Jewish Championships 2026
Record Field Marks a New Era for Jewish Golf at Huntingdale
The 2026 Maccabi Victoria Jewish Golf Championships marked an exciting new chapter for Jewish golf in Victoria, with a record 210 players taking to the course at the newly renovated Huntingdale Golf Club.
Played across morning and afternoon fields, the Championships brought together Jewish golfers from across Melbourne for what was one of the largest and most memorable days in the history of Maccabi Victoria Golf Club.
Following the closure of Cranbourne earlier this year, where the Jewish Championships had enjoyed a proud history over many decades, the move to Huntingdale represented both a new beginning and an exciting opportunity for Maccabi Golf.
For many participants, it was their first opportunity to experience Huntingdale's newly renovated course. The excitement leading into the event was palpable and the course certainly lived up to expectations.
The new layout is outstanding and, as the course continues to mature, it promises to become something very special.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the day was the diversity of the field.
Alongside golfers who have participated in Maccabi events for decades was a large contingent of Next Gen players aged under 40, a strong representation of women and, for the first time, a dedicated Junior category.
Seeing junior golfers competing alongside some of the most experienced golfers in our community was a wonderful reflection of what Maccabi Golf is seeking to achieve.
Over the past 18 months, the club has placed a major emphasis on developing both Next Gen and Junior golf, creating opportunities for younger Jewish golfers to become involved in the game and, just as importantly, connect with the broader Jewish golfing community.
With Maccabi Victoria Golf Club membership now at a record 224 members, the response to these initiatives and the extraordinary turnout at Huntingdale demonstrate the strength of Jewish golf in Victoria and provide enormous optimism for the future.
Darren Blair Crowned 2026 Jewish Champion
The prestigious Jewish Championship Strokeplay title was won by Darren Blair, who produced an excellent round of 78 to become the 2026 Jewish Champion.
Simon Fisher finished runner-up, while 13-year-old Benjamin Lewis continued his outstanding performances in Maccabi Golf by finishing third.
The three players also filled the placings in the Next Gen Strokeplay event, providing another indication of the quality of younger golfers coming through Maccabi Golf.
Darren's victory also carries an important reward, with the Jewish Champion automatically qualifying for the Victorian Presidents Cup team that will travel to New South Wales for the next Presidents Cup in March 2027.
The Overall Stableford competition produced one of the closest results of the day, with Stevan Lambert, nine-year-old Daphne Lewis and Nicole Sandler all finishing with outstanding scores of 40 points.
Following countback, Stevan Lambert was crowned the Overall Stableford winner, with Daphne Lewis second and Nicole Sandler third.
It was an exceptional performance from Daphne, who was competing in the Jewish Championships at just nine years of age.
Daphne also won both the C Grade Stableford and the inaugural Junior Stableford competition with her 40 points.
Together with her 13-year-old brother Benjamin's third placing in the Jewish Championship Strokeplay, the performances of the Lewis siblings provided one of the great stories of the day and highlighted the exciting potential of the next generation of Jewish golfers.
The other divisional winners were:
A Grade Stableford: Stevan Lambert – 40 points
B Grade Stableford: Rohan Woolf – 36 points
C Grade Stableford: Daphne Lewis – 40 points
Next Gen Stableford: Simon Fisher – 38 points
Womens Stableford: Nicole Sandler - 40 points
Junior Stableford: Daphne Lewis – 40 points
From top left clockwise - Division Winners - Simon Fisher, Rohan Woolf, Daphne Lewis and Nicole Sandler
While the Jewish Championships is one of the premier competitive events on the Maccabi Golf calendar, the significance of the day extended well beyond the results.
To have 210 Jewish golfers together at Huntingdale, competing, reconnecting with old friends and forming new friendships, was an extraordinary sight.
Following the closure of Cranbourne, Maccabi Victoria Golf has an increasingly important role to play in keeping Jewish golfers connected, regardless of which golf club they belong to.
Golf is the vehicle, but community is at the heart of what Maccabi Golf is seeking to achieve.
Maccabi Victoria Golf Club extends its sincere thanks to Huntingdale Golf Club and all of its staff for the manner in which they embraced Maccabi Golf and the Jewish Championships.
The support and hospitality provided in the lead-up to and throughout the day contributed enormously to the success of an event of this size.
The newly renovated golf course is outstanding and, as it continues to mature, will undoubtedly become even more special.
We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to hold the Jewish Championships at such a prestigious venue and look forward to building on our relationship with Huntingdale Golf Club in the years ahead.
Thank you also to our sponsors, Brighton BMW, Global Trophies and promotions, Linea Developments, Kieser Caulfield for their support, our committee, volunteers and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the Championships possible.
With Maccabi Victoria Golf Club membership now at a record 240 members, the response to these initiatives and the extraordinary turnout at Huntingdale demonstrate the strength of Jewish golf in Victoria and provide enormous optimism for the future.
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