Keperra Country GC claims JD Trans Tasman final

The John Deere 10th Annual Trans Tasman Team Championship Final for 2010 has been won by Queensland’s Keperra Country Golf Club, beating South West Rocks Country Club (NSW) by 0.1 in a closely contested final. Held at Arundel Hills Country Club on 9-10 September, the final was the culmination of 13 regional qualifiers held throughout Australia and New Zealand.

According to John Deere’s Golf and Turf Equipment product manager and event coordinator Rene Lubbers, the 2010 championship set a new record for qualifying rounds with over 500 players participating and 13 teams taking part in the final. The lucky finalists included:

• Akaroa, Timaru, Lochiel and Omaha Beach (representing New Zealand)
• Keperra, Nambour and Paradise Palms (representing Queensland)
• North Ryde and South West Rocks (representing New South Wales)
• Jubilee and Cardinia Beaconhills (representing Victoria)
• The Vines (representing South Australia)
• Busselton Golf Club (representing Western Australia)

AGCSA member Keith Johnson, Keperra Country Golf Club’s course superintendent, capped off the event’s 10th anniversary by winning through his 10th qualifying round to attend his second Championship final, which he took out as part of the winning team. He teamed with Leo Scott (club captain) and Matt Dowling (club president) to narrowly beat the South West Rocks team of Wayne Hensley (superintendent and AGCSA member), Mark Bird (president) and Jamie Hook (junior golf coordinator). Honours for nearest the pin went to Nambour Golf Club’s Liddy Drane, Timaru’s Brian Ward and Lochiel’s Gary Chalmers who almost took out the special edition John Deere XUV Gator that was up for grabs on the 12th hole

“As the host of the event John Deere has been delighted with the positive feedback received from all participants and offers an open invitation to all golf clubs in Australia and New Zealand to put together a team comprising of the course superintendent, a club manager and a member of the committee and register for next year’s qualifying rounds,” said Lubbers.