Albany Golf Club Clubhouse
The 2024 Wittenoom Cup Carnival was played from Saturday January 13 to Sunday January 21 at Albany Golf Club. The 9 days of golf included a variety of individual and mixed events and culminated on the final two days with the Wittenoom Cup and Brenda Wittenoom Open. One hundred and fifty (150) men and eighty-four (84) women played over the weekend.
As has always been the case the Nedlands contingent playing in this year’s Festival was outstanding with 38 players travelling out of Perth’s heat to enjoy cooler weather and Links Golf at its very best at Albany. 27 played in the two cups – 12 women and 15 men.
Albany Golf Club is a links golf course established in 1898 as a Nine Hole Course and became an Eighteen Hole Course in 1963 when it was officially opened by Charles Wittenoom a past President and Patron of the club. In 2010 it was listed in the state’s list of Heritage Places.
In 1927 Charles Wittenoom donated a silver trophy to the club and this became the Wittenoom Cup and from that year on was played as a 36 Hole Stroke Event – as was his wish.
2003 saw the introduction of the Brenda Wittenoom Open (Brenda being the daughter in law of Charles) an event played for ladies in conjunction with the Wittenoom Cup.
BRENDA WITTENOOM OPEN
Cath Bellemore (Champion in 2020) was looking to win her second Open and if not to capture the Best Gross title she won in 2023.
After the first day Jan Halliwell was in equal 4th position with a nett score of 70 with Marg Doyle on 73 in equal 8th position and Ali Baker, Nikki Bellemore Thomas and Rhonda Moore a further shot back on 74.
However, the leaders were going to be tough to overhaul – Denmark Member, Christine Randall on 63 and local member Toni Hunter on 65. Toni eventually ran out the winner by a single shot.
Cath Bellemore’s second round of Nett 71 was the second best score of the day. And Cath finished in equal 8th position overall on 148, tied with Marg Doyle who followed up her first round 73 with 75.
Nikki Bellemore- Thomas continued in good form and with 73 for the day and a total of 147 for the weekend saw her finish 7th and the best Nedlands player
Unfortunately, Jan Halliwell fell out of contention in the second round but was awarded the best first round trophy with Nikki Bellemore-Thomas awarded the runner-up trophy.
Mandy Sudlow-Brown and Ali Baker were next best on 150 and equal 13th position
Cath Bellemore was awarded the Best Gross with a 2-round total of 165.
WITTENOOM CUP
After the first day Brian Hanna, Tim Bryant and Steve Noske were the best of the Neddies boys each having 74 and in equal 12th position and 5 strokes adrift of the four equal leaders.
Next were Vince Caruso on 77 and Gavin Furness on 78 and the remaining 10 Nedlands players were in the 80’s and 90’s. All the players in the eighties and nineties improved on day 2 with the biggest improvement coming from Andrew Frazer who came in with 70 in the second round – 14 shots better – 118th in round 1 and 4th in round 2. What a turnaround!!
Unfortunately, Brian Hanna and Tim Bryant fell out of contention with 81 and 80 respectively. Steve Noske again played consistently recording 73 for an overall total of 147 – ultimately finishing in equal 7th position. An excellent overall effort in a field of 150 players. Next best was the one and only Gavin Furness on 151, followed by Vince Caruso one shot further back.
HIGHLIGHTS – NEDLANDS WINNERS DURING THE FESTIVAL
Sunday 14th January – Mixed 4 BBB S’Ford
Jan and Mike McFarlane – 47 points – the same score as 2023 when they lost on a countback.
This year however they were successful and won by 2 points. Well done
Brenda Wittenoom Open.
Cath Bellemore successfully defended the Best Gross title in the Brenda Wittenoom Open with 165, winning by 4 shots.
OTHER GOOD NEDLANDS RESULTS
Monday 15th January -Half Ambrose
Michael Bruce and Debra Rogers-Uff – 63.5 and 3rd
Jan and Mike McFarlane – 64 and 5th (same score as last year where they finished 3rd)
Paul Baster and Keith Halliwell – 64.25 and 8th.
Tuesday 16th January – Men’s 4 BBB S’Ford
Michael Bruce and Brett Thomson and Brian Hanna and Paul Baster – 5up and equal 5th
Wednesday 17th January – Women’s Stableford
Cath Bellemore – 36 points and runner-up
Cath Bellemore – Best Gross 28 points.
Thursday 18th January – Mixed American Foursomes
Cath Bellemore and Paul Baster – 70.125and 3rd. (Winners in 2022)
Patricia and Steve Noske – 70.25and 4th.
Michael Bruce and Debra Rogers-Uff – 70.75 and 5th.
Friday 19th January – Irish Sweepstakes
Tony Cowan, Krystyna Knottnerus, Steven Noske and Patricia Noske continued their love affair with the Irish Stableford format finishing equal 6th this year with 86 points.
So, in the last 3 years they won the event in 2022, finished 3rd in 2023 and 6th in 2024.??? 2025
During the course of the week Jan McFarlane, Mike McFarlane, Patricia Noske, Cath Bellemore (3), Vanessa Stephen, Bill Stephen (3), Fred Wehr, Stuart Waters, Joe Alexander, and Marg Doyle (2) were the recipients of novelty prizes on offer.
NOTE – Here’s hoping the results are as per the Albany Golf Club Results and that included are all the Nedlands players in the top 10 each day and the novelty prize winners. Apologies if the Nedlands Results are not all included.
Congratulations once again to Albany Golf Club and former Nedlands Course Superintendent, Tony McFadyean for presenting a course in excellent condition and to the management team at the club for all their hard work over the 9 days and in the months leading up to the Festival of Golf. The weather was fine and cool but as usual the strong winds made for some trying days on the Albany Links.
It looks as though Nedlands players again came away with their fair share of the trophies and prizes on offer. Well done.
Happy New Year to you all and best of golfing for 2024.
From Greg Fitzhardinge
