Narrabri golfers Dancy Hannaford and Krystle Brown were victorious when Narrabri Golf Club hosted its 2025 ladies’ open on Sunday.
The annual four-ball best-ball tournament was played in near-perfect conditions and attracted 60 golfers, who travelled from Boggabri, Wee Waa, Gunnedah, Moree, Tamworth, Armidale, Coonabarabran, Werris Creek, Barraba, Manilla, Warialda, Armidale, and as far as Goondiwindi to join the local Narrabri golfers.
Hannaford and Brown won the event with an impressive nett score of 49 points, two clear of fellow Narrabri golfers Nicole Cooper and Karleigh Cook on 47.
The gross winners were mother and daughter duo Michelle Johnston and Emily Flood with 31 points, and the gross runners-up with 27 points were Coonabarabran duo Jane McWhirter and Zoe Holcombe.
One of the 60 golfers in action on the day was Narrabri Golf Club match committee member Louise Penberthy, who told The Courier that the club was thrilled with the playing numbers and said it was an enjoyable day.
“Numbers were the highest it’s been since at least before COVID. We were over the moon,” Penberthy said.
“We’ve really struggled the last few years with weather. It used to be in August, so it was always wet and cold, and it was also on a Wednesday.
“Pushing it back six weeks and having it on a Sunday made a huge difference.
“We have averaged between 30 and 36 players for the last few years, so we’ve basically doubled that this year.
“We had about 20 Narrabri ladies playing, with about half a dozen of those being new golfers playing in their first tournament.
“It was a North and North West event, so it was good to get such a range of golfers come from all over the place.
“It was really good. Everyone seemed like they had a good day.”
A full list of results is as follows:
Nett winners – Dancy Hannaford and Krystle Brown (Narrabri) with 49 points; nett runners-up – Karleigh Cook and Nicole Cooper (Narrabri) with 47 points; gross winners – Emily Flood (Narrabri) and Michelle Johnston (Gunnedah) with 31 points; gross runners-up – Zoe Holcombe and Jane McWhirter (Coonabarabran) with 27 points; front nine nett winners – Dancy Hannaford and Krystle Brown (Narrabri) with 27 points; back nine nett winners – Maree Taylor and Sandra Nott (Narrabri) with 24 points.
Nearest to pins: Fifth and 16th – Tania Doyle (Warialda); eighth – Michelle Johnston (Gunnedah); 12th – Karen Davis (Boggabri).
Drives: A-grade long drive – Michelle Johnston (Gunnedah); B-grade long drive – Karen Davis (Boggabri); C-grade long drive – Annette Condon (Narrabri); A-grade straight drive – Louise Penberthy (Narrabri); B-grade straight drive – Michelle Court (Manilla); C-grade straight drive – Melissa Hancock; third shot on first C-grade – Nicole Cooper.
