Nyngan’s David Rose has produced a record-breaking performance to claim the Vendi Golf NSW Sand Greens Championship, as 93 competitors descended on Hillston Golf Club for a memorable weekend of country golf.
The Riverina town of Hillston came alive over the weekend, welcoming players from across New South Wales and Victoria for two days of fiercely contested stroke play on the club’s sand greens.
But it was Rose who stole the show, setting a new course record on Saturday before holding his nerve to secure a commanding four-shot victory.
The Nyngan golfer wasted little time making his mark, firing an opening-round 64 to rewrite the Hillston Golf Club record books and establish himself as the player to beat heading into Sunday’s final round.
Remarkably, Rose was unaware he had made history until after signing his card.
“I didn’t have any idea I was on track to break the course record. I only found out after the round,” Rose said.
With a healthy advantage heading into the final day, Rose adopted a measured approach, navigating the opening nine before capitalising on the shorter holes coming home.
“Sunday was all about just taking one hole at a time, getting through the front nine without too much trouble, and then taking advantage of the shorter back nine holes,” he said.
“I was making a card, so I had a good idea of how I was travelling.”
A final-round 68 sealed the deal, taking Rose to eight-under-par for the championship and securing his first victory away from his home course.
“It was nice to be able to win away from my home track for the first time,” he said.
Rose credited his short game around the greens as the key to his success across the weekend.
Finley’s Ian Armer Jnr proved his closest challenger, producing rounds of 66 and 70 to finish at four-under-par and claim runner-up honours, four shots behind the champion.
In the junior division, Manildra’s Angus Griffith delivered an impressive display of consistency, recording rounds of 71 and 72 to secure the Junior Championship.
There was plenty of quality golf elsewhere in the field, with Victoria’s Craig Burn returning to the championship after finishing runner-up at Barraba last year.
Burn claimed Saturday’s Scratch Prize with a round of 68, while Binalong’s Michael Paterson matched that score on Sunday to take out the final day’s scratch honours.
The Nett Championship went down to the wire, with Coolamon’s Mick O’Brien prevailing on a countback after finishing three-under-par across the two rounds.
O’Brien’s success didn’t end there, combining with Mitch O’Brien and Jake Seymour to claim the Teams Event for Coolamon.
The home crowd also had reason to celebrate, with Hillston’s own Greg Reko taking out Saturday’s Nett Prize on a countback.
Warren’s Craig Marks rounded out the individual honours, producing an impressive five-under-par nett round to claim Sunday’s Nett Prize.
With competitors travelling hundreds of kilometres to be part of the championship, the weekend once again highlighted the strength of regional golf and the unique appeal of sand greens competition across country New South Wales.
Golf NSW extends its sincere thanks to Hillston Golf Club, its committee and dedicated volunteers for presenting the course in outstanding condition and delivering a memorable championship for players and visitors alike.
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