Winner Story
The reply to a 7 was a 2
Brett Mould, off 17, put together the round of the day without ever looking like he was forcing it. Out in nett 31, home in 28, a nett 59 that finished 3 clear of the field and 14.5 shots better than the day's average of 73.5.
The card had its moment. A 7 at the 16th, a par 4, the kind of number that ends good rounds. The very next hole he holed out for a gross 2 on the par-3 17th, the best hole on his card. That is how you answer a question.
Leaderboard
4 July 2026 · Balgowlah GC · Stroke Play
Top 10
PosPlayerNett
1
Brett Mould
hcp 17
59
2
Jasper Rowden
hcp 7
62
3
Ross Humphreys
hcp 9
62
4
Oliver Smith
hcp 15
64
5
David Day
hcp 19
64
6
Tim Plunkett
hcp 15
65
7
Richard De Luca
hcp 12
65
8
Don Garrett
hcp 11
65
9
Mark Bradley
hcp 3
65
10
Matthew Eagan
hcp 12
66
Don Garrett's nett 65 for 8th makes it three cuts in three rounds, and he has gone about all of it without a word of fuss.
Field Map
Everyone met at the cut line
The great pile-up happened between 70 and 74, right where the cut fell at 73, with eight players sitting exactly on the number. The field averaged 73.5, which tells you where this Saturday lived.
Under 65
5 · broke the day open
65–69 nett
13 · proper golf
70–74 nett
33 · the great middle
75–79 nett
20 · just outside
80+ nett
13 · one to forget
DNF
5 · did not finish
Cut Line
This week the cut fell at 73 nett.
Top half of field plus ties · 8 players survived right on the number
Survived on 73 nett
B. BeardC. BartleyG. PollardJP. PolitoK. ShipleyS. DeakinS. PlummerS. McPhail
Cut · 73 nett
Missed by one · 74 nett
C. PooleyD. ReisingerE. SmithM. Bulless
Mitchell Bulless needed one shot back anywhere on the card and instead took a 6 at the 18th, finishing one outside the cut on debut. Here's hoping he comes back to settle it.
Villain Hole
The 6th collected twice
Stroke index 1, par 4, and it averaged 6.51, worst on the course. Then the routing sent everyone back for a second helping at the 15th, the same stretch of grass, where it took an average of 6.23 more or less out of habit. The 3rd ran third at 4.75, just to keep a par 3 in the conversation.
Villain #1
Hole 6
Par 4 · SI 1
Avg over par
+2.51
Villain #2
Hole 15
Par 4 · SI 2
Avg over par
+2.23
Villain #3
Hole 3
Par 3 · SI 3
Avg over par
+1.75
Chaos Card
↑ Recovery
Turned at 41, walked off grinning
Josh Chambers went out in nett 41, with a 7 at the 6th doing most of the damage. Then the back nine came home in 31, a 10-shot swing, and carried him to 30th at nett 72, safely inside the cut. Rounds get rescued on the back nine at Balgowlah, and this was the week's proof.
Front Nett
41
Back Nett
31
Final Result
72 nett
↓ Collapse
Nine holes of a very good round
Kevan Heathcote turned in nett 32 with a real score building. Then the 12th, a par 3, took a 7 off him and the back nine drifted to 43. He finished 57th at nett 75, on one of those days the course lets you dream for exactly nine holes.
Front Nett
32
Back Nett
43
Final Result
75 nett
Birdie Counter
39
birdies made this week
218 birdies across the season so far
Three apiece for M. Grenot and R. Humphreys led the way, and both opened their accounts at the 2nd.
Quietly Noted
Stats that stood out. Things that went unannounced.
2
Alex Lang holed out for 2 at the par-4 4th. The only eagle among 89 starters, delivered without ceremony.
35-35
Claudia Angelucci went out in 35 and came home in 35, dead level for 20th. While the rest of the board rode the swings, she just kept walking.
27
David Day went out in nett 27, the kind of front nine that starts rumours. He came home in 37 and still finished 5th.
Form Watch
Seven from seven, by the width of the line
Stu McPhail has now made seven cuts in a row, and this one came the hard way: a nett 73, sitting exactly on the number. A streak that survives on the line is still a streak.
Glenn Pollard is at four straight and also finished bang on 73. Two of the club's steadiest runs, both saved by the width of the cut.
The Notice Board
Names from across the field. The week's milestones and season threads.
Jake Kotze's four-cut run ended at nett 76 and 60th. Streaks are only ever borrowed.
Jasper Rowden, whose cut run slipped last time out, answered with a nett 62 and 2nd place.
First top-10 of the season for Oliver Smith, 4th at nett 64.
Final Word
Brett Mould takes it with a nett 59, 3 clear, on a day the same par 4 mugged the field twice. Somewhere between his 7 and his 2 is everything you need to know about golf.
Same course next Saturday. The 6th will be waiting, twice.
Know a golfer who'd get a kick out of this?
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