A capacity field of 108 players will descend on Waimairi Beach Golf Club this Sunday for the 2026 Canterbury Golf 4BBB Championship, one of the most popular events on the district calendar.
The unique pairs format sees competitors’ team up with a friend, clubmate, or teammate, with the best score from either player counting on each hole. The format consistently produces low scoring, exciting finishes, and plenty of camaraderie, making it a favourite among Canterbury golfers.
Demand to play has once again been exceptionally strong, with all 54 available pairings filled and a further 15 pairs missing out on a start, highlighting the continued popularity of the championship.
Men’s Championship
The men’s field features 45 pairs which includes defending champions, Mitchell Redmayne and Alfie Bell. Having captured the title in both 2024 and 2025, the pair will be chasing a rare three-peat and further cementing their place among the event’s most successful combinations.
While Redmayne and Bell bring recent success, the field is packed with quality pairings capable of challenging for the title. Top seed honours belong to Etienne Collier (+4.2) and Shane Whooley (+2.3), whose combined handicap index of +6.5 makes them the highest-rated pairing in the field. Close behind are Sam Harris (+2.3) and Seb May (+3.9) on +6.2, while Dean Harvey (+2.5) and Taylor Hosking (+3.6) round out the top three seeds at +6.1.
Other highly credentialled combinations include Sam McGill and Mike Toeke (+5.8), Shaun Allan and Phil Stephens (+4.5), Nash De Klerk and Louis Edwards (+4.0), and Jake Roberts and Hunter Ussher (+3.1), all of whom will fancy their chances of featuring prominently on Sunday afternoon. With so much quality spread throughout the field, another tightly contested championship is expected.
Women’s Championship
The women’s championship will feature nine pairs competing for the title.
Last year’s champions, Lannie Inoue and Zaria Bourne, will not defend their title together, opening the door for a new pairing to emerge victorious.
Leading the way are top seeds Yoonae Jeong (+4.0) and Vanessa Lim (+0.7), whose combined handicap index of +4.7 makes them the standout pairing on paper. Their combination of experience and proven ability will make them difficult to beat.
Second seeds Junie Chang (+2.8) and Eva Yin (+1.1) will also be among the leading contenders, while Zaria Bourne, part of the 2025 winning combination, returns alongside Alice Fry in a strong pairing capable of challenging for the title.
Subin Bae and Nutcha Sirawattanakul, along with Olivia Guan and Aisha Lee, complete a talented group of leading contenders in what promises to be a closely fought women’s championship.
More Than Just the Championship Titles
In addition to the gross championship honours, competitors will also be vying for nett prizes, ensuring every pair remains in contention throughout the day regardless of handicap.
There will also be nearest-the-pin competitions on Hole 17 for the men and Hole 8 for the women, while the long hitters will have the opportunity to claim longest drive honours on Hole 18 in both divisions.
Adding to the player experience, a Trackman unit will be set up on Hole 10, giving competitors the opportunity to measure key performance metrics including swing speed, ball speed and driving distance. The data collected throughout the day will be shared directly with players following the event, while a dedicated leaderboard will showcase some of the biggest hitters in the field. While not part of the championship itself, the Trackman challenge promises to add another fun and engaging element to what is shaping up to be a fantastic day of competition.
With a full field assembled, championship honours on the line, and plenty of prizes and activities throughout the day, all signs point towards another memorable edition of the Canterbury Golf 4BBB Championship at Waimairi Beach Golf Club.
Canterbury Golf also extends it thanks to event sponsor The Clubroom and host venue Waimiairi Beach whose staff have the course looking in fantastic condition. View the full draw – HERE.
