Eden’s Scott Thornton provided a two over par 74 for the event to take out top spot in one of the strongest fields seen yet at the annual Open. 

Organisers said visitors came from near and far, with entries from Tura Beach, Tathra, Bega, Eden, Merimbula, Maffra, the Gold Coast, Morwell, Bairnsdale and St Michaels. 

Mother Nature also proved kind with sunshine across the four days of competition. 

Organisers also said the huge number of visiting golfers had been a tremendous boost to local accommodation. 

The competition opened with a mixed day for everyone to get involved. 

The club held a four-ball best-ball stableford.

The women’s division was taken out by a visiting duo from Orbost of Joan Matthes and Alma Munday.

Meanwhile, the men’s was taken out by the Tathra pairing of Bill Taylor and Ian Murray. 

Organisers said it was great to see the number of balls being awarded after a strong round of competition. 

The second day brought out the ladies day stroke and Silver Salver challenge. 

Mallacoota locals faired more strongly in the singles events, but were still surprised by the excellent competition from the visitors. 

Ineca Prowd was the runner-up in the A grade over Myriam Van Hock on a count-back. 

Jacquie Wilson finished runner-up in B grade, while C grade was won by Rae Howell over fellow Mallacoota player Jayne Gaudion. 

Pam Bobbin was the winner in D grade. 

The coveted Silver Salver was this year claimed by the Maffra combination of Janice Marchesi, Rhonda Hall and Fay Moulton on 218 points. 

Day three was the men’s stroke, won by Thornton by five strokes over Bega’s Howard Filmer. 

Pambula-Merimbula Open champion performed strongly to finish runner-up in the A grade scratch event. 

Mallacoota’s Bob McKnight won the B grade scratch, while Allan Dobbin was the nett winner. 

In the teams event, it was the combination of McKnight, Gordon Symonds and Eric Donald claiming a win with a well-compiled 222 points. 

The final day of competition played a four-ball best-ball aggregate. 

Winners were the Mallacoota pairing of Jacquie Wilson and Robbie Hargreaves on 77 points. 

Club spokeswoman Liz McKay said the event is ever-growing.

“It seems every year our tournament gets bigger and better,” McKay said. 

“The atmosphere in the golf club was truly amazing. 

“It’s like a reunion with the participants from both the north and south of us mixing so well with plenty of laughter everywhere.”

The organisers were praised by visiting players on the conditions of the course and the running of the event. 

“Thanks go to the ground staff, who have done a splendid job,” McKay said. 

“The bar and kitchen staff and also the committee helped this to be a well-run tournament.”

McKay said even the 400 players had “pulled together” to make the event run smoothly over the four days.