The Vines go Back to Back; Willunga and McCracken Win Promotion
Monday 17th of November saw mild weather and little wind initially as the teams for the three divisions in the South Australian Senior Pennant competition assembled for their respective finals at an immaculately presented Grange East.
Division One
In the previous week’s semi-finals at Blackwood, the resurgent side from The Vines of Reynella again played top side Kooyonga, having won big at home against the same opposition to avoid relegation the previous week and were again successful proving that “hills” clubs win on hills courses and “plains” clubs win down on the sand-belt. Grange and Glenelg were, therefore, both on unfamiliar territory with Glenelg prevailing.
This meant the final was a repeat of last year’s but on a sand-belt course rather than last years (which was at Blackwood).
Both clubs had strong line-ups with a number of players regularly competing in local and National Order of Merit events and some still playing open-age pennants. Unfortunately Glenelg had to make two changes from their optimum side and were further hit when Dean Harris had to withdraw with severe back issues in the warm-up meaning reserve David Smelt had to come in against the formidable Tony Nobbs.
Team Manager, Alan Fulton at #7 got the first point for The Vines, quickly offset by Villi Koronis at #4 for Glenelg. Matches 3, 5 and 6 were very close and it looked like #1 and #2 would decide the result. David Smelt was in no way intimidated and took it up Tony Nobbs leading at several stages including a holed out third for birdie on the 8th after being in strife and an all-world par on the short 16th after an “unmentionable” into deep scrub. Ultimately Tony’s experience saw him home 2&1.
Playing in the same group pairing, respective SA Senior Champions and Club Senior Champions Nick Wake (Glenelg) and Paul Gregory (The Vines) waged a titanic battle of high quality golf with Nick winning 2&1 to offset Tony’s win.
(Nick Wake has had an amazing 2025 – a former Simpson Cup winner way back in 1996, he was again a winner with Glenelg and then won not only the Glenelg Senior Championship but also the actual Glenelg Championship ! A superb effort for a player who will be a Super Senior for the 2026 season).
So, back to the close matches – Vin Pike and Mark Potter got it done for The Vines on the 18th whilst Christine Trimmer and Justin Howard were going down the 19th. A win for The Vines 4.5 to 2.5.
Division Two
Willunga – last year’s Division Three winners, led throughout the Minor Round, only losing to Thaxted Park at Thaxted. Unsurprisingly these two teams met in the final. Willunga, lead by top SA Senior, David Pateyjohns, were too strong, winning 5 to 2 and earning promotion to Division One for 2026.
Their excellent Council owned golf course located in Adelaide’s southern wine region, will be a both a nice drive and a good venue for the Div One sides.
Division Three
A battle of the two Victor Harbor clubs – Victor Harbor and McCracken with promotion and bragging rights on the line. One big win each and Victor Harbor winning all the bottom 3 matches meant that McCracken’s top order had to perform. This they did, winning 4&3 with match #4 between David Raison (McCracken) and Mark Eaton (Victor Harbor) going to the 22nd.
In 2007, eight golf clubs put together the concept and implemented a Seniors Pennant Golf Competition. The Competition has expanded over time such that the Senior Pennant Competition now stands at twenty one clubs under the auspices of Golf Australia and it is understood that additional clubs are looking to filed sides for next season – a success story indeed and tribute to the efforts of those who initially drove the concept some of whom are still involved.
REPORT BY JOHN ANDERSON