Over the weekend of the 7th and 8th March the 91st MELVISTA CUP was played on Saturday and the MIXED OPENING DAY event on Sunday.
Summer continued into Autumn and on Saturday it was 36 degrees at 12 o’clock.
This was the first Honour Board event to be played by the members on the new greens.
And they were very fast running at 11’6”. This will be the new norm at Nedlands.
MELVISTA CUP
In the early 1930’s Melvista Avenue was known as Mackay Road up to Dalkeith Road and from there on it became Alice Road.
A competition was held among school children to come up with a “single” name. A youngster named Lapsley won the competition with MEL (Melvista Waters) and VISTA (View).
And so, the Opening Day Trophy is named after the street running past the course/clubhouse – Melvista Avenue
93 players braved the hot conditions and were all keen to win the season’s opener. Some were trying to win the Cup for a second time. Included in the 2026 field were the following previous winners: Mark Green (2015), Scott van Heurck (2020), Wilfred Ong (2022), and Joe Alexander (2024).
Saint Quentin Dental, courtesy of Past President Tim Tan, continued their sponsorship of the opening of the season event and we thank Tim for his ongoing support.
With the new greens in play and running at around 11 feet. It was a close-run thing in the morning. Playing partners James Pluske (5 H’Cap) and Jack Gerace (20 H’Cap) lead the field with 4 up. Looking at their cards they both finished with pluses on the last 2 holes. But James leads the way on a countback.
Next was Brendan Jones (5 H’Cap) on 2up and Joe Jones (10 H’Cap) on 1 up.
In the afternoonthings were hotting up (37 degrees just after 1.00pm. The 2025 Runner- up, Don Inglis (25 H’Cap), was looking to go one better and started calmly from the 6th, square after 4 holes. Then a brace of wipes on the next 4 holes and he was out the window.
Luke Bai (12 H’Cap), the 2023 CG Dudley Cup Winner, was 3 up after 9 holes. This included an Eagle 2 on the 6th hole. The next 5 holes produced 5 halves then a loss matched by a plus meant he needed two pluses on the last 2 holes to overtake the morning leaders. A half followed by a plus saw him tie the lead with 4 up but third on a countback.
And then his brother James (19 H’Cap) was lurking on square after 11 holes. 2 pluses followed – 2 up with 5 holes left A loss on the 14th saw his bid for victory thwarted.
Andrew Ogilvie (7 H’Cap) turned for home 1up and then 4 losses ended any chance.
Edmund Hall (Scr Handicap), who mastered the course on the previous Wednesday with 41 points (67 off the stick) was not really in with a chance after 12 holes, 2 down. An eagle on 13, a birdie on holes 15 and 16 did put him in the lead for Best Gross after 16 holes, overtaking the 2025 Winner Callum White Who finished 3 down – Callum also had an Eagle on his card on the 15th. This was costly and the Gross went to James Pluske on a countback.
Sadly, none of the former champions apart from Mark Green looked like making it to the podium. 1 down after 11 which was his finishing score. Scott van Heurck 2 consistent nines of 3 down = 6 down, Wilfred Ong 3 down after 13 finished 6 down and Joe Alexander 5 down after 13 finished 5 down. Heat was too much and I do not blame them. Regardless of the result today they can claim to having won the Melvista Cup which is more than 89 others in the field.
Wednesday’s winner and immediate Past President Damon Watkins (14 H’Cap) said during the first hole “I have got 9 good holes in me today”. With 7 wipes during his first 10 holes he had better finish strongly. A slight rally, 2 pluses were followed by another 3 wipes. Wednesday 14 good holes – Saturday 7 good holes.
Now back to the main event.
Following conclusion of play 3 players were tied on 4 up, James Pluske, Jack Gerace and Luke Bai, and a countback was required to split them, with James Pluske prevailing.
The Winners were-;
WINNER James Pluske (5) 4 up
Runner- up Jack Gerace (20) 4 up
Third Brendan Jones (5) 2 up
“A” Grade Luke Bai (12) 4 up
“B” Grade James Bai 19) 1 up
“C” Grade Magnus Mark (27) Square
Best Gross James Pluske (5) 1 down on a countback from Edmund Hall
Best past winner Mark Green (10) 1 down and = 11th
Editors Footnote – I said it last year that attendance at presentations was disappointing and this year it was worse with only 5 of the top 25 in attendance – the Winner was an apology.
It is disappointing that winners are not in attendance at presentations – not just this Major Event but all events on the calendar – it is appreciated that for whatever reason people cannot make it back but surely one can make a personal apology.
Sponsors, Captains and Vice Captains and Sponsorship Coordinator Greg Paddon must feel disillusioned with the increasing lack of courtesy and member support of presentations.
And why do I attend presentations to take photos and keep writing articles?
Once again, a big thankyou to Tim Tan for his continued sponsorship of the Melvista Cup – Opening Day.
Congratulations to the 2026 Melvista Cup winner James Pluske.
MIXED OPENING DAY
The Mixed Opening Day was played on Sunday 8th March and Cath Bellemore and Paul Baster continued their sponsorship of the event. A cooler day greeted the 36 players who this year played an individual Stableford event rather than a Mixed 4 Ball event.
Mixed Opening Day Men’s Winner Bean Goh and Women’s Runner up Susie Lau with Cath Bellemore and Joe Alexander and Steve Noske Runner-Up Men with Cath Bellemore
So, let’s have a look at what was happening on the course.
After 9 holes the Overall Leaderboard looked like this –
STARTING HOLE, PLAYER and HANDICAP SCORE
1. Nikki Bellemore-Thomas (27) 23 Points
2. Anne-Marie McNaughton (20) 20 Points
2 Bean Goh (36) 20 Points
6. Don O’Brien (13) 19 points
2. Ali Baker (19) 18 points
7. Steve Noske (7) 18 points
So, it was a very close-run affair and it was a matter of who could keep up the momentum.
Let’s look at the leaderboard after 14 holes-
STARTING HOLE, PLAYER and HANDICAP SCORE
1. Nikki Bellemore-Thomas (27) 30 Points
2 Bean Goh (36) 30 Points
2. Ali Baker (19) 27 points
7. Steve Noske (7) 27 points
2. Anne-Marie McNaughton (20) 27 Points
6. Don O’Brien (13) 26 points
Susie Lau (31) was making a move and after 17 points at the conclusion of her first nine (starting from the 4th) was also on 27 points.
So, it looked like a race in 2 for the best score of the day but the individual honours looked sown up Funny things do happen so let’s follow the last 4 holes.
Steve Noske (7) navigated his way to the final hole with a total of 34 points – 6th Hole no points – Total 34 points
Anne-Marie McNaughton (21) and Ali Baker (19) were seen singing a 1977 hit song by Paul Simon – “Slip Slidin Away”.
Don O’Brien (13) was treading water.
Susie Lau’s (31) momentum was stopped with an untimely loss on the 18th hole. She regathered her composure and finished with 8 points in the next 3 holes.
And then there were 2 –
Bean “Burglar” Goh (36) and Nikki Bellemore – Thomas (27) who with 4 holes to play were locked together on 30 points
Firstly, to Nikki – 4×2 pointers on holes 15-18 and an excellent score of 38 points
Now to “The Burglar” – 3 points on 16 was followed by consecutive 3 pointers on hole 17,18 and 1. Final total 39 points
FINAL LEADERBOARDS
MEDLEY
Winner Bean Goh (36) 39 point
Runner-Up Nikki Bellemore-Thomas 38 points
WOMEN
- Nikki Bellemore-Thomas 38 points
Nikki was an apology at presentations and Jan McFarlane acknowledged the members accolades with thanks on Nikki’s behalf.
- Susie Lau (31) 35 points
- Mandy Sudlow Brown 20) 33 points
3 points after 4 holes was costly
- Cath Bellemore (11) 33 points
Consistent as always – 4 points in last 3 holes was not what was required.
- Nikki Wehr (30) 33 points
12 points after 9 holes – great final 9 of 21 points
- Anne-Marie McNaughton (21) 33 points
MEN
- Bean Goh (36) 39 points
- Steve Noske (7) 34 points
- Don O’Brien (13) 34 points
- John Mitchell (17) 33 points
17 points after first 9 holes proved the difference
- YC Chin (18) 32 points
Not really a chance after 9 holes – 15 points
Congratulations Nikki and Bean
Editor’s comment- At long last THE BURGLAR’S GA handicap has gone below 36 from 36.3 to 35.0 – but still on 36 playing handicap. Handicapper looking into!!
Finally, thanks once again to Cath Bellemore and Paul Baster for their support of the Opening Day Mixed and congratulations to all the winners.
Congratulations to Brad Hebble and his team on the preparation of the course. The Phase 2 new greens have been universally endorsed and are running truly and fast.
The course is overall in excellent condition.
Thanks to the pro shop staff including the General Manger who stepped in to cover for Andy Gott who is still in hospital with an unknown ailment. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
Thanks to Alvin for providing the chicken dish after play – well received. And of course, the House staff for the refreshments.
The next mixed event on the calendar is the Millenium Cup (a mixed 4 ball Par event) which is scheduled to be played on Sunday April 12 and sponsored by Nikki and Fred Wehr
The defending Champions are Sally Wehr and Rob Kneale.
Congratulations to all the winners over the weekend and happy golfing in 2026.
From Greg Fitzhardinge
