Louise Penberthy crowned Narrabri Golf Club’s 2025 shootout champion

One of the most entertaining events on the local sporting calendar was held on Sunday as Narrabri Golf Club hosted its 2025 shootout final.

The club’s reigning women’s club champion Louise Penberthy added another trophy to her growing cabinet after outlasting 18 other golfers to win the annual event.

Penberthy was one of four women to qualify for this year’s final, three of which lined up on the day. One of those women was knocked out on the second hole and the other was eliminated on the eighth hole, which saw Penberthy fly the flag for the local ladies across the final 10 holes of the event.

She was still alive after the 15th hole to lock in a final four finish, and when Jye Manton was knocked out on the 16th and Tony Nott was eliminated on the 17th, she went into the 18th and final hole alongside Troy Nott.

Penberthy had a one-shot advantage on the 18th and putted in for six as Nott putted in for five, which sent them into a chip-off. Neither of their first shots reached the green and their two balls were judged to have been lying an identical distance from the hole, so they had a second chip-off. Penberthy got her shot within a metre of the hole before Nott was unable to better that as he settled for second place.

The event wrapped up at 2.30pm after six hours of action, after which the champion told The Courier that she was proud to have won the event because it showed local women that they can be competitive in events like the shootout alongside male golfers.

“It’s a really good event. I really like playing in this day,” Penberthy said.

“It’s a fun day but a long day. You have to really concentrate all day.

“The chip-offs add a bit of extra pressure too. I really don’t usually get nervous at golf, but on those last two chip-offs against Tony and Troy, I was feeling very nervous.

“Having so many people driving or walking around watching out there is very different too. You have to block them out. It’s a mental game and I try to pretend I’m out there on my own.

“It was good to win. I have been in all four finals now and I’d never gotten past hole eight before. I just wanted to get further than that today, but I never expected to win it, that’s for sure, especially beating some of the boys I beat.

“It was a fun crew to play with. A big thanks to Graeme (Trew) and Wardy (Peter Ward) who organise it. It’s a big job and they do a great job.

“I think the events like this that they put on are getting more golfers in. Like today, there were two new golfers playing – the Hannafords – who have only been playing for a few months. It was really good to see them qualify and out there having a go.”

“I was doing it for the girls,” the champion added.

“Hopefully this will encourage more ladies to enter. It’s a really fun day, and the men are very supportive.

“We have so many new ladies who are starting golf with Graeme and Nicole’s hard work and dedication to their amazing clinics, so it might just encourage them to continue playing.”

Narrabri Golf Club’s 2025 shootout final prize-winners Jye Manton (fourth), Troy Nott (second), Louise Penberthy (champion) and Tony Nott (third). Photos: Blake Jarrett and Tom Pattison Narrabri Golf Club’s 2025 shootout final prize-winners Jye Manton (fourth), Troy Nott (second), Louise Penberthy (champion) and Tony Nott (third). Photos: Blake Jarrett and Tom Pattison

Narrabri Golf Club’s 2025 shootout competition finalists pictured at the club before teeing off on the first hole on Sunday morning - Will Coldham, Justin Orman, Kane Voysey, Jye Manton, Tony Nott, Mick King, Jim Pitman, Jordan Hannaford, Wade Foster, Dancy Hannaford, Lyn Shearer, runner-up Troy Nott, Wayne Saunders, Brock Smith, Bill Cameron, Mitch Cuell, Will Brooks, champion Louise Penberthy and Scott Lamb. Narrabri Golf Club’s 2025 shootout competition finalists pictured at the club before teeing off on the first hole on Sunday morning - Will Coldham, Justin Orman, Kane Voysey, Jye Manton, Tony Nott, Mick King, Jim Pitman, Jordan Hannaford, Wade Foster, Dancy Hannaford, Lyn Shearer, runner-up Troy Nott, Wayne Saunders, Brock Smith, Bill Cameron, Mitch Cuell, Will Brooks, champion Louise Penberthy and Scott Lamb.

Shootout champion Louise Penberthy in action. Shootout champion Louise Penberthy in action.

Troy Nott congratulates Louise Penberthy after their chip-off on the 18th. Troy Nott congratulates Louise Penberthy after their chip-off on the 18th.

The playing group advances up the second hole. The playing group advances up the second hole.

Wayne Saunders. Wayne Saunders.

Will Brooks. Will Brooks.

Justin Orman. Justin Orman.

Brock Smith. Brock Smith.

Jack the well-behaved kelpie was one of the keen spectators who watched the shootout final across the day. Jack the well-behaved kelpie was one of the keen spectators who watched the shootout final across the day.

Scorers Peter Ward and Bob Taylor watch on closely. Scorers Peter Ward and Bob Taylor watch on closely.

Jye Manton. Jye Manton.

Tony Nott. Tony Nott.

Mitch Cuell. Mitch Cuell.

Troy Nott. Troy Nott.

Eve Tapp and Bill Cameron. Eve Tapp and Bill Cameron.

Inaugural shootout champion Peter Dewsbury and Dennis Richardson. Inaugural shootout champion Peter Dewsbury and Dennis Richardson.

Troy Nott chips as Wade Foster, Jye Manton and Brock Smith watch on. Troy Nott chips as Wade Foster, Jye Manton and Brock Smith watch on.

Will Coldham. Will Coldham.

Jordan Hannaford. Jordan Hannaford.

Peter Ward and Louise Penberthy. Peter Ward and Louise Penberthy.

Wade Foster and event organiser Graeme Trew. Wade Foster and event organiser Graeme Trew.

Champion Louise Penberthy and runner-up Troy Nott. Champion Louise Penberthy and runner-up Troy Nott.

This year’s final included 15 of the 19 qualifiers, with only Peg Penberthy, Ben Finnigan, Nick Christakos and Bruce Pyke unavailable.

The first four of the reserves were all available, which saw Mitch Cuell, Mick King, Bill Cameron and Brock Smith join Penberthy, Troy and Tony Nott, Manton, Jim Pitman, Scott Lamb, Lyn Shearer, Wade Foster, Jordan and Dancy Hannaford, Kane Voysey, Will Brooks, Will Coldham Justin Orman and Wayne Saunders in the final.

It was a competitive day of golf as half of the 18 holes were decided by chip-offs, which were required when two or more golfers shot the lowest stableford score on a hole. The chips could also be putted and could land anywhere, but the golfer who shot furthest from the hole was eliminated.

All 18 players teed off on the first hole just after 8.30am on a freezing cold Sunday morning, and once again it was quite a spectacle as the players, officials and spectators made their way up the first fairway.

There was a chip-off on the first hole and it was the husband and wife duo Jordan and Dancy Hannaford who took part in it after having the lowest stableford scores on the first hole.

Dancy eliminated her husband in a Narrabri Golf Club shootout final first, but she then shot the lowest score on the second hole to also bow out.

The reserves quartet was halved on the next two holes as Bill Cameron went out on the third and Mick King was knocked out on the fourth.

The second chip-off of the day took place on the fifth hole, and it was the largest as five of the 15 finalists still standing tied for the lowest score. They were Kane Voysey, Will Brooks, Will Coldham, Mitch Cuell and Jye Manton, and it was Voysey who was eliminated.

Coldham then went into another chip-off on the sixth hole and survived again as he and Justin Orman saw off Scott Lamb.

Wayne Saunders and Wade Foster then contested the fourth chip-off of the day on the seventh and it was Saunders who bowed out of the event.

Lyn Shearer shot the lowest score on the eighth hole and was eliminated, and the playing group was then cut to 10 players when Brock Smith shot the lowest score on the ninth.

The first hole on the back nine saw Wade Foster drop out of contention, and the 11th hole saw Will Coldham and Justin Orman go into the fifth chip-off of the day, after which it was Coldham who was eliminated.

Orman went into another chip-off on the 12th and this time was joined by three opponents as Pitman, Cuell and Manton were required to battle for their survival. It was Pitman who was furthest from the hole and was eliminated.

The final seven golfers then stepped up to the 13th tee and it was Brooks who was farewelled, before Orman went out on the 14th.

The 15th hole was a battle to get into the prizemoney placings, and Tony Nott and Mitch Cuell both shot seven to go into a chip-off. Cuell failed to get his chip up the hill and onto the green, which Nott was able to do as he got closest to the hole to eliminate Cuell.

Tony Nott, Penberthy and Manton all shot a four on the 16th, but Nott and Penberthy both had a one-shot advantage on that hole, so Manton was eliminated after missing a putt from about two metres away.

Manton’s fourth-place finish was his second among the placegetters in as many years after he was the runner-up to Karl Hatfield in 2024.

Tony and Troy Nott could have made history by becoming the first father and son duo to battle for the top prize on the 18th if they both got past Penberthy on the 17th, but it was Penberthy who went through as she took down Tony in a chip-off after they both shot six.

Penberthy had a one-shot advantage on the final hole and she putted in for six, then Nott had a putt for the victory after he got himself on the green in three shots. However, he missed his fourth with the putter and the duo went into a chip-off when he made his fifth.

It was Penberthy who came out ahead to become the second woman to win the shootout final in its four-year history after Gail Richardson was crowned champion in 2023.

Inaugural winner Peter Dewsbury (2022) and Karl Hatfield (2024) are the two male golfers to have won the event since it was launched.

The event has been quite popular among the local golfing community since it was introduced, and it was again a huge success in 2025, with a total of 85 players lining up across the nine qualifying rounds.

Several players tried their luck by playing in multiple qualifying rounds in an attempt to better their top score, with a total of 226 games being played by the 85 players across those nine rounds. The cut-off for this year’s final was 36 stableford points.

Narrabri Golfie Pro Shop’s Graeme Trew and Nicole Cooper organised the event again in 2025 and ran it with the assistance of Peter Ward, Bob Cameron and Wade Foster.

Trew told The Courier that the final was another enjoyable event, with some quality golf and sportsmanship on display.

“I think it was probably the smoothest that we’ve ever run it,” Trew said.

“Between Nicole and I, Peter Ward, Bobby Taylor and Wade Foster, it was run well and went smoothly.

“It was a cold morning but it was really only cold on the first because it’s shaded the whole way. Once they got out in the sun, it was a nice day. I think we got lucky with the weather because we’ve had some cold winds recently.

“I thought the golf was even better this year. It’s like the golfers are now handling the nerves better.

“In previous years from that first tee, we usually get about three good shots. This year, at least 60 per cent of them were good tee shots.

“It was a very exciting finish and I almost felt like they should have shared it. I think they both would have taken it to be honest. It was a great win by Louise.

“It was a very friendly atmosphere and a great day for all involved.

“It’s a brilliant event and everyone has a chance to win. We had one of the lowest markers in the club and a former men’s club champion in Troy Nott, playing off two, right through to Dancy Hannaford, who is one of our newer golfers and is playing off 33.

“That shows that anyone of any skill level or gender can qualify for it.

“We had four women qualify for the final and three played. Two out of four winners now have been women, but we only have one sixth of golfers at the club who are women, so to have two female winners, I think that’s great.”