CHAMPIONSHIP pressure, consistency and shot-making were put to the test over last weekend as members battled across 36 holes for honours at the 2026 Fiji Golf Club Championship.
The two-day tournament brought together golfers across the A, B and C grades, as well as the women’s divisions, with players competing in a stroke event without handicap advantages.
When the final scores were tallied, Ravinesh Gounder emerged as the men’s champion with a gross score of 154, while Merelita McCarthy claimed the women’s title with a gross score of 163.
The championship provided a stern test for members, with every shot counting as golfers worked to produce their best performances across the two rounds.
Championship Chairman Alex Konrote said the event remained one of the club’s most significant tournaments, providing members with an opportunity to compete for honours while also serving as a pathway towards higher-level golf.
“The Fiji Golf Club Championship is meant only for the members and it’s a two-day tournament which is a qualifier for the club champion in your respective grades,” Konrote said.
The championship was played over 36 holes, with gross scores determining the standings and the players progressing through the various stages of the competition.
Konrote said the format placed the focus firmly on each golfer’s ability rather than handicap advantage.
“Basically today (Saturday) you’re in your grades but you’re not playing your handicap, you’re just playing exactly how good you are of the stick,” he said.
Beyond the battle for club honours, the championship also provides an important development opportunity for golfers looking to progress to higher levels of the sport.
Konrote said the tournament has helped provide a pathway for players with ambitions of representing Fiji.
“It is a stepping-stone if you’re looking for, if you’re vying for national qualification,” he said.
The weekend’s competition once again highlighted the depth of talent within the Fiji Golf Club, while giving members valuable experience under championship conditions.
With Gounder and McCarthy securing the major honours, the 2026 championship has provided another platform for the club’s golfers to test themselves and continue their pursuit of higher honours.
