Mainwaring snares club championship

Mount Gambier Golf Club ladies fight if out for prestige club titles across three grades

The premier event, the Ladies Club Championships on the Mount Gambier Golf Club’s ladies calendar was contested last Wednesday. The finalists in A, B and C grades were blessed with cloudy and calm conditions, ideal for golf. In A grade Faye Mainwaring and Bernie Jennings, both past champions provided a great spectacle with their match over 36 holes. The first nine holes were a tussle with Jennings 1 up but Mainwaring kept the pressure up on the next nine with both players finishing all square after 18 holes. After a short lunch break, players headed off for the second 18 holes where Mainwaring shot to 4 up after 9 holes but the determined Jennings gradually reduced the gap to 2 up before Mainwaring claimed her 3rd Championship title parring the 35th hole to finish 3/1.

Penne Saffin, top qualifier and Kate McCormick battled it out for the B grade title over 36 holes. Both players found the dewy conditions slightly tricky but once they settled into their game, a cat and mouse game ensued with McCormick scoring wins on holes seven, eight and nine finishing 1 up at the turn. Adding another two wins had McCormick 3 up after twelve holes but Saffin fought back and the scores seesawed up and down to the 18th hole with McCormick 3 up. On the second 18 holes, holes were won by both players alternately before McCormick increased her lead to 4 up but Saffin rallied winning the next two holes before facing the last nine holes. A strong rebound by Saffin reduced the score to square with three holes left to play but McCormick kept calm and scored two further wins to claim her title on the 35th hole finishing 2/1.

C grade saw Trudy Johnson, a very keen golfer play off in her first championship against left hander Lizzie Clements, whose handicap has also reduced rapidly. This match was a great spectacle over 27 holes with the big hitting Johnson and Clements with accurate short play scoring well over the first nine holes. The first five holes on the homeward nine were halved but holes won by both players resulted in Johnson leading by 2 after 18 holes. After a short lunch break, Clements encountered trouble on the first two holes giving Johnson a further leeway of 4 up before adding two more wins to claim her title 6/4. This high standard match indicated that we should see these ladies feature in future championship finals. In D grade, Linda Boylan was presented with her trophy by Gloria Lennon on behalf of sponsor, Hoppa Gabriel who has supported this event for 16 years. Unfortunately Julie Hanel had to withdraw at the last minute due to injury.

Many players not involved in the championships followed their fellow players around the course and were entertained by some great golf. The day concluded with a pizza tea, celebrations and trophy presentations by the sponsors, Mark and Karen Forster from SE Pine Sales.

A stableford round was played by the remaining ladies and Val Grubb, who has recently returned to golf fired a great score of 40 points to win convincingly from Carol Smith with 33 from Rose Hunt 30 points. Di Norman was the most accurate on the 8th hole to win the pro shot and also claimed the 2nd shot on the 10th hole in A grade while Heather Chapman claimed the 2nd shot in C grade.

Perfect sunny conditions on Saturday were enjoyed by seventeen ladies when they played a stableford competition. The winner with a top score of 37 points was Karen Forster followed by Jan Shanahan with 34 points. There were six ball run down winners who needed 28 points or better and Janina Morrison won the pro shot on the 8th while Trudy Johnson was nearest the pin on the 16th hole.

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS: Lizzie Clements (runner up C), Trudy Johnson (C grade champion), Penne Saffin (runner up B), Kate McCormick (B grade champion), Karen Forster (sponsor SE Pine Sales rep), Faye Mainwaring (Club Champion), Bernie Jennings (runner up A), Linda Boylan (D Grade champion).