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.
Day 1: Foursomes Championship
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 over a hundred 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 when fortunately most had completed their round.
There was a buzz when arriving in the clubhouse on finishing, as two of the early groups out – 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, with still no separation achieved. With everything tied on arrival at the green on the 3rd 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 Bronze Scratch 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 Overall Handicap event with a great score of 69.5.
Nearest the pins on the 7th Fiona Gray (Bairnsdale) and 10th Liz Foreman (Sale).
Balls down the line were won by Lesley Dunsmuir/Nola Pratt (Maffra), Joanne Disher/Judy Magill (Phillip Island), Yvonne Everitt/Jan Beaumont (Wonthaggi), Lucy Haussegger/Tania Holmes (South Pines), Pauline Lancaster/Elly Berryman (Woorayl), Sharon Rippon/Leanne Pollard (Phillip Island), Merryn Dear/Marg Johnson (Churchill Monash and Wonthaggi), Robyn Quirk/Jodie Tilley (Sale), Marlene Gibson and Wendy Hopkins, (Phillip Is. GC), Helen Coghlan/Lesley Meadowcroft (Phillip Island), Lyn Bennet/Sue Toseland (Lakes Entrance), Mary Taylor/Ros Reid (Phillip Island), and Sheila Constantine/Veronica Park (Meeniyan).
Day 2: 2023 All Gippsland Singles Championship
After the steady rain yesterday afternoon the weather, was not so kind at the start of play, however it settled to cool but windy conditions.
There was a repeat of yesterday’s exciting finish, with Rebecca Thomas (Leongatha GC) and Johanna Wyllie (Tambo Valley GC) both posting identical scores – forcing a play off over 3 holes to decide the winner of the All Gippsland Singles Championship. Johanna came out in front on the 3rd hole, displaying excellent chipping and putting skills.
Judy Magill from Phillip Island GC won the Minor Scratch Championship with 95, on a count back from Barb Britten from Foster GC.
The Minor Shield, a relatively new stableford event for C grade was won by Mary Taylor from Phillip Island GC 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 GC with 73 nett, with Anne Maree Skarratt (Yarram) runner up.
Alice Schofield from Phillip Island GC won the B Grade Handicap event with 71 nett, and fellow club member Judy Magill was the runner up with 74.
Nearest the pins were awarded to Michelle Fairlie (Drouin) on the 5th, Anne Maree Skarratt (Yarram) on the 10th, Jan Beaumont (Wonthaggi) on the 7th and Merryn Dear (Wonthaggi) on the 17th.
Balls down the line: Julie Aitkin (Traralgon), Monique Day (Maffra), Marilyn Jamieson (Phillip Island), Frances Renehan (Traralgon), Kerryn Nicholson (Toongabbie), Sherrie Elliot (Lakes Entrance), Lucy Haussegger (South Pines), Marg Ryan (Wonthaggi), Chris Munday (Maffra), Lesley Dunsmuir (Maffra), Kerri Ahearn (Warragul), Kim Rippon-King (Phillip Island), Jan Beaumont (Wonthaggi), Vicki Roff-Smith (Phillip Island), Jeanette Mitchell (Garfield), Jan Daff (Phillip Island), Wendy Hopkins (Phillip Island) and Kylie Collins (Foster).