All Gippsland Championship

THE annual All Gippsland Women’s Championship two-day event was held last Monday and Tuesday. 

Each year, the three districts, East Gippsland, West Gippsland and South Gippsland, compete for the prestigious Foursomes Scratch event on the Monday and the Singles Championship on Tuesday. 

This year, it was South Gippsland’s turn to host the event and Phillip Island was the club selected.

The course was in great condition and the women’s captain Helen Coghlan is to be congratulated for her excellent organisation of this huge event with more than 100 players each day.

The weather was extremely pleasant for the majority of the day with warm sunshine – the predicted cool change with the rain arrived late in the afternoon and fortunately most had completed their round.

There was a buzz on finishing when arriving in the clubhouse as two of the early groups out of Emma Hall/Jeanette Diss (Phillip Island) and Rena Casey (Lang Lang)/Merrissa Cosson (Korumburra) posted a score of 88 gross.

They patiently waited as each of the pairs finished their rounds to see if their score was going to be beaten.

There was no score posted that was better or equal, so the announcement of a playoff was made. 

It would be a three-hole playoff and then sudden death if still tied. 

The first hole was played with no advantage gained, the rain then started to fall as they played the second hole.

It was still all even.

With everything tied, they both were on the green on the third hole.

It came down to the last putt, which the Phillip Island pair holed, giving them the title.

Congratulations to Emma Hall and Jeanette Diss on winning the All Gippsland Foursomes Scratch Championship and to Rena Casey and Merrissa Cosson, who were the runners up.

Ruth McPhee and Sherrie Elliot from Lakes Entrance Golf Club won the Foursomes Scratch Bronze Championship with 102 on a count back. 

This pair were also runners up in the handicap event, with 71.5 on a count back. 

The runners up for the Foursomes Bronze scratch were Phillip Island players Vicki Ramage and Liz O’ Neill with 102.

Heather Wintle and Marg Ryan (Wonthaggi) won the Foursomes Handicap event with a great score of 69.5.

Nearest the pins went to Fiona Gray (Bairnsdale) on the seventh and Liz Foreman (Sale) on the 10th.

The Singles Championship was held on Tuesday, with the weather not so pleasant.

There was a repeat of yesterday with Rebecca Thomas (Leongatha) and Johanna Wyllie (Tambo Valley) both posting identical scores - forcing a playoff over three holes to decide the winner of the All Gippsland Singles Championship. 

Johanna came out in front on the third hole, displaying excellent chipping and putting skills.

Judy Magill from Phillip Island Golf Club won the Minor Scratch Championship with 95, on a count back from Barb Britten from Foster Golf Club.

The Minor Shield, a relatively new Stableford event for C Grade, was won by Mary Taylor from Phillip Island Golf Club with 34 points, on a count back from fellow club member Marlene Gibson.

The A Grade Handicap event was won by Marg Johnson from Wonthaggi Golf Club with 73 net, with Anne Maree Skarratt runner up from Yarram.

Alice Schofield from Phillip Island Golf Club won the B Grade Handicap event 71 net, and fellow club member Judy Magill was the runner up with 74.

Nearest the pins were awarded to Michelle Fairlie (Drouin) on the fifth, Anne Maree Skarratt (Yarram) on the 10th, Jan Beaumont (Wonthaggi) on the seventh and Merryn Dear (Wonthaggi) on the 17th.