THE best amateur golfers from the region are set to show their wares at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club this weekend.

Both the North Coast Amateur Open and the Coffs Coast Ladies Classic tee off on Saturday with the winner of the 36-hole stroke events sure to need two very good rounds to secure the win.

Coffs Harbour Golf Club head professional Matt Allan said a popular member of the Coffs Coast golf community could be in line for a win.

“Logan Toms would have to be one of the favourites. He’s one of the best golfers in the state but there’s a group of young blokes who are coming after him,” Allan said.

One of those young guns is Coffs Harbour Billy Flanagan who’s proven his tournament worth after narrowly missing last year’s club championship in a playoff before being one of the leading amateurs in the professional event held at Coffs Harbour almost a year ago.

Teen Tyler Glavocih from Ocean Shores and Mathew McKee from Grafton District will also be chasing the title as will Maitland member Clayton Small who’ll tee-off as the field’s low handicapper.

Allan said locals such as Dan Swain and Dave Newick could be in contention but hinted a new member at Coffs Harbour might be one to keep an eye on.

“Christian Swann is playing off plus one, and he’s recently moved here from the UK to be an Associate Professor at Southern Cross Uni,” he said.

“A good player who is my dark horse.”

In the Ladies Classic Amelia Mehmet-Grohn is predicted to be hard to beat.

Amelia has returned to Coffs Harbour after playing and studying at Iowa State University
Standing in her way will be two-time Ladies Classic winner Adele Douglass from Bonville while 15-year-old Hollie Fuller Grafton Districts will be looking to improve on the impressive fourth placed finish she earned 12 months ago.

Allan added that if the winners of the two events are hometown victories, it could set up a big couple of weeks for them.

“The club championships for both the women and men will be starting next week so there’s an opportunity for someone in form to grab a double crown,” he said.

The club pro said there will be some special golf produced this weekend.

“With the recent rain and a bit of heat coming, the course will be jumping.

“The greens will be softer so the players will be shooting for the pins,” he said.

“It will be quite aggressive; it could be a low score that wins it. It will be worth coming out to watch.”