The 2026 Lithgow Golf Club Championships has reached the halfway mark and it is the 2024 champion Harry Bender and the 2025 champion Justin McCann leading the way.
The weekend’s round saw excellent weather with good fields playing for excellent trophies in all three grades courtesy of Drummond Golf Penrith through the support of sponsors Westfund, Centennial, Metromix & Portland Concrete & Excavation.
There was plenty of excitement over the two rounds with Dave Warren scoring an ‘ace’ on the hard 13th hole and in doing so picked up one of the pro pins while President Greg Guest picked up a pro pin on the ninth with both enjoying cash prizes.
In the race for the title Harry Bender and McCann who enjoy a four shot lead on 146 and breathing down necks are a couple of former champions in Damien Marjoram (150), Steve Hall (151) and Andrew Burton (152) with Troy Luka also on 152.
First round:
The winner on 69 nett was John Bird (5) who has been in good form in recent weeks and he put in together nines of 36 and 38 for a two over 74. Runner up was Damien Marjoram (2) with a score of 71 nett on a countback. Harry Bender (+1) enjoyed the best scratch score with a par round 72.
Winner of B grade with the best nett score of the day was Ross Harrington (11) with pro pin winner Greg Guest (10) runner up on 71 nett. Best scratch score went to Matt Whitney (11) with a score of 84.
C grade saw the battle between friends Heidi Inwood (26) and Deanna Goodsell (26) continue. Both girls are on the same handicap and enjoy their friendly rivalry. It was Goodsell last week that took the win but after a countback this week it was Inwood that had the bragging rights counting out her friend after both finished with 72 nett. Best scratch score went to Geoff Wheeler (20) with 94.
Vouchers went to Ian Downey, Greg Jackson, Riley Cameron, David Thompson, Max Nightingale, Dave Titcume, Dennis Wallace and Troy Luka. Cut was 73 nett ocb.
Nearest to the pins were: 2nd Robbie Millar (300cms); 4th Troy Luka (308cms); 9th Greg Guest (43cms); 13th Darren Hunter (466cms) and 18th Ryan Gurney (200cms).
Second round:
It was a big day for Dave Warren (9) who celebrated a hole in one on the 13th and backed it up by winning the A grade section.
Warren had nines of 39 on each with his hole in one sandwiched between double bogies but the rest of his round was very solid finishing with a nett score of 69 nett.
Runner up was Andrew Burton (2) on 71 nett with the scratch winner being Justin McCann (+1) with a score of 70.
The B grade winner was Jai Osborne (17) with a score of 68 nett.
Like Osborne, runner up Riley Cameron (16) is a good young talent.
Cameron finished with 69 nett while the best scratch score went to Matt Whitney (11) with a score of 81.
C grade went to Steve Jennings (21) with a score of 69 nett.
There was a big break to the next best with Leo Murnane (19) back on 77 nett. Geoff Wheeler (20) took out the best scratch score with 97.
Vouchers went to Anthony Oldfield, Troy Luka, Steven Mays and Corey Osborne. Cut was 74 nett ocb.
Nearest to the pins were: 2nd Dennis Wallace (380cms); 4th Brodie Carter (500cms); 9th Dave May (245cms); 13th Dave Warren (hole in one) and 18th Matt Whitney (480cms).
The final two rounds will bring plenty of excitement in all three grades with the champions being decided on Sunday afternoon.
Wednesday Sparks Finance – Mortgage Broker Lithgow Competitions
Nine hole competition:
Winner was Brian Judge on 21 points.
Runner up was Greg Guest on 20 and third place went to Juan Farmer on 19 points.
Vouchers went to Ben Sabat and Matt Dickson. Cut was 18 ocb.
Nearest to the pins were Les Barnes and Matt Dickson.
GA 18 hole competition:
Winner was Julie Murnane with 40 points.
Runner up was Carol Osborne on 36 points and in third spot was Al Mostyn on 32 points.
Friday Central West Leak Detection and Plumbing 9 hole event:
Winner was Dave Thompson on 22 points.
Runner up on 20 points was Jeff Geddes and in third place was Brian Judge on 19 points ocb.
Nearest to the pin was Jeff Geddes.