Published August 11, 2025 18:03
The 2025 Zone 2 Regional Championship was to have been played at Tuncurry over the weekend of 9/10 August but, like many courses, Tuncurry remains severely affected by months of rain and Muswellbrook Golf Club agreed at short notice to host the event.
Muswellbrook too has been impacted by wet weather and, only a week before the event was scheduled, received yet more storms but the grounds staff worked tirelessly and provided a course that in the circumstances was in exceptional condition.
The event is open to members of clubs affiliated with the 4 District Associations that constitute Zone 2 namely Central Coast, Hunter River, Lower North Coast and Newcastle and, in conjunction with the championship, teams of 21 from each of the DGAs contest the Jim Baker Shield and teams of 4 from the respective clubs contest the Sandy Cameron Shield.
Play on Saturday afternoon was impacted by a consistent strong breeze but that didn't cool the scoring with sub par rounds, a hole in one and numerous shots hitting the flags.
Our own Riley Millers got off to a shaky start with a double bogey on the first hole but steadied the ship to turn 4 under and finished the day at 5 under to be leader after the first round. Riley was ably assisted by his team mates to see CCDGA atop the leaderboard by 13 shots over the always strong Newcastle side.
Day 2 on Sunday saw the field off in fine weather if a little cool. The weather gods were again kind to us and although there were one or two showers the course stood up well as did the players. Riley was again under par but Hunter River's Josh Fuller threw everything he had at Riley at and the end of the day Riley and Josh both had scores of 138 and were declared joint champions for 2025.
In addition to Riley's win the following results were recorded by Coast representatives:
Junior Regional Champion: Shay Bennet 145
Senior Regional Champion: Mark Pavy 148
Senior Regional R/up: James Swanson 151
2nd 18 hole scratch Keegan Phillips 72
2nd 18 hole nett Greg Brien 71
The 21 man team representing the Coast in the Jim Baker Shield again played strongly and claimed the Shield from Newcastle and in the Sandy Cameron Shield the team of Ryan Carrigan, Kerrod Ferguson, Riley Millers and Keegan Phillips under the Magenta Shores flag proved too strong for the other teams.
2025 would have to be our most successful year in this event for a long time.
Our congratulations are extended to our 2025 Regional Champions, the other winners, our teams and privateer entrants all of whom represented the Coast to the highest standard.