Egea and Stieler Share Inaugural Stephen Deane Medal

History was made at The Brisbane Golf Club on Sunday with the presentation of the inaugural Stephen Deane Medal, an award created to honour the Club’s most outstanding Pennant Player of the Year. Named in recognition of Stephen Deane, a pennant legend of BGC who has represented the Club in pennants for an extraordinary 42 seasons, the medal acknowledges not only playing excellence, but also leadership, sportsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to team golf.

The introduction of the medal coincided with the end of another superb Division 1 Pennant season for the Club. The Brisbane Golf Club secured a commanding victory over Pacific Golf Club in the final round, which delivered the Club’s fourth consecutive BDGA Division 1 title and its sixth in the last seven seasons. It was a fitting backdrop for the presentation of the medal, which saw two equally deserving recipients share the honour.

Taj Egea and Ben Stieler were announced as joint winners of the first-ever Stephen Deane Medal, following a season in which both players stood out. Taj, playing off a handicap of +3, was representing BGC in his third consecutive pennant season. A Club Champion in 2023, Taj played four matches this year and remained undefeated, securing key wins against Indooroopilly, Royal Queensland (home and away), and Pacific. His wins were convincing, highlighted by a 7&6 victory over Indooroopilly and a 6&5 triumph away at RQ. Illness unfortunately sidelined him in rounds three and four, but his contribution remained undeniable. As Taj now prepares to begin a PGA traineeship at Wolston Park alongside his father Andrew, this season marks the end of his pennant journey with the Club and the beginning of a new chapter in his golf career.

Ben Stieler, now in his eighth season of pennants for BGC, played off a handicap of +2 and delivered a stellar performance across six rounds. He won five of his six matches, including three crucial away victories in the opening rounds at Indooroopilly, RQ, and Pacific. His form continued into the final two rounds at home, where he secured decisive wins over RQ and Pacific. Ben collected five points for the team, the most by any player this season, and was a key driver of the team’s overall success.

The medal’s namesake, Stephen Deane, is a towering figure in the history of BGC pennants. Having joined the Club in 1978 and first represented BGC as a junior, Stephen has played in 42 seasons of pennants, including this year in the Masters division. He served as Club Captain from 2015 to 2017, a period during which BGC won three successive pennant titles across Division 3, Division 2, and Division 1. Stephen has also contributed through years of committee work and mentoring of younger players. His family, parents Don and Beverley and sons Tom and Michael, are all long-time BGC members, and the Deane name is etched on multiple honour boards throughout the Clubhouse. Still playing off a handicap of 1, Stephen’s influence on pennant golf at BGC is immense, and it is entirely fitting that the Club’s most prestigious individual pennant honour now carries his name.

The Stephen Deane Medal is judged across all six rounds of the pennant season by a panel made up of Men’s Captain Dean Castrisos, CEO Geoff Kuehner, Pennant and Elite Player Manager David Raman, and selectors Joe Janison and Tom Deane. Each judge awarded 3, 2, and 1 points to the most valuable players from BGC in each round, with consideration given to performance, sportsmanship, team contribution, and the values embodied by Stephen Deane. Taj and Ben finished the season tied on total points, and even after a countback of highest individual votes, could not be separated, a testament to the exceptional quality of their seasons.

The medal presentation was made by Club President Deb Kember and Men’s Captain Dean Castrisos in front of players, supporters, and members following the final round at BGC. It was a moment that not only honoured two outstanding individuals but also reflected the depth of pride, tradition, and excellence that continues to define The Brisbane Golf Club. As we celebrate another Division 1 title and the legacy of Stephen Deane, this new chapter in our pennant history has begun in the best possible way.

The tally for the 2025 Stephen Deane Medal was:

20 Points – Taj Egea and Ben Stieler

15 Points – Josh Liston

14 Points – George Giblett and Peter Hargraves

11 Points – Aahan Anand, Darwin Butsamalee, Lachlan Jones and Thomas King

9 Points – Tony Cho and Ash Sturmer

8 Points – Cooper Clarke and Eugene Estella

5 Points – Stephen Deane

3 Points – Kai Komulainen

2 Points – Ian Burgess, Elijah Rohas-Smith and IIija Soldan

1 Point – Daniel Brown, Matt Field and Craig Mahon