The 2026 Wittenoom Cup Carnival was played from Saturday January 17 to Sunday January 25 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 seventy-nine (79) women played over the weekend.
As has always been the case the Nedlands contingent playing in this year’s Festival was outstanding.
44 players – travelling down south to escape Perth’s heat and enjoy cooler weather and Links Golf at its very best at Albany. 18 played in the two cups – 11 women and 7 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
The defending Champion Mandy Sudlow-Brown was looking to make it back-to-back titles and 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.
Mandy Sudlow-Brown (21 H’Cap) looking to make it 2 in a row started well in her title defence with a two under par 70 and in equal 4th position one behind the leaders which included our own Patricia Noske (22 H’Cap) on 3 under par 69.
Nikki Wehr (31 H’Cap) was next on 72 and equal 7th.
Next was Anne-Marie MacNaughton (21 H’Cap) on 73.
So, heading into round 2 we had 4 players in with a chance.
Playing in the morning of the second round Mandy was travelling beautifully until her 3rd last hole – the par 4 7th. An untimely triple bogey was followed by a double on the 8th hole, a short but tricky par 3. The 9th hole is a longish par 5 and she regained her composure and finished with an excellent par and a score of 71 – total 141. Mandy was playing alongside one of the overnight leaders, Bunbury player Josephine Jones (9 H’Cap), and after a very closely run affair Mandy was the clubhouse leader on 141 on a countback from Josephine. Now for the long wait.
Anne – Marie MacNaughton could not repeat her round one performance and fell down the list.
Patricia Noske who was leading after the first round did not have the day she wished for and carded a 78 for a total of 147 and overall 4th – excellent effort.
In the afternoon Nikki Wehr, it is safe to say, started badly and then things got worse.
Of the remainder of the Ladies Marg Doyle had a good day posting a 74 and total of 150.
Vines player Bernie Caffrey (20 H’Cap) who posted a 70 in round one was going nicely and after 14 holes was even with her handicap and also after 17. A bogey up the last saw her finish with nett 72 and 142 overall.
The progress of Sue Burgess (18 H’cap), one of the overnight leaders, could not be followed as she was not using the ap.
And unfortunately for Sue she had a bad day so now that left one player between victory for Mandy and second – Capel player Lisa Wake (10 H’Cap). After 71 in the first round Lisa was in with a chance going into her final 9 holes.
4 over with 2 holes left made it a done deal. Mandy Sudlow-Brown was a dual champion successfully defending her 2025 title – Congratulations.
| NAME | RD 1 | RD2 | TOTAL | |
| PAR | PAR | PAR | ||
| Mandy SUDLOW-BROWN | 70 | 71 | 141 | |
| Patricia NOSKE | 69 | 78 | 147 | |
| Marg DOYLE | 76 | 74 | 150 | |
| Jan HALLIWELL | 76 | 76 | 152 | |
| Sue KELLY | 78 | 78 | 156 | |
| Nikki WEHR | 73 | 84 | 157 | |
| Cath BELLEMORE | 79 | 79 | 158 | |
| Anne -Marie MacNAUGHTON | 73 | 85 | 158 | |
| Nikki BELLEMORE-THOMAS | 81 | 78 | 159 | |
| Ali BAKER | 79 | 80 | 159 | |
| Rhonda MOORE | 78 | 80 | 160 | |
WITTENOOM CUP
After the first day Steve Noske (9 H’Cap) did not play as well as he did the previous year and signed for a 73 which saw him in equal 20th position.
It was left to the wily Joe Alexander (14 H’Cap) to lead the Nedlands contingent with a fine one under par 71 and in equal 8th position.
Keith Halliwell (21 H’Cap) seems to like Albany and once again was well up the leaderboard with 75
On the second day the Nedlands morning players had mixed fortunes-;
Joe Alexander (14 H’Cap) could not repeat his good form and had 2 nines of 46 gave him a nett score of 78 – Total 149.
Steve Noske (9 H’Cap) had a nett 74 to go with his 73 and a total of 147. A commendable effort.
And then out of nowhere came Tim Bryant (14 H’Cap) who posted a nett 85 in round one and was in 128th position.
After 8 holes he was only 2 over the card and then two double bogeys brought him back to earth.
5 Pars and 2 Bogeys followed and with the tough 18th to follow he was looking at a nett 66 or 67. Unfortunately a double was the result and a nett 68. Nevertheless, he was the leading Round 2 player in the clubhouse and jumped a considerable number of players in the overall standings. Outstanding.
Now for the afternoon players.
Keith Halliwell (21 H’Cap), Vince Caruso (23 H’Cap) and Fred Wehr (22 H’Cap) could not get going and all struggled in the afternoon.
| NAME | RD 1 | RD2 | TOTAL | |
| PAR 72 | PAR 72 | PAR 144 | ||
| Steve NOSKE | 73 | 74 | 147 | |
| Joe ALEXANDER | 71 | 78 | 149 | |
| Keith HALLIWELL | 75 | 79 | 154 | |
| Tim BRYANT | 85 | 68 | 153 | |
| Vince CARUSO | 78 | 81 | 159 | |
| Fred WEHR | 84 | 80 | 164 | |
| Brian STUART | 84 | 82 | 166 | |
HIGHLIGHTS – NEDLANDS PODIUM FINISHES DURING THE FESTIVAL
PURE GOLD
Mandy Sudlow-Brown – Belinda Wittenoom up Champion
GOLD
Sunday 18th January – Mixed 4 BBB Stableford
Vanessa (17 H’Cap) and Bill Stephen (13 H’Cap) amassed a most impressive score of 51 points in the second event of the Carnival
Monday 19th January – 2 Ball Ambrose
Another Nedlands victory and they always pop up during the Carnival – none other than Jan and Mick McFarlane (12.75 H’Cap) – score 61.25
Tuesday 20th January – Women’s 4 BBB Par
Patricia Noske (23 H’Cap) and Krystyna Knottnerus (25 H’Cap) continued the winning ways of The Nedlands crew and won the morning with a great score of 12 up.
Saturday24th January – Belinda Wittenoom Cup Round 1
Patricia Noske (23 H’Cap) – 69
Sunday 25th January – Wittenoom Cup Round 2
Tim Bryant (14 H’Cap) – Nett 68
SILVER
Sunday25th January – Belinda Wittenoom Cup Round 2
Marg Doyle (23 H’Cap) – Nett 74
OTHER GOOD NEDLANDS RESULTS
Sunday 18th January – Mixed 4 BBB S’Ford
Patricia (23 H’Cap) and Steve Noske (9 H’Cap) 46 points =4th
Rhonda Moore (20 H’Cap) and Cath Bellemore (11 H’Cap) 45 points =8th
Tuesday 20th January – Women’s 4 BBB Par
Ali Baker (18 H’Cap) and Marg Doyle (22 H’Cap) 6 up =8th
Thursday 22nd January – Mixed American Foursomes
First time Wittenoom Cup Carnival players Andrea and David Whitehead (19.5 H’Cap) enjoyed Links Golf and came in 6th with a score of 70.5.
Friday 23rd January – Irish Sweepstakes
After years of winning or coming close to winning the best our players could do was 16th.
Next year awaits and perhaps the 3 players who won a trophy for finishing last could improve in the future.
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January Brenda Wittenoom Open –– 36 Holes Stroke
Round One Nikki Wehr (31 H’Cap) Nett 72 – = 7th
Anne Marie Mac Naughton (21 H’Cap) Nett 73 – = 8th
OVERALL – Patricia Noske (22 H’Cap) Nett 147 – = 4th
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January Wittenoom Cup –– 36 Holes Stroke
Round One Joe Alexander (14 H’Cap) Nett 71 – = 8th
Anne Marie MacNaughton (21 H’Cap) Nett 73 – = 8th
During the course of the weekend, Mandy Sudlow-Brown, Patricia Noske, and Rhonda Moore were the recipients of novelty prizes on offer.
No doubt during the course of the Carnival there were many more so congratulations to each of you
Once again congratulations to all those at Albany Golf Club for a great nine days of golf which was thoroughly enjoyed by all Nedlands Players.
As usual the Nedlands Players came away with more than their fair share of the “booty” and after events 2,3 and 4 other club’s members were hoping Nedland’s members would all go home or go Whale Watching.
EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE –
Congratulations to all winners and in particular our Champion – Mandy Sudlow-Brown
Happy New Year to you all and best of golfing for 2026 – especially on our new greens.
From Greg Fitzhardinge
