Birdie Fever storms home for 2024 SGA Championships victory

Birdie Fever tops largest-ever field at 2024 SGA Championships

Social Golf Australia's 2024 SGA Championships saw the largest-ever field battle for victory in SGA's flagship event, with 136 golfers plus their partners making the trek to the gorgeous Gold Coast for a week of fun, sun and friendships.

The Four-Round Event, which included both Graded/Individual competitions as well as a Teams Competition, was contested over the week of August 25-30, 2024. It was played at some of Queensland's best golf courses: Links Hope Island, Lakelands, The Glades and RACV Royal Pines,  with optional rounds at Palmer Gold Coast and Brookwater GC.

After a week of great golf, camaraderie and all-around fun, the competition began to heat up as the podium came into sight. There were some tight races in both the Grades and Teams events, with the results coming down to the last day (and in some cases, the very last hole.)

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2024 CHAMPIONS:

A Grade: Jason Beeston (Red Bears) made it back-to-back victories, taking top spot on 144 points, pipping Anthony Moscato (Birdie Fever) on 141. Third went to T-Rex (Stroke Kings) on 138.

B Grade: Mark Haase (Pin Flag Men), took the trophy on 139 over Neil Joliffe (Dude! Where's My Par?) on 133 and Jeff Stephens (Vic Invincibles) on 132

C Grade: Andrew Sharp (The Birdie Brothers) claimed victory on 137 points. 2nd went to Warrin Barrow (NSW All Stars) on 136, followed by Carl Ruttledge (Dude! Where's My Par?) on 132.

Ladies Grade: The largest-ever ladies field in SGA Championships history (30 competitors!) saw Rukshana Mohammed (Spice Girls) claim the hardware on 137 points, followed by Michelle Jarvis (Birdie Fever) on 132 points. Third went to Heather Alsop (The Grange Birdies) on 131 points.

Teams Result was a very tight race. After leading all week, team Dude! Where's My Par? (Carl Rutledge, Neil Jolliffe, Ian Jolliffe and Martin Greenhalgh - 406 points) couldn't muster enough in Round 4 to overcome a fast-finishing Birdie Fever (Anthony Moscato, Michelle Jarvis, Kina Hazell and Shane Hazell - 407 points). When the results were tabulated, Birdie Fever overcome an 11-point deficit in R4 to clutch victory.

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The presentation award dinner capped our week of $40,000+ in prizes, and also featured our annual Raffle Draw, which included a highly-coveted MGI X1 Motorised Buggy, a $2500 Voucher to play in any SGA Major event, and vouchers for players to join us at a variety of SGA Events.

FINAL SCORES - TOP-5 TEAMS

(Detailed scoring available via our Golf Genius Leaderboard)

Pos. Team Points R1 R2 R3 R4
1 Birdie Fever 407 97 105 104 101
2 Dude! Where's my Par? 406 97 114 105 90
3 Red Bears 400 91 113 100 96
4 The Birdie Brothers 393 103 99 95 96
5 3 Fairways and a Fanny 388 83 109 101 95

Ambrose Day & Welcome Dinner - Palmer Gold Coast

Links Hope Island - Round 1

Lakelands - Round 2

The Glades - Round 3

RACV Royal Pines - Round 4

Presentation Dinner

SPECIAL THANKS

SGA would like to send a hearty "THANKS" to all the players who made the trek to the Gold Coast. Without you, we would not have an event.

We would like to give a special thanks to all of our sponsors and partners for the week. Notably Srixon Australia & New Zealand, Garmin Australia, MGI Golf Heathcote Winery, The Card Network, and Mantra Hotels. And our partner courses Lakelands Golf Club, RACV Royal Pines, Links Hope Island, The Glades,  Brookwater Golf & Country Club, and Palmer Gold Coast for all their help. Thanks, too, to our Minor Sponsors Jondo Sunglasses and StormFire Solutions.

Finally, we would like to give a shout out to the amazing Julie Ridler from Gold Coast Direct Charters, who managed all of the transfers (and many other things!) in a very challenging week. THANKS JULIE! (We recommend to all our SGA Fans -- if you are ever on the Gold Coast, and need a lift/tour/transfer, give Julie a call. You won't be disappointed).

And that's a wrap! We hope to see you all at next year's event

2024 SGA Championships Sponsors

The SGA Championships

ABOUT THE SGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Regarded as a must-play event on most clubs' Social Golf calendars, the SGA Championships is our flagship event on teh Gold Coast. It sees golfers and social clubs from across Australia converge upon the Gold Coast for a week of spectacular golf, energetic competition and, most importantly, a ton of fun.

To see upcoming SGA Championships events, click here

Stringybark Creek Freaks snatch 2024 Kelly Gang Shootout

Stringybark Creek Freaks snatch 2024 Kelly Gang Shootout

The 2024 Kelly Gang Shootout proved, once again, to be one of our most popular annual events.

44 players made a gaolbreak for Tocumwal Golf Club for the 19th staging of this annual event. With cold and rainy conditions giving way to sunny and clear skies, the quality of play and raucous good times were on show throughout the weekend.

Despite being short-handed when one of their team pulled-out due to Covid, the 3-handed Stringybark Creek Freaks stormed to victory on Sunday, courtesy of some stellar play. Congratulations to Matthew Pitt, Mick David and Dave Warwick, who returned a two-day total of 210, pippingd the fast-finishing The Greta Mob (Michelle Jarvis, Anthony Moscato, Tracey Grigoriou and Joan Swallow) on 211, followed by The Benalla Burglars (Gus Engley, Peter Engley, Brad Vigilante and Andre Van Gent) on 212.

See full leaderboard below.

Thanks to all of our amazing players for joining us on an epic weekend. You were all top-notch. We couldn't have a great weekend like this without you!

Special thanks to the entire team at Tocumwal Golf Club for hosting us on your wonderful course. Finally, cheers to our sponsors Srixon Australia, MGI, Heathcote Winery, Garmin Australia, Drummond Golf and TCN.

Overall, it was a remarkable weekend of fun and frivolity. We hope to see you all next year!

Below is the full rundown of the weekend's festivities.

2024 KGS Leaderboard

Pos. Team Total R1 R2 R3 Total
1 Stringybark Creek Freaks -6 74 71 65 210
2 Greta Mob -5 72 80 59 211
3 Benalla Burglars -4 80 70 62 212
T4 Wallan Wallan Carpenters -3 78 71 64 213
T4 Beechworth Boys -3 74 74 65 213
6 Mansfield Wombats -2 70 82 62 214
T7 Euroa Removalists -1 73 80 62 215
T7 Corowa Borrowers -1 73 78 64 215
9 Glenrowan Hacks E 75 75 66 216
10 Jerilderie Gents +4 87 72 61 220
11 Frosty Beveridges +5 78 74 69 221

Interactive Leaderboard (Golf Genius)

Hainan Island a tropical treat for 2024 Mission Hills Masters

Hainan Island a tropical treat for 2024 Mission Hills Masters

The 2024 Mission Hills Masters - Hainan Island, the inaugural China event co-hosted by SGA and AYM Golf Tours, proved to be (in the words of a few guests) one of our "best-ever events". Featuring a week of island fun (followed by an optional 3-day extension for even MORE golf), the event had it all: World-class golf, 5-star service, a lush & tropical setting and stunning scenery.

Sunday - 2024 Mission Hills Masters Welcome Dinner

A total of 57 players and their guests & partners were welcomed to the Mission Hills Masters at a sumptuous Welcome Dinner Buffet. They met their fellow players, enjoyed a few beverages and received their souvenir Tournament Polos, caps, bag tags and more.

Monday - R1 - Sandbelt Trails

Day 1 of the Mission Hills Masters proved to be a cracker! Playing the Sandbelt Trails course (modeled after Melbourne's famed golf region), our golfers were treated to an impeccably-presented golf course, knowledgeable (and friendly) caddies, and 5-star treatment all around. Despite some high temps and humidity, our players had an absolute blast.

Tuesday - R2 - Lava Fields

Another stellar day, hosted at the gorgeous Lava Fields course. What a course! The lava rocks (everywhere) provided not only a great setting, but also some unexpected bounces. And the immaculate greens and fairways were a joy! In the event, a few players began jockeying for position, with Drew Hallam leaping to the top of A Grade (38-38), Ian Jolliffe leading B Grade (37-37), and Carl Rutledge atop C Grade (24-34).

Wednesday - Rest Day

Wednesday was a well-earned rest day. While some golfers chose to play another round of optional golf on one of the many stunning par-3 courses at Mission Hills, many other golfers took the day to explore the Mission Hills Resort's shops, indulge in the free Spa (including 68 Volcanic Pools) or just chill by the sparkling pool.  Still others took the free shuttle to the city of Haikou (to explore shopping, the Zoo, and authentic Hainan Cuisine) or a quick trip to the shops and attractions at Mission Hills Centerville.

Thursday - R3 - The Vintage + The China & Australia Friendship Cup

Round 3 marked the inaugural China & Australia Friendship Cup. Held at the The Vintage Course, over 100 Australian and Chinese Golfers enjoyed a day of fun, friendship and camaraderie. This was a landmark occasion for all involved, with the language of golf transcending all barriers. Many long-lasting friendships were made.

Following the round, the golfers from both countries enjoyed a lunch together, and an awards ceremony, while they discussed their great (and not-so-great) shots on the course.

Friday - R4 - Blackstone & Farewell Dinner

The Blackstone Course provided a magnificent finale for our event, with lovely views and a stunning course & layout.  The previous host of many top-end Asian events (including The Match at Mission Hills, featuring Tiger Woods v Rory McIlroy), the Blackstone course was
In the week-long Aggregate Stableford event, there were some solid performances throughout. Congratulations to Drew Hallam, who led from wire to wire, blitzing the field to take A Grade honours with 146 points. Next best were Shane Hazell on 132, and Geoff Steer on 131.
In B Grade, it was Ian Jolliffe taking the bikkies with 143, over Arvin Kumar on 128 and Mark Stephenson on 124.
In C Grade, it was Mark Rice on top with 122, followed by Ian Steer and Carl Rutledge, both on 113.
Final leaderboard here (or see scoreboard below):

Extension - The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula

On Saturday, a large group of our players hopped on a luxury coach for a 2.5 hour transfer to The Sheraton Hotel, and The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula. Over the following three days, the players played the #1-rated club in China (Composite Course), and the #3 in Asia. The two 18-hole seaside courses (East & West) proved to be a bucket list treat for all, and were a highlight of the trip for all who played.

Final Scores - 2024 Mission Hills Masters

A Grade Flight

Pos. Player Total
Points
R1 R2 R3 R4
1 Drew Hallam 146 38 38 35 35
2 Matthew Pitt 134 31 29 40 34
3 Paul White 134 30 31 42 31
4 Shane Hazell 132 30 31 37 34
5 Geoffrey Steer 131 34 33 37 27
6 David Warwick 126 32 32 33 29
7 Nick Sutherland 125 33 29 35 28
8 Elliot Cayton 124 30 36 26 32
9 Andrew Grant 124 32 32 37 23
10 Matty Thomas 122 32 25 30 35
11 Dennis Williams 121 28 35 30 28
12 Stephen Te Whare 113 26 35 29 23
13 Robert Garioch 110 33 24 28 25
14 Ryan Hassan 109 25 32 30 22
15 Richard Fellner 107 26 25 29 27
16 Tom Tomlin 104 28 26 25 25
17 Lisa Garioch 104 28 22 30 24
18 David Morriss 97 27 23 27 20
19 Jerry Florindo 93 21 22 29 21

B Grade Flight

Pos. Player Total
Points
R1 R2 R3 R4
1 Ian Jolliffe 143 37 37 33 36
2 Arvin Kumar 128 31 30 39 28
3 Mark Stephenson 124 28 28 34 34
4 Greg Dalton 120 32 23 36 29
5 Tim Hibbard 117 33 27 31 26
6 Joel Matthews 115 27 29 34 25
7 Mick David 113 27 22 35 29
8 Rod Tozer 112 31 23 26 32
9 Lee Daly 109 22 25 35 27
10 Neville Hughes 107 28 27 32 20
11 Dennis Lanigan 103 27 25 28 23
12 Cameron Thompson 102 23 31 24 24
13 Chris Hallam 100 22 28 22 28
14 Gary Moller 98 16 22 31 29
15 Peter Calverley 97 29 25 25 18
16 Olga Tozer 83 26 19 17 21
17 Pete Jensen 83 25 18 22 18
18 Jodene Tuau 77 19 17 24 17

C Grade Flight

Pos. Player Total
Points
R1 R2 R3 R4
1 Mark Rice 122 28 27 38 29
2 Ian Steer 113 30 26 29 28
3 Carl Rutledge 113 24 34 32 23
4 Jade Lowe 111 25 25 29 32
5 Patrick Bond 110 30 25 28 27
6 Ivan Jones 106 29 27 25 25
7 Kathy Ridley 100 29 20 29 22
8 Frank Elisaia 100 23 29 29 19
9 Andrew Sharp 95 23 27 26 19
10 Bill Anastasopoulos 92 20 20 29 23
11 John Waltis 88 31 17 19 21
12 David Loveridge 85 24 17 24 20
13 Kina Hazell 84 23 10 25 26
14 Travis Hicks 84 23 20 22 19
15 Rita Petrovs 76 26 9 25 16
16 Sue Hughes 72 25 16 10 21
17 Marcella Broz 67 22 15 14 16
18 Sheri Yu 47 24 0 23 0
19 Yvonne Grant 45 22 10 6 7

Thanks

Thanks to all of our "Foundation Players" for making this event a huge success! If you had a blast, tell your friends! (And get them on board for March next year!)
Thanks to May and the entire team at Mission Hills for hosting us. Thanks to Sheri at AYM Golf Tours for making it all possible. Thanks to Hainan Airlines Global for their partnership. And thanks to our sponsors Srixon Australia & New Zealand, Garmin Australia, Drummond Golf, MGI Golf, Heathcote Winery, and Card.Gift.

Tassie shines for 2024 SGA Tasman Classic

Tassie Shines for 2024 SGA Tasman Classic

Our 2024 SGA Tasman Classic was, in a word, sensational. The course, staff, weather (and players!) were all top notch. With plenty of sunshine and little-to-no wind, it was a perfect golf weekend.

Friday - R1 - Bougle Run