Eppelstun returns to claim the Catalina Club crown

Bill Eppelstun claimed the Club Championship title for the fourth year running on Sunday 24 May.

The 2026 Catalina Men’s Club Championships wrapped up on Sunday 24 May, with one of the Club’s most accomplished homegrown talents returning to once again etch his name into the Club’s history books.

Former Catalina junior and three-time defending champion Bill Eppelstun entered the final round with a two-shot advantage after producing a brilliant course record 65 on Saturday – one of the finest rounds seen at Catalina in recent years.

With emerging local talent Keith Tompsett applying pressure throughout the opening nine, the championship remained finely balanced heading into the closing stretch.

A decisive run of three consecutive birdies from the 10th hole separated Bill from the field, with the defending champion expertly managing the tournament from there. Finishing at an outstanding 10-under-par total, Eppelstun secured a six-shot victory and successfully defended the Catalina crown.

Tompsett capped another exceptional championship campaign by finishing runner-up overall while also claiming the A Grade Nett Championship. The Booth brothers also featured prominently, with Alex Booth firing a strong final round 71 to secure runner-up in the Gross Championship, while Lachie Booth’s consistency across all four rounds earned him runner-up honours in the Nett division, just one shot behind Tompsett.

Catalina junior Keith Tompsett came runner-up to four-time Club Champion, Bill, and also claimed the A Grade Nett Championship.

Across the remaining grades, several outstanding final rounds produced dramatic finishes. In B Grade, Peter Guthrie secured victory by two shots from Trent Carn. The pair stood level heading to the final hole before Guthrie calmly parred the last to close out the championship. Carn claimed the B Grade Nett title, while Bernard Kreet finished runner-up in the Gross division and Brian Talbot secured runner-up in Nett.

C Grade debuted a revised Stableford and Gross Stableford format for 2026, with the change producing strong participation growth and highly competitive scoring throughout the championship.

In C Grade it was Gaston De Brassac who recorded the best score in C Grade to win by a solitary point from Glen Robinson who completed a very consistent 4 rounds. Russell Bird won the C Grade nett title by a single point from Kerrie McGovern.

D Grade delivered one of the most compelling storylines of the championship, blending experience with emerging junior talent. Veteran competitor Shane Woolridge held on to claim the Gross Championship from Shane Hunter-Williams, while junior golfer Lawson Melton produced a stunning final round of 46 points to storm through the field and secure the Nett title ahead of Chris Wheatley. Melton narrowly missed completing a remarkable double, finishing just one shot shy of the overall Gross title.

Alongside the Club Championships, Catalina’s standalone Senior Championships once again showcased the depth of the Club’s over-50s competition.

John Neeson took home the Gross Senior Championship title in May 2026 at Catalina Club.

John Neeson displayed exceptional consistency across four rounds, closing with an even-par 72 to finish ten shots clear of Sean Harrison in the Gross Championship. In the Senior Nett division, Peter Guthrie completed an outstanding fortnight of golf by holding off a fast-finishing field to claim victory by a single shot from Neeson, with Shane Woolridge a further two shots behind.

Congratulations to all winners and placegetters, whose achievements will be recognised at Catalina’s Annual Presentation Evening in November 2026.

Published May 25, 2026.