Queensland Hickory Shaft Championships — 2022

This year the Queensland Hickory Shaft Championship was held over thirty-six holes. Twenty players competed over two days commencing at Wynnum Golf Club on Sunday 10 July and concluding at Royal Queensland Golf Club on Monday 11 July 2022. The two events contested included a champion for (stroke) gross and also for (stroke) net.

Day one

Wynnum Golf Club is celebrating its centenary in 2022 and HGQ wanted to help with festivities by holding the first round of the State Championship on the historic course. With the unseasonal wet weather preceding the event there were concerns if the course would be able to accommodate the hickory golfers. However the golfing and weather gods co-operated by providing several days of sunshine and the first round started at midday on Sunday.

It was slow going at Wynnum with the first nine taking about 3 hours and consequently the final two groups finished stoically in the dark. Ilija Soldan played in the opening group and shot the lights out with a 2 under par 70 to lead the field. Peter Monks played at Wynnum as a boy and had to use all his previous experience to return a net 64 to be the leader in the net event despite finishing in the dark. Other notable performances were Al Grieve with 78 (gross) and Scott Hendry with a net 72. .

Sharp shooter, Al Grive took out both nearest the pins.

Day two

As expected, Royal Queensland Golf Club was immaculate with fast greens. Players were presented with sunny but cool and breezy conditions for their Monday afternoon tee time. The wind together with firm, fast greens was a true test for all players. RQ proved to be a tougher test of golf for most players however some good scores were returned.

Ilija Soldan played some more outstanding golf, shooting 75 (gross). Again Ilija had the best round for the day and he convincingly won the Championship by 19 shots. Second overall was Andrew Sugden with rounds of 83 and 81. We think Andrew could be dark horse in next year's event when he eventually gets his own set of clubs. Third place went to David Mansfield with rounds of 83 and 84.

After finishing in the dark in round one, Peter Monks put some daylight between himself and the rest of the field to win the best net with a total of 136 (64 and 72). Second place in the net event was taken out by Andrew Sugden on a countback from Rob King-Scott with a total of 148.

Other good scores on day two included Greg Melifont with a net 71 and the resplendent Arthur O'Shea with a net 73.

The event was followed by a dinner in the RQ library and prize presentations.

Thanks

Special thanks to Wynnum Golf Club, for hosting Sunday's event. The membership, management and staff of Royal Queensland Golf Club deserve special thanks for providing access to the course and facilities.

To all players, we trust you enjoyed this year's format and the courses played.

Fashion at the Links

QHSC Champion

President Rob King-Scott congratulates Ilija Soldan (right)

Leader board - Championship (gross)

	Queensland Hickory Championships 2022

Position	Player		Handicap	Round 1	Round 2	Total

1	Ilija	Soldan	4	70	75	145
2	Andrew	Sugden	8	83	81	164
3	David	Mansfield	9	83	84	167
4	Scott	Hendry	10	82	87	169
6	Rob	King Scott	12	88	84	172
7	Peter	Monks	22	86	94	180
8	Grathan	Leatherbarrow	12	89	93	182
9	Greg	Melifont	15	97	86	183
10	Bruce	Collins	12	90	93	183
11	Robert	Bischof	15	97	94	191
12	David	Jones	21	96	97	193
13	Philip	Akes	16	100	96	196
14	Ross	Haslam	17	95	102	197
15	Arthur	O'Shea	27	111	100	211
16	Chris	Everett	20	100	112	212
17	Wally	Boydell	27	104	110	214
18	Denis	Farmer	27	106	111	217
19	Peter	Egan	27	110	109	219
20	Alan	Grieve	6	78
21	Michael	Akes	10	90

Leader board - Net Championship

	Queensland Hickory Championships 2022

Position	Player		Handicap	Round 1	Round 2	Net Total
				Nett	Net
1	Peter	Monks	22	64	72	136
2	Ilija	Soldan	4	66	71	137
3	Andrew	Sugden	8	75	73	148
4	Rob	King Scott	12	76	72	148
6	David	Mansfield	9	74	75	149
7	Scott	Hendry	10	72	77	149
8	David	Jones	21	75	76	151
9	Greg	Melifont	15	82	71	153
10	Arthur	O'Shea	27	84	73	157
11	Grathan	Leatherbarrow	12	77	81	158
12	Bruce	Collins	12	78	81	159
13	Wally	Boydell	27	77	83	160
14	Robert	Bischof	15	82	79	161
15	Ross	Haslam	17	78	85	163
16	Denis	Farmer	27	79	84	163
17	Philip	Akes	16	84	80	164
18	Peter	Egan	27	83	82	165
19	Chris	Everett	20	80	92	172

* Note: A player cannot win both the gross and net events

Photo gallery

Queensland Hickory Shaft Championships — upload photos here

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