New Committees and Narrow Margins: Queensland GC Eights Wrap

Shane Davis and Dan Stewart dominated both Toombul legs while Marilyn Nelson and Beth Parker split the Wynnum finals by a single win each. The 2026 CAQ GC Eights ran across Toombul Croquet Club (1st and 2nd Eights) and Wynnum Croquet Club (3rd and 4th Eights) on 2 and 3 May.

Toombul

The event marked a milestone for Toombul: their first Golf Croquet tournament, run by a committee none of whom had managed a GC event before. Bruce Fleming stepped in to keep things on track, and the day ran without a hitch.

Shane Davis (Windsor) won 12 of his 14 games and finished 35 hoops clear on net. Mary McMahon (Southport) and Casey de Vene (Eildon) each finished on nine wins.

Dan Stewart (Noosa) claimed the Second Eights with 11 wins. Claire Warriner (Windsor) and Desley Bischoff (Eildon) were locked together behind him on nine wins each.

Wynnum

Both Wynnum finals came down to the last win. Marilyn Nelson (East Brisbane) won the Third Eights on 11 wins, one ahead of Steve Bickley (Bribie Island). Beth Parker (BHPB) took the Fourth Eights on 10 wins, edging Di Michels (Twin Rivers) by one.

Wynnum ran a tournament that drew strong praise from players on the day.

First Eights (Toombul)

Shane Davis (Windsor) 12W +35 | Mary McMahon (Southport) 9W +4 | Casey de Vene (Eildon) 9W +7 | Gordon Giles (Wynnum) 8W +4 | Bob Martin (Eildon) 7W +4 | Graham McLean (Windsor) 5W -11 | Jenee Molyneux (Eildon) 4W -20 | Mike Mabbutt (Eildon) 2W -23

Second Eights (Toombul)

Dan Stewart (Noosa) 11W +20 | Claire Warriner (Windsor) 9W +17 | Desley Bischoff (Eildon) 9W +16 | Kathie Grant (Southport) 8W +2 | Jannene Wall (Ipswich) 6W -11 | JohnH Smith (Eildon) 5W -5 | Dennis Green (Bribie Island) 4W -11 | Carol Kleidon (Wynnum) 4W -28

Third Eights (Wynnum)

Marilyn Nelson (East Brisbane) 11W +19 | Steve Bickley (Bribie Island) 10W +25 | Alison Oatway (Caloundra) 8W 0 | Graham Young (McIlwraith) 7W -3 | Cameron Hipwell (Wynnum) 7W -7 | Colin Beckett (Headland Buderim) 5W -10 | Megan Stuart (Eildon) 4W -11 | Steve Helleur (Eildon) 4W -13

Fourth Eights (Wynnum)

Beth Parker (BHPB) 10W +16 | Di Michels (Twin Rivers) 9W +12 | Jill Cole (Eildon) 8W +10 | Sue Maher (East Brisbane) 8W +7 | Gwenda Brennan (Southport) 8W -2 | Robert Roose (Eildon) 5W -9 | Sue Andersen (Wynnum) 4W -15 | Penny Verrall (Eildon) 4W -19

Officials

Tournament Manager: Diana Kateley (Wynnum). Venue Manager: Arthur Wells (Toombul). Referee: Sue Green (Wynnum). Deputy Referee: Deirdre Giles (Toombul).