IT may not have the tradition of the Solhiem Cup but Newcastle District women's captain Dom Kelly is confident the NewCoast Cup will become one of the highlights on the local calendar.
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Modelled on the European-USA showpiece, the NewCoast Cup pits the best players from Newcastle against the best from the Central Coast in foursomes and singles matches.
Newcastle had the upper hand, leading 4-2 after the foursomes at Belmont on Sunday before near cyclonic conditions forced the singles to be postponed.
"We played the foursome first because we thought that might get people in and out pretty quickly and then just see how the afternoon looked," Newcastle Hunter captain Dom Kelly said. "The weather just got worse and worse."
Kelly said the introduction of the cup was overdue.
"We didn't have any representative events," Kelly said. "We had been talking to the Central Coast and they didn't have much for their top players in terms of matchplay.
"We have pennants, which is great for our girls, but it is all handicapped.
"We wanted to do something between the two districts. I have always liked the format of the Solheim Cup. Playing 36 holes on a Sunday worked out the best for everyone. We will alternate the venue between the two districts."
Although Newcastle have an edge, there are 12 points up for grabs in the singles. The top six matches will be seeded. A new date is yet to be finalised.
Foursomes - Match 1 : Makensie Toole (Belmont), Melissa Beavis (Maitland) lost 1 down to Louise Mullard (Wyong), Georgie Clune (Everglades)
Match 2: Jane MacDonald, Jill Blenkey (Newcastle) won 6 and 4 Kim Burke (Shelly Beach), Abbigail Grimish (Everglades)
Match 3: Tania Hutchins (Merewether), Jenny Frost (Nelson Bay) lost 3 and 2 Yvonne Boardman (Toukley), Jude Tarran (Shelly Beach)
Match 4: Chloe Pearce (Belmont) Jenny Thompson (Newcastle) won 7 and 6 Jo Spears (Shelly Beach), Mel Sheekey (Kooindah Waters)
Match 5: Stacie McDonald, Holly Ibbotson (Merewether) won 4 and 3 Dianne Thomlinson, Liz Fiatarone (Magenta Shores)
Match 6: Dom Kelly (Merewether), Katrina Skinner-Oyston (Maitland) won 7 and 6 Di Hoschke (Shelly Beach) Taylor Shaw (Everglades).
** Blake Windred learned the importance of a strong start after he finished down the leader board at the Northern Territory PGA at Palmerston North on Sunday.
Playing his first PGA event since March, Windred (72,73,67) was out of contention at three-over entering the third round.
He got hot late, firing five birdies, to sign off on a final-round four-under 71 and move to a tie for 19th at one under.
Aaron Pike, who grew up on the Palmerston North course, won on the first hole of a play-off after he Michael Sim were locked at 12 under.
"My game wasn't that far off, but it doesn't take much to go wrong to be down the leader board, especially in a three-round tournament," Windred said. "Looking back, the first round is crucial. You need a good start.
"I did struggle a little bit not knowing the course and with the weather conditions. Also the grass. It was so different to what I had been playing on. The ball sits down and it doesn't take much to get grass between the club and the ball. It comes out like a gun shot sometimes and you have no control over it."
The PGA is the last tournament of a COVID-stalled year although Windred is hoping "a couple of pro-ams might be held before Christmas".
He was to play in a six-person simulator Golf Challenge in Sydney this week, but that has been postponed.
"A guy in Mosman has a simulator in his house and a putting green in the backyard. There were going to be three guys and three girls with a-winner-take all $10,000 in prizemoney. He has lined up IMG productions to make a little TV series out of it but it has been postponed due to the weathers conditions for filming."
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