Queensland Hickory Shaft Championships — 2021

This year the Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship was held over thirty-six holes. Twenty-eight players competed over two days commencing at Brisbane Golf Club on Sunday 19 September and concluding at Royal Queensland Golf Club on Monday 20 September 2021. The two events contested included a champion for (stroke) gross and also for (stroke) net.

Day one

Brisbane Golf Club, early Sunday morning, heralded a picturesque setting for the first day. The club was most welcoming, players enjoying abundant sunshine and coffee - all before a magnificently prepared course. Conditions assisted some admirable scoring with local member Alan Grieve leading the Championship with 76 (gross). Ilija Soldan, another local member, followed closely with 78 and Towoomba's Scott Hendry on 81.

For the Net Championship, Bruce Collins, a local member, followed up his recent good form this year to register 68 and ultimately led the event on day one, closely followed by Al Grieve on 69.

The first nearest-the-pin was set on the picturesque 4th hole. Rob King- Scott continued his incredible NTP form to take it out, but could not secure the second pin — set upon another beautiful hole, the 20th. It was Toby Kelly who secured that NTP.

Day two

As expected, Royal Queensland Golf Club was immaculate with fast greens. Players were presented with warm, humid and somewhat windy conditions for their Monday afternoon tee. The wind together with firm, fast greens was a true test for all players. Nonetheless, whilst most struggled, some exceptional scores were returned.

Ilija Soldan played some outstanding golf, shooting 75 (gross). This was by far the best for the day and it was also enough to propel him past Sunday's leader Al Grieve. Ilija most convincingly won the Championship, six shots clear. Ilija, from Brisbane Golf Club, is quite new to hickory, this being only his second tournament. We congratulate him on such a notable achievement and such consistent play. David Mansfield, also a new player to hickory, shot an impressive 81 to be outright second on the day. With David's 83 on Sunday, he eventually placed third in the Championship. A few shots back of David lurked Al Grieve (second place overall) together with Denis Brosnan, Bradley Tatnell and Chris Cooper.

In the Net Championship, Kevin Tuckwell must have come close to shooting his age to record the best net of the day at 70. David Jones was a close second with 71. However, consistency proved through with local member Bradley Tatnell (72+72) nudging out Al Grieve (69+76) by one shot overall to ultimately take out the Net Championship. Bruce Collins lay only one shot back from Al to record third place, on countback with David Jones. The Monks-Earp Shield was later presented by Dr Peter Monks (thank you Pete!).

The nearest-the-pins were taken out by Bruce Collins on the 11th and Alan Grieve on the 17th. We might reasonably surmise Al was possibly the only player to stay on the green, the wind howling at some considerable strength straight from the ocean (far right), making any ball defying to stay on the elevated castle of the 17th a true feat of hickory golf. In hindsight, perhaps we should have all aimed at the Gateway Bridge in like fashion. Well done Al!

Day two was indeed a memorable day to say the least and we humbly thank the Royal Queensland Golf Club for allowing us to compete on such a beautiful course.

Thanks

Special thanks to Alan Grieve, Captain of Brisbane Golf Club, for liaising with the golf club and also for arranging Sunday's event. The membership, management and staff of Royal Queensland Golf Club and Brisbane Golf Club deserve special thanks. Both clubs provided first rate facilities and the hospitality shown is greatly appreciated. To all players, we trust you enjoyed this year's format and the courses played. Special thanks must go to our new Honorary Secretary, Phil Akes, for his painstaking efforts during the Championship — it is appreciated by all. In addition, we especially thank our President Rob King-Scott for his efforts to arrange the event and thanks must go to the entire board, as well as the match committee, especially Ross Bishop.

News post by Phil Akes, Bradley Tatnell and Rob King-Scott

Link to Honour board and past results

QHSC Champion

President Rob King-Scott congratulates Ilija Soldan (right)

Leader board - Championship (gross)

Rank	First	Last	Handicap	Day 1	Day 2	Total
1	Ilija	Soldan	2	78	75	153
2	Alan	Grieve	7	76	83	159
3	David	Mansfield	6	82	81	163
4	Denis	Brosnan	4	83	83	166
5	Bradley	Tatnell	13	85	85	170
6	Scott	Hendry	9	81	91	172
7	Bruce	Collins	15	83	93	176
8	Chris	Cooper	6	91	85	176
9	Jason	Norris	11	88	90	178
10	Ross	Bishop	13	91	91	182
11	Colin	Marshall	13	90	94	184
12	Greg	Mellifont	14	86	98	184
13	Grathan	Leatherbarrow	9	85	100	185
14	Robert	King-Scott	13	89	97	186
15	Andrew	Baker	13	100	87	187
16	David	Jones	23	98	94	192
17	Philip	Akes	19	97	96	193
18	Ross	Haslam	22	99	105	204
19	Arthur	O'Shea	22	107	106	213
20	Peter	Egan	28	107	108	215
21	Wally	Boydell	33	112	112	224
22	Chris	Huet	0	84	DNP
23	Toby	Kelly	3	95	DNP
24	Tony	Cassimatis	16	97	DNP
25	Mark	Friedman	12	102	DNP
26	John	Crocker	13	103	DNP
27	Gregory	Cooper	28	DNP	107
28	Kevin	Tuckwell	22	DNP	92

Leader board - Net Championship

				Gross		Net
Rank	First	Last	Handicap	Day 1	Day 2	Day 1	Day 2	Total
1	Bradley	Tatnell	13	85	85	72	72	144
2	Alan	Grieve	7	76	83	69	76	145
3	Bruce	Collins	15	83	93	68	78	146
4	David	Jones	23	98	94	75	71	146
5	Ilija	Soldan	2	78	75	76	73	149
6	David	Mansfield	6	82	81	76	75	151
7	Scott	Hendry	9	81	91	72	82	154
8	Philip	Akes	19	97	96	78	77	155
9	Jason	Norris	11	88	90	77	79	156
10	Ross	Bishop	13	91	91	78	78	156
11	Greg	Mellifont	14	86	98	72	84	156
12	Denis	Brosnan	4	83	83	79	79	158
13	Colin	Marshall	13	90	94	77	81	158
14	Wally	Boydell	33	112	112	79	79	158
15	Peter	Egan	28	107	108	79	80	159
16	Robert	King-Scott	13	89	97	76	84	160
17	Ross	Haslam	22	99	105	77	83	160
18	Andrew	Baker	13	100	87	87	74	161
19	Chris	Cooper	6	91	85	85	79	164
20	Grathan	Leatherbarrow	9	85	100	76	91	167
21	Arthur	O'Shea	22	107	106	85	84	169
22	Chris	Huet	0	84	DNP	84
23	Toby	Kelly	3	95	DNP	92
24	Tony	Cassimatis	16	97	DNP	81
25	Mark	Friedman	12	102	DNP	90
26	John	Crocker	13	103	DNP	90
27	Gregory	Cooper	28	DNP	107		79
28	Kevin	Tuckwell	22	DNP	92		70

Net Champion & Champion

Bradley Tatnell & Ilija Soldan

Photo gallery

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championships — upload photos here

Members are welcome to add their own photos from the Championship. It is easily performed by clicking on the link above and then drop and drag etc to add.