The 2025 Wittenoom Cup Carnival was played from Saturday January 11 to Sunday January 19 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 (157) men and eighty-four (83) women played over the weekend.
As has always been the case the Nedlands contingent playing in this year’s Festival was outstanding with “half the club”- 46 players – travelling down south to escape Perth’s heat and 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 and in 2024.
Sue Kelly who won in 2009 was also after her second title.
After the first day Mandy Sudlow-Brown (20 H’Cap) with an excellent 70 was in second position overall 2 shots off the pace set by Yvonne Turner (22 H’Cap) from WA Golf Club. Next of the “Neddies Girls” were Cath Bellemore and Yolande Caruso on 75. Jan Halliwell was a shot further back
Playing in the morning of the second round Mandy posted 2 consistent nines of 45 to finish with a second Nett 70 and she led the way by 3 shots from Marie Intini (18 H’Cap) from Lake Karrinyup.
Now for the nervous wait!! Her nearest rival, Yvonne Turner looked as though she was out of contention after 15 holes as she had used all of her handicap plus one. Final score 78 for a total of 146.
Fellow Nedlands Member, Yolande Caruso (29 H’Cap) was making a move and with five holes to play still had 11 shots left of her handicap but would need to only drop 4 of those to beat Mandy on a countback. She dropped 7 of those and finished with a fine 68 which was the leading second round score and put her in the runner-up position.
Cath Bellemore had her second nett 75 to finish =7th and after a fine second round of 72 Veni Tang finished 9th with 151. Cath also was runner-up Gross one shot behind Albany Member Sally Carey.
The wait was over for Mandy and she added her name to the winners list for the Brenda Wittenoom Open – congratulations Mandy and also congratulations Yolande on being the runner up.
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NAME |
RD 1 |
RD2 |
TOTAL |
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PAR |
PAR |
PAR |
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72 |
72 |
144 |
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Mandy SUDLOW-BROWN |
70 |
70 |
140 |
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Yolande CARUSO |
75 |
68 |
143 |
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Cath BELLEMORE |
75 |
75 |
150 |
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Veni TANG |
79 |
72 |
151 |
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Nikki WEHR |
78 |
78 |
156 |
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Jan HALLIWELL |
76 |
82 |
158 |
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Marg DOYLE |
79 |
81 |
160 |
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Nikki BELLEMORE-THOMAS |
83 |
80 |
163 |
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Rhonda MOORE |
85 |
80 |
165 |
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Patricia NOSKE |
87 |
79 |
166 |
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Sue KELLY |
84 |
85 |
169 |
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Ali BAKER |
85 |
90 |
175 |
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WITTENOOM CUP
After the first day Steve Noske after a fine 68 was running second overall and led the Nedlands contingent by 4 shots from Brett Thomson, Andrew Frazer and Keith Halliwell.
On the second day one by one the Nedlands morning players fell by the wayside-;
Steve Noske (8 H’Cap) was even with his handicap after 9 holes but then had 8 consecutive bogeys and finishing with a triple on the 9th he signed for Nett 79 and 147 overall.
Brett Thomson (13 H’Cap) was only 5 over the card after his front nine and after 14 holes 9 over. A disastrous finish which included two triple bogeys and double saw him finish with Nett 75 – and a total of 147 – what could have been.
Andrew Frazer (13 H’Cap) played consistently but could only manage a nett 75 – 147 overall
These three players were in a tie for 3rd after the morning field had finished – two of them will think back to their back nines with tears in their eyes!!
Michael Bruce (13 H’Cap) after his 73 on day one was hanging in there but dropped into obscurity after conceding 11 shots over the concluding 5 holes.
Now for the afternoon players.
Firstly Paul Baster (14 H’Cap)- after 74 on day one squandered his chances over the front nine amassing two triple bogeys and two doubles to turn in 48. (it was later revealed that he had sustained a rib injury but in true Nedland’s tradition fought through the pain)
Keith Halliwell (22 H’Cap) turned 14 over so he was probably out of the fight for a podium finish, and he finally finished with 77 and a total of 149.
Overall, it was a disappointing day for the men with the best score of 75 coming from Andrew Frazer and Gavin Furness.
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HIGHLIGHTS – NEDLANDS PODIUM FINISHES DURING THE FESTIVAL
GOLD
Sunday 12th January – Mixed 4 BBB S’Ford
Arianne Morley and husband Shane from Cottesloe ran out winners on the day with a fine score of 47 points which was the same as Jan and Mike McFarlane’s winning score in 2024.
Friday 17th January – Irish Sweepstakes
Nedlands members Vanessa and Bill Stephen teamed up with Albany Club Captain Mal Parker and wife Jacqui to win this popular event with 93 points.
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January Brenda Wittenoom Open –– 36 Holes Stroke
With two consistent rounds of 70 Mandy Sudlow-Brown won the Brenda Wittenoom Open.
SILVER
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January Brenda Wittenoom Open –– 36 Holes Stroke
Yolande Caruso capped off a great week when she finished 2nd to Mandy Sudlow- Brown.
Cath Bellemore was runner-up Gross.
BRONZE
Tuesday 14th January – Women’s 4 BBB S’Ford
Marg Doyle and Carolyn Browne 5up =3rd
Vanessa Stephen and Jacqui Parker (Albany) 5up =3rd
Tuesday 14th January – Men’s 4 BBB S’Ford
Stuart Gicquel and Stewart Wharton 7up 3rd
Friday 17th January – Irish Sweepstakes
Tony Cowan, Krystyna Knottnerus, Steven Noske and Patricia Noske are experts at this format and ran third this year with 91 points and 2 points behind the leaders. Over the last 4 years they have run 1st in 2002, 3rd in 2023, 6th in 2024 and 3rd in 2025
OTHER GOOD NEDLANDS RESULTS
Saturday January 11th Individual Stableford
Women Yolande Caruso 34 points 10th
Men Bill Stephen 37 points 8th
Sunday 12th January – Mixed 4 BBB S’Ford
Mandy Sudlow-Brown and Simon Stone 44 points 9th
Tuesday 14th January – Women’s 4 BBB S’Ford
Nicki Bellemore-Thomas and Cath Bellemore 4up 8th
Tuesday 14th January – Men’s 4 BBB S’Ford
Keith Halliwell and Fred Wehr 4up 8th
Thursday 16th January – Mixed American Foursomes
Cath Bellemore and Paul Baster – 69.75 and 5th (3rd in 2024 and (Winners in 2022)
Friday 17th January – Irish Sweepstakes
Carolyn Browne, Ali Baker, Rhonda Moore and Marg Doyle – 85 points – 11th
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January Brenda Wittenoom Open –– 36 Holes Stroke
Cath Bellemore – 75,75 = 150 =8th
Veni Tang – 79,72 = 151 =10th
Cath Bellemore Best Gross Round Two – 83
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January Wittenoom Cup –– 36 Holes Stroke
Andrew Frazer – 72.75=147 =5th
Steve Noske – 68.79 = 147 =5th
Brett Thomson – 72.76 = 148 =7th
Keith Halliwell – 72,77 = 149 =11th
Steve Noske – Best Gross Round One – 76
During the course of the week Jan McFarlane, Steve Noske, Anne–Marie McNaughton. Yolande Caruso (2), Arianne Morley, Brett Thomson, Mandy Sudlow-Brown, Ali Baker, Louise Thomson, Michael Bruce, Helen Walsh, Joe Alexander (2), Paul Baster, Bevan Lawrence, Mike McFarlane, Krystyna Knottnerus, Nikki Wehr and Veni Tang were the recipients of novelty prizes on offer.
Once again congratulations to all those at Albany Golf Club for a great nine days of golf and best of luck to Course Superintendent Tony McFadyean with his return to Perth. He will be sorely missed by Albany Members. The weather was fine and cool but as usual the tricky winds made for some trying days on the Albany Links.
Whilst the Nedlands players came away with a fair share of the prizes there certainly will be a few who will look back and think “What could have been”. That’s Golf!
EDITOR’S FOOTNOTES –
- 4 Women from Nedlands were in the top ten in the Brenda Wittenoom Open
- Mandy Sudlow – Brown became the 3rd woman from Nedlands to win the Brenda Wittenoom Open in the last 6 years – joining Vanessa Stephen and Cath Bellemore There have also been 2 Runners-Up in that time – Yolande Caruso and Rhonda Moore (2022).
- 3 Men were in the top 10 in the Wittenoom Cup – but what could have been!!!
Happy New Year to you all and best of golfing for 2025.
From Greg Fitzhardinge
