Record number of golfers join Catalina Club’s 2025 Veterans Open

Gary Oakes from the Nowra Golf Club claimed the Catalina 2025 Veterans Open title on August 14, topping the leaderboard despite wet course conditions after 20mm of rainfall overnight.

On a day where locals led the pack, it was Oakes who handled the wet conditions the best in C Grade. In A Grade, it was Tom McAlpin with 38 points who took out first place. B Grade saw dual Catalina and Royal Canberra Member Gary Bodman receive 39 points, which was enough to overcome Catalina members Owen Roe and Rob Lomas on 36 points.

Gary Oakes from Nowra Golf Club secured the Catalina 2025 Veterans Open title in C grade.

C Grade saw Gary Oakes win from Catalina members Rossco Norton on 39, Ian Gage on 38, Viv Thornett and Charlie Azzopardi on 37. In D Grade it was a similar story with Catalina’s Richard Blundell posting 38 points to beat home fellow club member Sonya Dohnt on 36.

In total, Catalina members posted 11 of the top 12 scores across the 143 players on the field – a record number of players in the history of the Veterans Open at Catalina Club.

The Veterans Committee kept spirits high, providing a tasty barbecue for players throughout the day. Catalina Club would like to thank the Veterans Committee for organising this annual event and extend thanks to the 73 visitors who travelled to participate in the Open.

Discover upcoming Veteran events at the Catalina Club Veterans Portal.

Published August 15, 2025