{"id":12858,"date":"2026-03-09T16:04:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T08:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nedlandsgolfclub.com.au\/cms\/?p=12858"},"modified":"2026-03-09T16:04:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T08:04:30","slug":"2026-season-openers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nedlandsgolfclub.com.au\/cms\/2026\/03\/2026-season-openers\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 SEASON OPENERS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the weekend of the 7th<\/sup> and 8th<\/sup> March the 91st<\/sup> MELVISTA CUP<\/strong> was played on Saturday and the MIXED OPENING DAY<\/strong> event on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer continued into Autumn and on Saturday it was 36 degrees at 12 o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the first Honour Board event to be played by the members on the new greens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And they were very fast running at 11\u20196\u201d. This will be the new norm at Nedlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MELVISTA CUP<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early 1930\u2019s Melvista Avenue<\/strong> was known as Mackay Road<\/strong> up to Dalkeith Road<\/strong> and from there on it became Alice Road<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A competition was held among school children to come up with a \u201csingle\u201d name. A youngster named Lapsley won the competition with MEL<\/strong> (Melvista Waters) and VISTA<\/strong> (View).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, the Opening Day Trophy is named after the street running past the course\/clubhouse \u2013 Melvista Avenue<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

93 players braved the hot conditions and were all keen to win the season\u2019s 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)<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint Quentin Dental,<\/strong> courtesy of Past President Tim Tan<\/strong>, continued their sponsorship of the opening of the season event and we thank Tim for his ongoing support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019Cap)<\/strong> and Jack Gerace (20 H\u2019Cap)<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next was Brendan Jones (5 H\u2019Cap<\/strong>) on 2up and Joe Jones (10 H\u2019Cap)<\/strong> on 1 up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the afternoonthings were hotting up (37 degrees just after 1.00pm. The 2025 Runner- up, Don Inglis (25 H\u2019Cap),<\/strong> was looking to go one better and started calmly from the 6th<\/sup>, square after 4 holes. Then a brace of wipes on the next 4 holes and he was out the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke Bai (12 H\u2019Cap), <\/strong>the 2023 CG Dudley Cup Winner, <\/strong>was 3 up after 9 holes. This included an Eagle 2 on the 6th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then his brother James (19 H\u2019Cap) <\/strong>was lurking on square after 11 holes. 2 pluses followed \u2013 2 up with 5 holes left A loss on the 14th<\/sup> saw his bid for victory thwarted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Ogilvie (7 H\u2019Cap)<\/strong> turned for home 1up and then 4 losses ended any chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edmund Hall (Scr Handicap),<\/strong> 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<\/strong> Who finished 3 down \u2013 Callum also had an Eagle on his card on the 15th. This was costly and the Gross went to James Pluske<\/strong> on a countback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, none of the former champions apart from Mark Green<\/strong> looked like making it to the podium. 1 down after 11 which was his finishing score. Scott van Heurck<\/strong> 2 consistent nines of 3 down = 6 down, Wilfred Ong<\/strong> 3 down after 13 finished 6 down and Joe Alexander<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday\u2019s winner and immediate Past President Damon Watkins (14 H\u2019Cap)<\/strong> said during the first hole \u201cI have got 9 good holes in me today\u201d.<\/em><\/strong> 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 \u2013 Saturday 7 good holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now back to the main event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following conclusion of play 3 players were tied on 4 up, James Pluske, Jack Gerace <\/strong>and Luke Bai<\/strong>, and a countback was required to split them, with James Pluske <\/strong>prevailing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Winners were-;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WINNER              James Pluske (5)                       4 up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Runner- up           Jack Gerace (20)                      4 up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third                      Brendan Jones (5)                    2 up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA\u201d Grade            Luke Bai (12)                            4 up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cB\u201d Grade            James Bai 19)                           1 up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cC\u201d Grade            Magnus Mark (27)                   Square<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Gross\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 James Pluske (5)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 down<\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 on a countback from Edmund Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best past winner\u00a0Mark Green (10)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 down and = 11th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editors Footnote \u2013 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 \u2013 the Winner was an apology.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is disappointing that winners are not in attendance at presentations \u2013 not just this Major Event but all events on the calendar \u2013 it is appreciated that for whatever reason people cannot make it back but surely one can make a personal apology.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsors, Captains and Vice Captains and Sponsorship Coordinator Greg Paddon must feel disillusioned with the increasing lack of courtesy and member support of presentations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And why do I attend presentations to take photos and keep writing articles?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
2026 Sponsor Tim Tan with Marquee Group<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2025 \u2013 Same old faces<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once again, a big thankyou to Tim Tan<\/strong> for his continued sponsorship of the Melvista Cup – Opening Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to the 2026 Melvista Cup winner James Pluske.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MIXED OPENING DAY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mixed Opening Day was played on Sunday 8th<\/sup> March and Cath Bellemore<\/strong> and Paul Baster <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mixed Opening Day Men\u2019s Winner Bean Goh and Women\u2019s Runner up Susie Lau with Cath Bellemore and Joe Alexander and Steve Noske Runner-Up Men with Cath Bellemore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let\u2019s have a look at what was happening on the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 9 holes the Overall Leaderboard looked like this –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STARTING HOLE, PLAYER and HANDICAP<\/u><\/strong>           SCORE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.       Nikki Bellemore-Thomas (27)                                23 Points<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.       Anne-Marie McNaughton (20)                              20 Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2        Bean Goh (36)                                                          20 Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.       Don O\u2019Brien (13)                                                     19 points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.       Ali Baker (19)                                                          18 points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.       Steve Noske (7)                                                        18 points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, it was a very close-run affair and it was a matter of who could keep up the momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at the leaderboard after 14 holes-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STARTING HOLE, PLAYER and HANDICAP<\/u><\/strong>           SCORE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.       Nikki Bellemore-Thomas (27)                                30 Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2        Bean Goh (36)                                                          30 Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.       Ali Baker (19)                                                          27 points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.       Steve Noske (7)                                                        27 points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.       Anne-Marie McNaughton (20)                              27 Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.       Don O\u2019Brien (13)                                                     26 points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susie Lau (31)<\/strong> was making a move and after 17 points at the conclusion of  her first nine (starting from the 4th<\/sup>) was also on 27 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s follow the last 4 holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Noske<\/strong> (7)<\/strong> navigated his way to the final hole with a total of 34 points \u2013 6th<\/sup> Hole no points \u2013 Total 34 points<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anne-Marie McNaughton (21) <\/strong>and Ali Baker (19) <\/strong>were seen singing a 1977 hit song by Paul Simon \u2013 \u201cSlip Slidin Away\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don O\u2019Brien (13) <\/strong>was treading water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susie Lau\u2019s (31)<\/strong> momentum was stopped with an untimely loss on the 18th<\/sup> hole. She regathered her composure and finished with 8 points in the next 3 holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there were 2 – <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bean \u201cBurglar\u201d Goh (36) and Nikki Bellemore – Thomas (27) <\/strong>who with 4 holes to play were locked together on 30 points<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, to Nikki \u2013 4×2 pointers on holes 15-18 and an excellent score of 38 points<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now to \u201cThe Burglar\u201d \u2013 3 points on 16 was followed by consecutive 3 pointers on hole 17,18 and 1. Final total 39 points<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FINAL LEADERBOARDS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEDLEY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner             Bean Goh (36)                           39 point<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Runner-Up      Nikki Bellemore-Thomas        38 points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WOMEN<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Nikki Bellemore-Thomas\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 38 points<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Nikki was an apology at presentations and Jan McFarlane acknowledged the members accolades with thanks on Nikki\u2019s behalf.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n