Adrian Romei, a 12-handicapper from Keysborough Golf Club, showcased incredible resilience and skill to be crowned the 2025 Handiskins National Champion after a thrilling final on the Gold Coast.
The Handiskins National Championship week, a premier event for club golfers across Australia, culminated in an unforgettable final round at Palm Meadows Golf Course. Adrian, the owner of a Melbourne landscape gardening business, certainly let his golf game bloom when it mattered most.
The Road to Glory
Over 90 finalists, representing their home clubs from every state in Australia (and even Norfolk Island), converged on the Gold Coast for their shot at the coveted title. The journey to the final was a hard-fought contest, with all participants playing two challenging Stableford qualifying rounds at Palm Meadows and Lakelands.
| First Qualifying Round - Wed 8th May 2025 | Second Qualifying Round - Thurs 9th May 2025 |
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| Round Winners | Round Winners |
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| Nearest The Pin Winners | Nearest The Pin Winners |
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| Longest Drive | Longest Drive |
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| Handiskins National Championship Finals Qualifiers | |
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Adrian secured his place in the four-person final with solid rounds yielding 32 and 41 Stableford points, for a 73-point total. Joining him on the first tee for the ultimate skins showdown were Troy Pearce of Wolston Park Golf Club (who qualified with 77 points), Tim Harrington from The Cut (72 points), and Singleton Golf Club’s Jenny Delaney (71 points).
A Final for the Ages
The Handiskins National Final is renowned for its pressure-cooker atmosphere, and this year was no exception. Played in the exciting skins format with full handicaps, a total of $1200 in prize money was on the line, with $40 per hole for the first six, $60 for the next six, and a hefty $80 per hole for the closing six, plus an additional $60 for two nearest-the-pin shots.
For Adrian, the final didn't start as planned. He confessed to David Newberry from Inside Golf: "I was so nervous and didn't get off to a good start". "I hit my ball in the water on the first two holes and hardly scored on the first six holes."
However, the beauty of Handiskins is that fortunes can change in an instant. "With Handiskins, you can start off terribly and come home strong, which is what happened today," Adrian explained. Displaying commendable composure, he rallied significantly in the latter stages of the round. "My iron play was good, but it was my putting that saved me at the end."
And save him it did. Adrian clawed his way back, hole by hole, eventually banking an impressive $610 to seize the championship title. Troy Pearce finished with $350, Tim Harrington secured $210, and Jenny Delaney took home $30.
Reflecting on his win, Adrian, who plans to spend his winnings on a new golf bag, was full of praise for the competition. "Handiskins is such a great concept, and I think more clubs and players should get on board."
What Makes Handiskins So Special?
For those new to the phenomenon, Handiskins is a unique national golf competition that brings an exciting professional "skins" game format to club golfers. Here’s how it works:
- Club Competition: It all begins at your local golf club. Clubs across Australia host their own Handiskins competitions, typically over several qualifying rounds.
- The Club Final: The top four players from the club qualifiers then battle it out in a local Club Final – a skins game where they play for fantastic prizes.
- The National Championship Invitation: The winner of each Club Handiskins Final (the player who accumulates the most prize money in "skins") earns an exclusive invitation to the annual Handiskins National Championship.
- Championship Week: This is where the magic happens! Club champions from all over the country gather for a week of golf, camaraderie, and competition at a prestigious golfing destination like the Gold Coast.
- Qualifying for the Big One: At the National Championship, all participants play two 18-hole Stableford rounds. The scores are aggregated, and only the top four players advance to the Handiskins National Final.
- The National Final - Skins Showdown: The final is played under the thrilling skins format with full handicaps. Each hole has a monetary value. If a hole is tied (halved), the money jackpots to the next hole, building suspense and excitement. The player who wins the most prize money in this final round is crowned the Handiskins National Champion!
Handiskins is more than just a tournament; it's an experience that allows amateur golfers to feel the thrill of high-stakes golf in a fun, social, and competitive environment.
Congratulations again to Adrian Romei, our 2025 Handiskins National Champion, on a fantastic and well-deserved victory! His performance is a testament to the spirit of Handiskins – where every player has a chance, and every hole brings new possibilities.
We look forward to seeing even more golfers get involved in Handiskins at their local clubs and perhaps follow in Adrian's footsteps to the National Championship!
Read a recap of the 2025 Handiskins National Championship Week by Australia's best Golf Reporter David Newberry in the June 2025 edition of Inside Golf here
