The Brisbane Golf Club has completed an undefeated 2026 BDGA Division 1 Pennant season, defeating Keperra Golf & Country Club 12.5–8.5 at home yesterday to record a sixth victory from six matches and complete one of the most successful seasons in the Club’s pennant history.
The result capped a memorable campaign in which Brisbane secured its fifth consecutive Division 1 Pennant, won the title with two rounds remaining for the first time and completed a season without dropping a single overall match. It is the first time BGC has won all six matches in a Division 1 season, surpassing our previous best of four wins and two draws in 2018 .
More significantly, the 2026 title is Brisbane’s seventh BDGA Division 1 Pennant from the past eight seasons completed, with the 2020 and 2021 competitions cancelled due to COVID-19.
While those achievements are something everyone associated with the Club can be extremely proud of, they also provide an opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution made by many players, captains, selectors, staff, volunteers, members and the Board over a sustained period.
Despite the overall Pennant having already been secured, Brisbane knew Keperra would provide another strong test in the final round. The Opens could not be separated, finishing 5.5–5.5, while Brisbane secured the overall result through a 3–2 victory in the Masters and an excellent 4–1 performance from the Juniors.
In yesterday’s other Division 1 match, Royal Queensland defeated Pacific Golf Club 13–8 at Pacific to secure its place in Division 1 for 2027.
The final ladder saw Brisbane finish on 12 points, Royal Queensland second on five, Keperra third on four and Pacific fourth on three. Unfortunately for Pacific, the result means they will return to Division 2 next season.
Indooroopilly Golf Club will return to Division 1 in 2027 after an extraordinarily close promotion race with Nudgee Golf Club. Both clubs finished on eight points, with Indooroopilly earning promotion through a superior total of individual games won across the season, 75.5 to 65.
The Opens completed the season undefeated, recording four wins and two draws to win the individual Opens Pennant.
That result was achieved while using 18 different players across six rounds, an encouraging reflection of the depth within the Club and particularly pleasing following the significant changes to our Open squad at the beginning of the season.
Chris Somerfield produced an exceptional individual campaign, winning all six of his matches while playing three times at number two and three times at number one. Chris was one of only two Brisbane players to complete the season with six wins from six matches, alongside Junior, Cooper Brown.
The Masters finished equal second in their individual Pennant after winning all three matches at home. They were unable to secure a point away from home, reinforcing just how significant home-course advantage can be in Masters. Seven players represented Brisbane in the Masters during the season.
The final round was also a significant occasion for former Men’s Captain Ash Sturmer, who announced his retirement from Pennant golf. Ash has been involved in each of Brisbane’s Division 1 Pennant successes and has made an enormous contribution to the program as a player, Captain and even as a writer of our Pennant match reports. We will miss Ash’s contribution on the course, but look forward to continuing to benefit from his knowledge, experience and passion for the Club away from it.
Perhaps one of the most encouraging aspects of 2026 was the continued development of our Junior team. The Juniors won all six of their matches and 24 of a possible 30 individual points to comfortably secure the Junior Pennant.
The Juniors finished on 12 competition points, while each of the other three clubs finished on four. Only seven players represented the Junior team throughout the season, five of whom are involved full-time in the Club’s Junior Academy and High Performance programs. Their average age remains just 16 and, on average, they have been members of The Brisbane Golf Club for approximately four years.
Their performance is a wonderful reflection of the work being undertaken through these programs and, more importantly, provides great encouragement for the future.
Cooper Brown led the way with six wins from six matches, while Aahan Anand won five of his six matches and Justin Lee recorded four victories.
One of the most pleasing features of this season has been the connection between our Club competitions, development programs and Pennant teams.
The 2026 squad included current Club Champion Chris Somerfield and former Club Champion Campbell Kerr, current Junior Club Champion Justin Lee, and former Junior Club Champions Chase Oberle, Elijah Rohas-Smith, Campbell Kerr and Demos Drakos.
Senior Champions Ian Burgess and Stephen Deane also represented the Club.
Remarkably, 11 of the 16 players who contested this year’s Men’s Club Championship Finals represented Brisbane during the Pennant season.
In total, 32 players represented the Club across the Opens, Masters and Juniors in 2026.
Somerfield Wins Stephen Deane Medal
Chris Somerfield has capped his undefeated season by winning the 2026 Stephen Deane Medal. Named in honour of Brisbane’s most capped Pennant player, the Medal recognises performances throughout the season across the Club’s three teams. Chris finished with 33 votes.
Cooper Brown finished second in the Medal with 22 votes after his own perfect six-win season in the Juniors, while Peter Hargreaves finished third with 19.
At the end of every Pennant season, there are many people to thank. First and foremost are our players. Representing The Brisbane Golf Club requires a significant commitment. Players give up other tournaments and personal commitments during the season, prepare diligently and accept the responsibility that comes with representing their fellow members. We are enormously grateful to all 32 players who represented BGC this year.
The Board and Members of The Brisbane Golf Club also deserve special recognition for their unwavering support of the Pennant program, both on match days and behind the scenes.
Our selectors David Raman, Joe Janison, Greg Mitchell, Geoff Moore and Dean Castrisos worked tirelessly throughout the season. Selecting 21 players each week from such a talented squad is rarely straightforward, and their time and commitment is greatly appreciated.
Thank you also to Geoff Crozier for providing the live scoring app which allowed members to follow the action throughout each home round, and to Peter Castrisos for his contribution as our Rules Official.
Special recognition must also go to David Raman for the enormous amount of work he continues to undertake behind the scenes in support of the program.
Finally, congratulations to Men’s Captain Dean Castrisos. After representing Brisbane as a player for many years, Dean has now captained the Club to two Division 1 Pennants. His involvement extends well beyond match day and includes countless hours of preparation throughout the season.
Five consecutive Pennants, seven titles from the past eight completed seasons and, for the first time, six victories from six matches is a record of which the entire Club can be proud.
For now, we congratulate our players and everyone who has contributed to a wonderful 2026 season.
2026 Season Statistics
Round 1 – BGC defeated Royal Queensland away, 12–9
Round 2 – BGC defeated Pacific at home, 14.5–6.5
Round 3 – BGC defeated Keperra away, 12–9
Round 4 – BGC defeated Royal Queensland at home, 17–4
Round 5 – BGC defeated Pacific away, 13–8
Round 6 – BGC defeated Keperra at home, 12.5–8.5
Overall: 6 wins, 0 losses
Points: 12 competition points
Individual points: 81 won, 45 conceded
Division 1: Winners
Opens: Winners – 4 wins, 2 draws
Masters: Tied second – 3 wins, 3 losses
Juniors: Winners – 6 wins, 0 losses
2026 Player Statistics
Opens
Billy Dowling – 1 loss
Chris Somerfield – 6 wins
Chase Oberle – 3 wins, 1 loss, 1 A/S
Kai Komulainen – 4 wins
Campbell Kerr – 2 wins
Taylor Barr – 2 wins, 2 losses, 1 A/S
Matthew Frohmuller – 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 A/S
Elijah Rohas-Smith – 2 wins
Ilija Soldan – 3 wins, 1 loss, 1 A/S
Hennessy De Guzman – 4 wins
Ben Stieler – 1 win, 4 losses, 1 A/S
Cooper Clarke – 1 win, 4 losses
Connor McLachlan – 2 wins
Thomas King – 2 wins, 3 losses
Demos Drakos – 1 win, 1 A/S
Craig Mahon – 1 win, 2 losses
Tom Limon – 1 win, 1 loss
Tom Deane – 1 A/S
Masters
Ian Burgess – 1 win, 1 loss
Ash Sturmer – 1 win, 1 loss
Eugene Estella – 2 wins, 1 loss, 1 A/S
Robert Ogilvy – 2 wins, 2 losses
Phil Somerfield – 2 wins, 4 losses
Peter Hargreaves – 4 wins, 2 losses
Stephen Deane – 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 A/S
Juniors
Eshan Singh – 2 wins, 3 A/S
Darwin Butsamalee – 3 wins, 1 loss
Aahan Anand – 5 wins, 1 loss
Cooper Brown – 6 wins
Justin Lee – 4 wins, 2 losses
Daniel Brown – 1 win, 1 A/S
Demos Drakos – 1 win
2026 Stephen Deane Medal – Final Tally
Chris Somerfield – 33
Cooper Brown – 22
Peter Hargreaves – 19
Ash Sturmer – 16
Chase Oberle – 16
Ian Burgess – 13
Aahan Anand – 9
Justin Lee – 9
Demos Drakos – 9
Ben Stieler – 8
Robert Ogilvy – 8
Elijah Rohas-Smith – 7
Matthew Frohmuller – 7
Thomas King – 6
Connor McLachlan – 4
Hennessy De Guzman – 3
Taylor Barr – 3
Phil Somerfield – 3
Kai Komulainen – 2
Darwin Butsamalee – 2
Tom Limon – 2
Eshan Singh – 2
Ilija Soldan – 1
Daniel Brown – 1
Tom Deane – 1