Page claims Senior Open crown, Royal Canberra and Catalina share tournament honours

Samuel Page of Royal Canberra and Sandy McKenzie of Catalina Club have been named the 2026 Senior Open Champions at Catalina Club.

The 2026 Catalina Senior Open has found its men’s winner in Royal Canberra’s Samuel Page, who continued his form brilliantly across the two days of competition and matched the best round of the tournament with a superb one-under par 71. His score secured the day’s honours on countback from fellow Royal Canberra member Andrew Tharle, who also signed for 71.

In near-perfect winter conditions over the King’s Birthday long weekend, both Catalina Club and Royal Canberra GC were well represented on the course. Royal Canberra’s Rick Carswell produced the standout nett performance of the final round, posting an impressive 69 nett to finish ahead of David Lander from Fairbairn and Catalina’s Brian Marsden, who both returned rounds of 72 nett.

The Ladies field was equally competitive, with Catalina’s Sandy McKenzie producing the best gross score of the day, an excellent 85, narrowly ahead of Stacey South on 87. In the nett division, Sue Lowes continued Catalina’s strong showing, posting 71 nett to finish one shot clear of Debbie Coleman.

In the overall 36-hole championship event, Sandy McKenzie claimed her second Catalina Senior Open title, adding the 2026 championship to her victory in 2024. Rounds of 86 and 85 saw her finish just one shot ahead of fellow Catalina member Stacey South after a closely contested battle across both days.

The Ladies Nett Championship also remained in local hands, with Sue Lowes claiming the title on 145 nett after countback was required to separate her from Noreen Buckley following two excellent rounds.

The Men’s Championship was equally tight.
Royal Canberra’s Samuel Page backed up his opening round of 74 with a tournament-best 71 to secure the Senior Open title by a single shot from clubmate Andrew Tharle. Their duel provided one of the highlights of the weekend and underlined the strength of the visiting Royal Canberra contingent.

With competitors travelling from across the region and beyond, the 2026 Catalina Senior Open once again delivered a championship defined by quality golf, friendly competition and the camaraderie that makes senior golf such a valued part of the game.

Most importantly, players were treated to two magnificent winter days on the Far South Coast, providing a fitting backdrop to another successful Senior Open.

Published Tuesday 9 June