Golf squad snares a premiership in remarkable season It is fair to say that the 2021/22 Golf season was as remarkable and challenging as it comes – the season had it all. A new eight-team competition format was introduced, wild weather closed courses for weeks, there were multiple training alterations, and Years 9 and 10 students were introduced into the program. Under the guidance of Director of Golf Mr Tom Lever and Mr Graham Potter, we saw a greater opportunity for all students to develop their strength and conditioning and spend more time working on technique with the Bonnie Doon Golf Club pro. This training saw more students improving shot selection and execution, leading to lowering their handicaps and making for stronger competitiveness for selection in the Competition team. The added squad depth and the new competition format saw Newington improve considerably. After two wins against St Joseph’s and Knox and a loss to St Ignatius’, we finished top of our group on 28 points heading into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the wild weather meant the final two weeks of the competition did not go ahead. As a result, Newington was declared joint winners of the Interschools Golf Series with Barker, a massive achievement for the students given the program’s infancy. Mr Sam Irwin Ovi Nicholas, Curtis Dive, Harry Firth, Sebastian Grehan and Director of Golf Assistant Head of Sport Mr Tom Lever at Bonnie Doon. What the boys said about the 2021/22 season: Hugo Grehan (Year 10) ‘This season was the best ever, with so many wins and few losses. I got my first ever eagle at my home course. I enjoyed the Tuesday morning training sessions on Old Boys and the Thursday afternoons at Bonnie Doon. On behalf of all the boys, I think this was the most enjoyable season ever.’ Curtis Dive (Year 12) ‘The golf season this year was extremely disjointed – COVID last year and rain this year caused many games to be cancelled, although we never let that stop us. From weird conditions at North Ryde Golf Club, to extremely humid air at Bonnie Doon, the mental game never changed. We pulled through to draw and win as many games as possible this year, always giving each other a shoulder to lean on through a tough game or encouraging comments after a loss. Mr Lever did an amazing job managing training and cancellations throughout the unfortunate end of the season and we thank him for all he did this year as our coach.’ Images clockwise from left: Hugo Grehan; Bo Chung in a butterfly event. Bo swam in five individual events and achieved three personal best times; Newington Junior Swim team parade the AAGPS trophy; Liam West celebrates victory; Newington’s GPS Swim team representatives for 2022 (Captain Toby Willington is absent); Sebastian Grehan. 22 | Curiosity |News Autumn 2022 | Stanmore 7–12