AIFN Golf Event Results- Babinda GC, Oct 17 2021

AIFN Golf Event Results - Babinda Golf Course, Oct 17th, 2021

Aboriginal and First Nation Golfers took to Babinda Golf Course on Sunday, October 17th, 2021.

Under clear skies, the golfers played a 4BBB format, and a great time was had by all... laughing, smiling (and even some bad words because the ball wouldn't listen 🤣🤣🤣), and just being around murries and all the Balas. All the players walked away excited for the next event and just to be out on the golf course with good company.

Final Leaderboard:

Detailed scores:

Team 1

Best Score: J. Fejo / Mike Davis (45), M. Anderson / A. Edwards (59).
Winning Team for Team 1: John Fejo & Mike Davise (45) Points
Winning player for Team 1: Mike Davis (45) Points

Team 2

Best Score: Mac Brown / M. Brown (47), I. Wallace / G. Savage (45)
Winning Team for Team 2: Isaac Wallace & George Savage (45) Points
Winning Player for Team 2: George Savage (45) Points

Team 3

Best Score: D. Heron / M. Heron (54), L. Biondi Odo / B. Biondi Odo (53)
Winning Team for Team 3: Lachlan & Bailey Biondi Odo (53) Points
Winning Player for Team 3: Lachlan Biondi Odo (53) Points

Team 4

Best Score: B Ahkee/ W Drahm, M Baptiste, J McCarthy
Winning Team for Team 4: Beaven Ahkee & Warren Drahm (42) Points
Winning Player for Team 4: Beaven Ahkee (42) Points

Team 5

K Rundle, W Alick, H Walsh, J Jia
Winning Golfers for Team 5: Herb Walsh & John Jia (45) Points
Winning Player for Team 5: Herb Walsh (45) Points

Team 6
M Purcell, S Edwards, K Fejo, J Sneath
Winning Golfers for Team 6: Malcom Purcell & Samuel Edwards (54) Points
Winning Player for Team 6: Malcom Purcell (54) Points

NOVELTY AWARDS

Best Golfer: Beaven Ahkee (42) Points
Best Putter: Marcus Heron
Best Duo: Beaven Ahkee / Warren Drahm
Longest Drive: George Savage 252m
Closest to the Pin: George Savage
Looks the Part but needs to work on his Golf Game: Samuel Edwards

Photo Gallery

From the players:

What a great day of golf at the AIFNG event. first one for me and loved it. awesome getting around all the brother men good fun good laugh. The sun and wind was out in force, can't do much about that and didn't win any prizes . there's players at all levels. thanks John Fejo & everyone that helped out. let's get on board. see you all next Sunday. Kevin Rundle

I’d just like to say a big thank you to John Fejo and to all the people who attended the AIFN Golf event in babinda today, such a privilege to play with everyone and to see the enjoyment that everyone had I highly recommend everyone to have a go lots of fun, competitive but also support to get better at golf and enjoy some outdoor activitie. Merrick K Anderson

Being asked and invited & involved in this AIFN Golf Event today made me feel proud & honoured to be playing with a deadly group of men who just enjoy their golf & as well try & improve their own game. Totally supportive of the Group & Committee ( sorry I'm bad on names ) but this is going to be an fantastic way to play golf with a Handicap & feel what it's like to play in a proper Competition. Thanks to my deadly cousin Bevan Ahkee for teaming up & winning the day plus his own award he won. So more murrie golf get involved made group grow into something bigger then it is. Cheers Warren Drahm‍

It was a privilege being asked to play in this AIFN Golf Event today at the Babinda golf course. I found it was well organised by @John and everyone else that was involved. Playing in this deadly event makes me want to try and improve my golf more and see where this can take me and mostly playing beside all the brothers that participated. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and looking forward to the next event in gordonvale. William Alick

Hey guys was an amazing day today with an even better group of men, coming from someone who usually goes to the pub on the weekend was good to get out and have a round of golf getting some excercise while having fun and surrounded by some exceptional indigenous men. Was my first time playing in the tournament and everyone was so welcoming,so thanks use for that and cyas at the next one.. Aw and even though I didn't have any golf clubs special thanks to Patrick McCarthy for letting me borrow his brand new clubs. Samuel Edward

Thank you Johnny, we appreciate the work you put in behind the scenes. At the end of the day, AIFN golf and the event days aren’t possible without you first having a dream and your dream becoming a reality. Trent Baptiste

Thanks to Babinda Golf Course for hosting the day. Thanks also to major prize sponsor Callaway Golf Australia New Zealand, as well as support from Drummond Golf, and Social Golf Australia.

ABOUT AIFN Golf

The 2021 AIFN Golf Event was the brainchild of John Fejo, a keen golfer who wanted to introduce the game of golf to Australian Indigenous and First Nations players. It is hoped that this first event will be the launching pad for more events in the future.

SEE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AIFN GOLF HERE

Happy Days prevails at the 2021 SGA Championships

Team "Happy Days" prevails at the 2021 SGA Championships

The 2021 SGA Championships was, put simply, like no other SGA Championships in the history of the event.

Following months of uncertainty around Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions, SGA made the call to shift the event from the traditional August timeslot to October. It was hoped that this change would allow golfers from outside of Queensland to be able to travel to the Gold Coast without quarantine or travel restrictions. However, even a two-month delay was not enough, as border restrictions tightened even further. The event was thus limited only to golfers from Queensland.

In the end, a small group of 19 hearty Queenslanders teed it up for the event. And what the group lacked in quantity, they more than made up for in quality.

WARM-UP DAY

Players teed off at Lakelands for the traditional "Fun" Ambrose golf day. The day was a perfect warm-up for the week, played on a great course.

Following the golf, players all enjoyed the prize presentation, followed by the traditional Welcome Dinner.

Photo Gallery - Warm-up Day

ROUND 1

The 2021 SGA Championships officially teed off with Round 1 at RACV Royal Pines Resort. Sadly, Covid restrictions and border closures meant it was the smallest field in our Championships history (with our normal 100+ field whittled down to 19).

In very pleasant "Golf Conditions" the players thoroughly enjoyed their day, with Glenn Burgess taking the day's honours in the A-Grade/individual event. (With the smaller-than-normal field, the usual A/B/C grades were combined into one.)

Photo Gallery - Round 1

ROUND 2

It was Deja Vu all over again...

While Day 2 of the 2021 SGA Championships had a different course (this time, the lovely Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club's Palms Course), it had a similar finish. Glenn Burgess once again found himself on the podium. It seems that Glenn may have had his eyes on some sort of unprecedented wire-to-wire victory at this event.

Photo Gallery - Round 2

ROUND 3

Following a much-needed "Rest Day" (which gave some golfers the opportunity to rest, while some others teed it up at Palmer Gold Coast for a "Bonus Round of golf"), competitors arrived at The Glades for Round 3 of the event.

Unfortunately, Round 3 was soon washed-out by exceptionally heavy rains which battered the Gold Coast (and much of Queensland and NSW).

This is the first time in the SGA Championships history that SGA were forced to cancel a round, and we (and the players) were all gutted to be forced off the course.

The call was soon made to reduce the event to a 3-round tournament.

ROUND 3 (Take 2)

Mother Nature continued to batter the Gold Coast with overnight (and early morning) rains, but after a short delay, the skies cleared, and our players took to the Palm Meadows course for Round 3.

When the scores were tallied at the end of the day, team "Happy Days" found themselves at the top. With a 3-round aggregate of 298 Stableford points (including a magnificent 102 points on the final day), they obliterated the field.

Congratulations to Glenn Burgess, Jan Booth, Maureen Mathews and Russell Mathews. They have taken home the 2021 SGA Championships Team Trophy, and will have their name etched on the perpetual trophy, and included (digitally) on the SGA Championships Honourboard.

And for individual results, it will come as no surprise that Glenn Burgess was the individual champion, having dominated all week, and finishing with a wire-to-wire-leading 3-round total of 104 Stableford points. Well done, Glenn. Runner-up in individual was Neil Jolliffe, followed by Ian Hoather, both of the "Capricorn Can't Play Golf" team.

Photo Gallery - Round 3

FINAL SCORES

(Detailed scoring available via our Golf Genius Leaderboard)

Pos.	Team	State	R1	R2	R3	Total
1	Happy Days	Qld	100	96	102	298
2	Capricorn Can't Play Golf	Qld	89	93	94	276
3	Nuchem	Qld	82	86	90	258
4	Bundy Hotshots	Qld	68	88	80	236
5	Giddy Up Golfers	Qld	61	66	77	204

SPECIAL THANKS

SGA would like to send a hearty "THANKS" to all the players, who soldiered on through a fun (but challenging) week. While it was the smallest event in our history, it was no less important or prestigious (and we hope it was a blast for you all). We had many obstacles in getting this event up and running, so we appreciate the effort you all put in to get there and play. And we sincerely hope that we can be back to a full field of over 100 next year.

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, Heathcote Winery, The Card Network, and Mantra Hotels. And our partner courses Lakelands Golf Club, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club, Brookwater Golf & Country Club, The Glades Golf Club, and Palm Meadows Golf Course for all their help.

Finally, we would like to give a shout out to our SGA Qld Manager David Rushmore for helping out this week, and a extra-special-with-sugar-and-cherry-on-top shout to the amazing Julie Ridler from Gold Coast Direct Charters, without whom the week would not have been possible. Her amazing hosting, driving, scheduling, managing, photographing and everything-else-ing this week were world-class. 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

2021 SGA Championships Sponsors

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

2021 PGA Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge

Inside The Ropes experience:

Tee it up with top pros and celebrities at the 2021 Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge

Moonah Links Resort, Dec 9-12, 2021

If you’ve ever dreamed of teeing it up in a high-quality Celebrity Pro-Am, like the famous AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am or the Dunhill Links Championship, then here is your chance!

Imagine playing “inside the ropes” in a televised PGA of Australia tournament, rubbing shoulders with celebrities and Aussie professionals. You make the cut for the final round, and walk down the 18^th fairway in the final group as you battle to win the Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge. Meanwhile, your partner is vying for the Professional title of the Victorian PGA Championship!

Later, off the course, picture yourself being treated like a Tour Professional with invitations to three functions throughout the week and exclusive access to the Players’ Lounge during the Tournament.

You can make this dream a reality, at the Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge, December 9-12 at Moonah Links Resort.

The Event

SGA are delighted to partner with the PGA of Australia to support 2021 Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge.

Top Aussie professionals, celebrities and amateurs (like YOU) will tee it up at both Moonah Links courses (Legends and Open Course) for the 2021 Victorian PGA Championship and 2021 Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge.

This four-round, 72-hole event will see amateurs paired with a professional (two pros and two amateurs) to form a team for the first 2 rounds, playing a Modified Four-Ball Best Ball Nett Stroke event, with the best Nett Stroke score per pair per hole recorded.

After Round 2, there will be a team competition cut to the leading 25 teams. A further cut will be made after Round 3 to the top eight teams playing the final round.

It’s set to be an amazing event, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

ELIGIBILITY - 2021 Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge

The Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge is open to all amateur golfers with an official GA handicap (including SGA Handicaps) and Golf LINK number which has been valid for no less than 12 months prior to the Tournament. There will be a Daily handicap limit for all amateurs of 25 for Men and 32 for Women. (Amateurs with Daily Handicap above these limits will be adjusted down to meet this requirement.)

The field will be limited to the first 92 pros and 92 amateurs.

ENTRY DETAILS - 2021 Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge

Entry for Amateurs is $1,495pp, and includes:

Two rounds of golf, with the chance to make the 36 & 54-hole cuts to play all four rounds
Official tournament apparel and equipment from Tournament partners
Welcome Cocktail Function
Friday Night Cut Party
Sunday 18th hole Players’ Function
Access to the Players’ Lounge. (Thurs - Sun)
Food and beverage at all functions included

Get full entry information here

2021 PGA Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge Sponsors & Partners

2021 AIFN Golf Event at hit in FNQ

2021 AIFN Golf Event: Aboriginal Indigenous First Nation golfers tee off at first event in FNQ

The 2021 AIFN Golf Event was a hit with Aboriginal Indigenous and First Nation golfers. It was held on Thursday, Sept 30, 2021 at Innisfail Golf Club in Far North Queensland.

Congratulations to the winning team: John McCarthy, Leon Ambrum, and Kishaun Fejo took top honours for the competition, scoring a team total of 73, and winning closest to the pin.

Further congratulations go to to both Uncle Mac Brown for the longest drive, and Uncle John Jia for taking the player of the day.

Congratulations to Devonta Heron for taking out the up-and-coming champion. Anthony Edwards for the Happy Golfer and to Jordan who for his first ever game of Golf, got the amateur golfer of the day.

By all accounts, it was a wonderful day for all involved.

FINAL SCORES

Pos.	Player	Score (Par 70)
1	Johnny 1 + Michael 1 + Leon 1	+3 (73)
2	John Jia + Uncle Mac + Many 1	+6 (76)
3	Lachlan 1 + Mick Brown + Kishaun 1	+8 (70)
4	Trent 1 + Jordan 1 + John 1	+8 (78)
5	Herb 1 + Devonta 1 + Marcus 1	+9 (79)

(Final leaderboard here)

Again congratulations on behalf of the A.I.F.N Golf committee, Herb Walsh, Trent Baptiste and Lachlan Biondi-Odo.

2021 AIFN Golf Event Photo Gallery

Special Thanks to Supporters and Partners

Thanks to Innisfail Golf Club for hosting the day. Thanks also to major prize sponsor Callaway Golf Australia New Zealand, as well as support from Drummond Golf, Golf Australia and Social Golf Australia.

ABOUT THE 2021 AIFN Golf Event

The 2021 AIFN Golf Event was the brainchild of John Fejo, a keen golfer who wanted to introduce the game of golf to Australian Indigenous and First Nation players. It is hoped that this first event will be the launching pad for more events in the future.

SEE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AIFN GOLF HERE

2022 SGA Sandbelt Classic

The 2022 SGA Sandbelt Classic

Tee it up on the country’s top golf courses in SGA’s annual "Bucket List" event

Considered by many to be the best golfing region in the world, the Melbourne Sandbelt is renowned for being a true golfer’s paradise. Some of the best players in the world, including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Rory McIlroy and others, have all publicly proclaimed their love for the remarkable courses that make up the Sandbelt. In recent years, the region has hosted The Presidents Cup (twice), The World Cup of Golf (twice), and it will soon play host to the Australian Open.

WORLD-CLASS COURSES

The event will feature a mouth-watering selection of Australia's highest-rated, Bucket-List courses, including Kingston Heath Golf Club, Huntingdale Golf Club, Peninsula-Kingswood G&CC, and a golf club that is so exclusive we cannot mention them by name here (Ring us for details). There is also a bonus/optional round of golf available at Metropolitan Golf Club.

TOP-QUALITY ACCOMMODATION

In 2022, the SGA Sandbelt Classic has partnered with Shadow Play by Peppers, where we will stay for the five nights of the event. The new Shadow Play is a 3-iron from Melbourne’s bustling Southbank Promenade and a short walk to the Melbourne CBD and shopping precinct as well as the Crown Casino entertainment complex.

GREAT PRIZES

The 2022 event will again feature great prizes including golf products from our partners Garmin and Srixon and Cleveland Golf. There will also be vouchers from The Card Network, Heathcote Winery, and many other partners!