung in there like a proper golfer,” she laughed. After the rocky beginning, Haynes completed the remaining

KURRI WIN THEIR FIRST ROSELLA SHIELD PENNANT

Kurri’s Women have won their first Rosella Shield Pennant title after a nail biting final round at Muswellbrook today. Five teams started the day with a chance to take the flag, but it was Kurri, with a resounding 5-1 win over Singleton, that shut the door on the rest. Team captain, Trish Wyper was thrilled with the win. “It’s just so exciting,” she said. “We were all so nervous at the start of play but our Ladies Captain Kriss Subat kept texting us all week with positive messsages and it really helped.” Five teams, Kurri, Singleton, The Vintage, Scone and

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR WILKS

Christmas is looking bright for Sue Wilks after the Muswellbrook representative claimed her consecutive Melita Watson Order of Merit title. “It is an honour to win this twice, I am just humble because Melita Watson is just so passionate about it,” she said. “It has been a great year and I had Kerrie Fry chasing me until she unfortunately became injured.” Branxton’s Fry was hot on Wilks’ tail and at one stage was only 160 points behind the defending champion. But after Fry suffered a shoulder injury she was unable to compete in the remaining events. The Melita Watson Order

NEWCASTLE STRIKE BACK

The Newcastle district has struck back in the annual Country Cup battle against the Hunter River Golf women. 15 pairs played in a fourball format and the locals managed the Tanilba Bay course layout better than the visitors running out 33 point victors. After five contests since 2019, the Hunter District have won the shootout three times to the NHDLGA’s two. Next year the Hunter will be hoping to extend the margin when they play host at a course to be determined. NHDLGA’s Maureen Dyer (left) and HRDGA’s Lyn Banks.

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