The 2026 Coolamatong Summer Cup is off to a flying start for several golfers, with numerous players scoring 40 points or better.

Sam Penny and Lochlan Colin both shot 78 scratch scores, a first for each of them to break 80. Their 43 stableford points would come down to a countback for first place with Penny taking the win.

Penny said it was his consistency that shone on the day, and his driver was kind to him.

“Less mistakes,” Penny said, referring to his score.

Colin was pleased with his round, particularly how he executed his short game.

“I was stoked to get there,” Colin said.

“I managed to get up and down from everywhere, and my putting was going well.

Bob Haigh had 40 points and placed third on a countback from Adrian Duncan, who had the best A grade score, and Rainer Beissner. Kylie Woodcock had the best score in C grade with 39 points.

Josh Crawford won the $150 eagle’s nest on hole 15, inside a metre, plus he made the putt.

The men’s near pins were won by Alan Butterworth on three, Josh Crawford on 15 and Steve Dunn on 17. The ladies’ near pins were won by Carolyn Major on eight, Janece Peters on 15 and Karen Caban on 17.

The ball competition ran down to 37 points, including Adrian Duncan 40 points, Rainer Beissner 40, Ken Kable 39, David Rubin 38, Stephen Jermyn 38, Louis Fenelon 38, Maureen Rupcic 38, Ross Thompson 37, Charlie Filtness 37, Soeron Stoettrup 37 and Laurie Whitehead 37.

The eclectic competition has started and runs until the last round in November. Adrian Duncan was nearly off to a great start when he almost holed out for eagle on hole 14, hitting a lofted wedge next to the hole.

Golfers finished 2025 in style, with numerous high scores in the Wednesday, 31 December competition.

The star of the day was Laurie Whitehead, who bettered his age for the first time by one shot, shooting 78 scratch for a handy 42 points. Now we know his age.

Whitehead birdied the first hole for a four-pointer and finished with seven three-pointers in his round. He said he had been close a few times, but it finally clicked.

Playing in the same group, another veteran golfer, Ross Thompson, bettered his age by three strokes, shooting 83 scratch and finishing with 38 points.

Josh Shortland continued his good run of scores and would feel unlucky to run second with 41 points, shooting a great two-over-par 73 scratch score. Shorty showed great consistency with 12 pars, two birdies and four bogeys during his round.

Carolyn Major finished in third position with a fine 40 stableford points, beating Bruce Hart on a countback. Major’s score consisted of seven three-pointers from her 17 handicap.

The C-grade winner on the day was Jan O’Halloran.

One of the shots of the day went to newcomer Penny, who hit a brilliant four-iron for his second shot onto hole 13. That was after he used a four-iron on his tee shot.

The ball covered the pin all the way and left him a 12-foot putt for eagle. It shaved the hole, and he made birdie, but it’s very rare to see anyone hit two iron shots onto that par five hole onto the green.

In the four-ball-best-ball played in conjunction, Bruce Hart and Wayne Tuckwell had a handy score of 47 points, beating Laurie Whitehead and Kim Weston on a countback.

Steve Cuff and Sam Penny placed third with 45 points on a countback from Josh Shortland and Adam Newbold.