Major Pennants – Round 3
The Coast 6 def. Wallacia 1
Sunday, 15 February 2026
The Coast continued its strong home form with an impressive 6–1 victory over Wallacia, building valuable momentum as the season gathers pace.
After recent rain, our greens staff presented the course in outstanding condition, showcasing the true pace and quality of our coastal layout.
Leading the charge was reserve Max Hack (caddy Ollie Harwood), who set the tone early with a composed 3&2 win. Full debutant Matt Oosthuizen (caddy Pete Baigant) delivered a standout performance, surging ahead mid-round to secure a superb 4&2 victory and earn Player of the Day honours.
Mark Lee and Wayne Smyth both produced confident 4&2 and 3&2 wins respectively, while Simon Laird returned to top form with a strong 2&1 result. In a dramatic finish, Kevin Isch fought back from 3 down to win 1 up after an extraordinary bounce off a sprinkler head on the 18th saw his opponent’s approach finish out of bounds.
Captain Cooper Smith capped off the day with a commanding 3&2 win over Wallacia champion Chris Holmes, drawing on his championship experience to lead from the front.
Ray Macey narrowly missed out, going down 1 down in a tightly contested match that went to the final hole.
Home advantage is proving vital in this group, but any away points will be crucial as the season unfolds. The team’s form is building strongly at the right time.
Thank you to our on-course supporters Ragu, Maurie, Tony, Deb and Bruce, our valued sponsors Industralight, O’Neill Strata and Jennings Financial Services, and of course our caddies for their outstanding support.
Next Up
Round 4 – Sunday, 22 February
Away at Wallacia – Tee off from 10:00am
Paddy Kelly
Team Manager
Coast Dig Deep for Gritty Home Win
Major Pennants – Round 2
The Coast 4 def Bexley GC 3
Sunday, 8 February 2026
What a difference a week makes. After a hot and steamy last round, the Coast turned on classic pennant conditions for the return clash with Bexley cool, grey, windy and wet. Perfect weather for a tough contest and that’s exactly what we got.
With matches tight across the board, the Coast showed grit, resilience and plenty of fight to grind out a crucial 4–3 home victory.
Reserve Matt Oosthuizen (caddy Max Hack) made a promising Major Pennants debut against experienced campaigner Glen Davis. Matt jumped out early and refused to give an inch as the wind picked up on the back nine. The match went right down to the 18th, where Matt narrowly went down 1-down. A classy performance and a name we’ll be seeing again in Coast colours.
Match 7 Ray Macey (caddy Marv Danne) was locked in a tight battle all day, all square heading into the back nine. A chip-in on 15 and a clutch putt on 16 swung momentum Bexley’s way, with Ray going down 3/1 after a solid showing.
Match 6 Mark Lee (caddy Matt Power) came out breathing fire, racing to a 5-up lead through eight holes. When Bexley threatened to claw back ground, Mark simply shifted gears and powered away, closing out a dominant 6/4 win — his first in Major Pennants and a statement performance.
Match 5 Wayne Smyth (caddy Ollie Harwood), armed with new gear and a new looper, fought through a tense, seesawing contest. Wayne grabbed the lead after the brutal 13th and held his nerve all the way home, sealing a massive 1-up win after Bexley missed a late chance to halve.
Match 4 Kevin Isch (caddy Doug Wesney) again found himself chasing early, slipping to 4-down before digging deep. A strong run of birdies and pars hauled the match back to all square after 13, but luck deserted him late and the match finished losing 3/2.
Match 3 Simon Laird (caddy John Wachman) faced a powerful Bexley No.3 and fell behind early. A late charge showed real fight, but the damage was done, with Simon narrowly losing 2/1.
Match 2 Jack Hickey (caddy Pete Paigent) was in control from the outset. With trademark power off the tee and a razor-sharp short game, Jack cruised to a commanding 5/4 victory, never allowing his opponent a look in.
Match 1 With the match on a knife’s edge, Captain Cooper Smith (caddy Scott “FlipperFeet” Knowles) delivered when it mattered most. After a tight front nine, Cooper showed exactly why the back nine at the Coast is where matches are won. Clinical ball striking and deadly putting from the 12th saw him close out his match 3/1 on the 16th, securing the deciding point and the overall win for the Coast. Captain Closes It Out.
Bexley proved they’ll be a serious contender this season, and every round will count in what’s shaping as a fiercely competitive group.
A huge thank you to our caddies and our loyal supporters Ragu, Maurie, Tony, Deb and Bruce, who braved the early start and the weather. We also thank our valued sponsors Industralight, O’Neill Strata and Jennings Financial Services for their ongoing support.
Next up:
Round 3 – Sunday, 15 February
Home vs Wallacia – Tee off from 7:00am
Paddy Kelly
Team Manager
Round 1 – Sunday, 1st February 2026
Bexley GC 6.5 def The Coast 0.5
The opening round of the new season saw a short trip to Bexley, where the early-morning 7:00am tee time greeted players with overcast skies and very warm conditions. Our squad had been in good form leading into the opener, featuring a mix of familiar faces and a few new additions as we teed off on the 2026 campaign.
Match 7
Ray Macey (+ Caddy Ollie Harwood) started strongly, taking an early lead after five holes. His opponent lifted after the turn and a string of birdies from the Bexley No.7 gave Ray little opportunity to regain momentum. The match was eventually closed out at the 15th, with Ray going down 4&3.
Match 6
Mark Lee (+ Caddy Matt Power) made his Major Pennants debut and showed plenty of promise. The match was tightly contested throughout, never extending beyond a single shot either way. Mark’s opponent, a seasoned pennant player, used his experience well over the closing holes, with a few wayward drives proving costly. Mark fought hard but was edged out 2&1 on the 17th. A solid debut performance and plenty to build on in the coming rounds.
Match 5
Wayne Smyth (+ Caddy Max Hack) faced a tough front nine, falling behind early and unable to close the gap by the turn. A couple of missed putts on tricky, well-placed pins added to the challenge, and Wayne eventually succumbed to a 5&4 loss.
Match 4
Kevin Isch (+ Caddy Doug Wesney) slotted into the middle order and also encountered early pressure. Bexley’s No.4 built a healthy lead through the opening holes that proved difficult to reel in. Despite a determined fightback, tough course conditions and a few costly oversights saw the match finish with 5&4 loss.
Match 3
Simon Laird (+ Caddy John Wachman) took on recent Bexley Cup Champion and course record holder Gavin Heffernan in what proved to be the match of the day. The pair traded shots throughout, with Simon edging ahead after six holes before turning all square at the ninth. Still level on the 16th, Simon drained a long-range putt on 17th to keep the match alive heading to the 18th. With a likely two-putt looking set to seal a Coast victory, Heffernan produced a fortunate bunker shot followed by a monster putt to halve the hole and the match.
Simon’s performance up the order confirmed his place in the side and he will be a real force as the season unfolds.
Match 2
Jack Hickey (+ Caddy Will Dight) flew out of the blocks, taking advantage of his length off the tee to bypass the poor fairway conditions faced by much of the team. An early commanding lead set the tone, but Bexley’s new recruit found his rhythm with pinpoint approach play to claw his way back. Jack battled hard but overshot the 18th green while chasing a one-shot deficit and couldn’t get up and down, finishing 1 down.
Match 1
Cooper Smith (©) (+ Caddy Matt Oosthuisen) was the final player out, tasked with anchoring the side. The match remained even throughout the front nine, with both players narrowly missing chances to break through. On the back nine, a few tee shots strayed offline and handed the straight-hitting local an advantage that proved too difficult to overcome. Bexley’s No.1 closed the match 3&2.
A tough result on Day 1, but it again highlights the standard of competition right from the outset. No doubt this performance will spur the team on as we look forward to a better return when we host Bexley at The Coast next round.
A big thank you to our caddies and to our fantastic supporters Rob and Bruce, who came out early to back our players. Shout-out also to our sponsors for their continued support with uniforms and balls.
Paddy Kelly
Team Manager
