Matt Stieger won his third Gunnedah Pro-Am title while Dave Grosser was the best-performed amateur, as 120 golfers competed in the annual event at the Gunnedah course last Friday.

Each of the 29 groups had a PGA professional, as the pros came from NSW, Queensland and Victoria while most of the amateurs were locals.

Eighteen holes were played in overcast and rainy conditions, with the Stroke format utilised for the pros while the amateurs utilised the Stableford format.

Stieger’s winning score of 67 was three under par, while runner-up Mark Panopoulos had 69.

Originally from Narrabri, Stieger had played in junior tournaments at the Gunnedah course before becoming a pro in 2012.

Stieger won the 2015 event with 65 shots, and was equal-first with 66 shots in 2023 before Aaron Townsend won last year and unsuccessfully sought back-to-back titles this year.

Tom Major had 73 shots in his first appearance – having taken on the Gunnedah golf pro role several months earlier – while his predecessor Luke Ryan also played, managing 74 shots.

Having moved to Lismore to enable Major to take on the role in Gunnedah, Ryan returned to Gunnedah along with his son Buddy to compete in the Gunnedah Pro-Am.

Grosser, who played alongside sons Lucas and Ben, finished on 38 Stableford points and subsequently quipped that it was rare these days for him to have a better off-the-stick score than Lucas.

Major said the rain made things a bit tougher than usual while the ball didn’t go as far as usual, but that it was still an enjoyable day while the golfers enjoyed the camaraderie.

Major gave credit to the ground staff, volunteers and event sponsors, with the Gunnedah golf pro saying they had limited time to prepare the course following torrential rain several days before the event.

“I enjoyed it,” Major said of his first Pro-Am event in Gunnedah.

“A lot of work goes into it.

“It’s good to run the event, and to have such success.”

Major also complimented the victor, saying it was commendable for Stieger to win for the third time while a score of three under par was very good in the conditions.

RESULTS (amateurs):

1 D Grosser 38, 2 B Sills 36, 3 K Renton 36, 4 L Ross 35, 5 J Ludlow 35, 6 P Herden 35, 7 T Sheridan 35, 8 A Hamilton 35, 9 E Ford 34.

NTPs: 2nd T Sheridan, 7th J Eather, 12th K Travers-Jones, 16th B Schubert.

Kent Travers-Jones tees off.

Bryce Pickin looks to sink a putt.

Amateur golf winner Dave Grosser (right) with Gunnedah golf pro Tom Major.

Overall winner Matt Stieger with Gunnedah golf pro Tom Major.