In that final round last Sunday week on the Murray Course, Donna’s second shot found the bunker and she found trouble, registering a nine to Judy’s par four.
On the second, Donna double bogeyed the Par 3 while Judy had a four to make it a one-shot lead. “Then I hit my straps!” eventual winner by eight strokes Donna told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“I was so pleased to be able to hold it together.”
She recorded a round of 86, which with her 81 and 89, resulted in a total of 256 and her first club championship title at YMGCR.
A previous club champion at Black Bull Golf Club, her total of two club championship titles is just 18 behind her mother Bev Willis of Cobram who plays off a handicap of 16 and who turns 80-years-of-age in August. Avenel, Euroa and Cobram are where she has won those titles.
Donna, 60, has been playing at YMGCR for five years, loves the club and players, and admires the club champions.
“To have my name up there on the board with the likes of Judy Kruger, Judy Langford and Karen Droop is amazing,” she said.
Judy had rounds of 90 on the Wednesday, 87 Friday and another 87 Sunday for a total of 264. She and Donna play off about six to seven handicaps.
Eleven shots behind Judy were Tania Zentveld (93, 94, 88) and club record lady title holder with 13 titles, Karen Droop (93, 91, 91) who tied for third with 275.
Jay Ar’s 12th title
In the men’s club championship, record title holder Jay Ar Martin recorded his 12th club championship title with a runaway 20 strokes victory.
Martin stamped his authority on the club’s highest individual event after the first weekend of the two-weekend championship, leading by 10 shots.
A terrific par round of 72 first up on the Murray Course and three sub-par rounds of 70 meant an overall six-under-par total of 282 for the champion 37-year-old. The master won by an astonishing 20 strokes.
However, the efforts of second-placegetter Troy Robertson, who is always solid in the club championships, and club marketing guru Robert Alexander were indeed worthy of special mention.
Robertson fired rounds of 75, 77, 76 and 74 for a total of 302. In third place was Alexander on 309 after rounds of 75, 78, 79 and 77.
Martin was very happy to win his twelfth title. “This year, knowing the field, I just wanted to play to win the handicap section,” the plus-two handicapper said.
“If I could win the handicap section, I felt I could win overall – I knew everyone would have to play at their best.”
After the first weekend’s two rounds, Martin enjoyed an eight-shot lead. “I thought if I had a steady head and play my own game, and have confidence, I could have a win,” the process operator at Thales, Mulwala said.
Jay Ar certainly did, for a comprehensive victory and title.
