Congratulations to the team of Kyle Snell and David Rawlinson for winning the 2026 Oceana Best Ball “Joe Foster” Open with a two-day total of 136 (66 & 70), a total of 8-under par for the weekend.
Representing Spring Lake, the duo made a remarkable first impression in their tournament debut. Even more impressive, one player had never played Oceana before, while the other had not returned since 2020, before the addition of our new holes.
We welcomed 112 two-person teams for one of our favorite traditions of the season, 53rd Annual Joe Foster Open, with players ready to compete in Oceana’s signature best ball event.
Saturday’s opening round brought a true test of patience and shot-making as strong winds swept across the course for much of the day, pushing scores slightly higher than average. Adding to the suspense was the threat of stormy weather, with staff keeping a close eye on the skies throughout the round. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and by later in the evening, the storms had cleared, the wind settled down, and the sun made a welcome appearance.
Despite the challenging conditions, the tournament moved along with a great pace of play, and competition remained incredibly tight across the board. After Round #1, most flights were tightly packed, with many teams sitting within just 3-5 strokes of one another, setting up an exciting Sunday finish.
Sunday brought a completely different atmosphere for the field. Morning players were greeted with a little rain, and the day saw much cooler temperatures, but overall calmer conditions with the wind switching from S-SW to N-NW, that allowed for strong scoring opportunities.
Saturday’s clubhouse leaders (Snell/Rawlinson) posted an impressive 66, and notably, they walked the entire round! Perhaps walking really is the secret to success… Because after posting the lowest score of Round #1, they returned on Sunday and held strong under pressure, and on their feet, to secure the title! Their steady play across both rounds earned them a well-deserved victory.
The Joe Foster Open has once again showcased great golf, strong competition, and the incredible community that makes this event special! Thank you to all of our hardworking staff and volunteers who helped make this event possible, from sunrise to sunset. See you next year! And as always, “play well!”
- Flight winners paid in golf shop merchandise club credit to golfers’ club accounts on file.
- In case of a first-place tie in any flight, a playoff will take place if all tied teams are available; otherwise, all ties will be broken starting with the lowest handicap hole from Round #1 scorecards.
- On-course game winners receive one dozen golf balls.
- Skins are awarded separately for each day and paid out in cash after each round.
- Results will be posted inside the clubhouse, emailed to participants with emails on file, and posted to our social media pages at the conclusion of each round once scoring is finalized. Important! If your teammates are not receiving our event emails, have them update their information with the clubhouse.
