Sharon Dawson made history yesterday when she won the New Zealand Women’s Senior Match Play title.
Dawson, 55, became the first Australian to lift the championship when she denied 2013 champ Robyn Pellow, of Waikato, a second victory at Te Anau on the South Island.
The West Australian golfer was “thrilled” with her spot in history, also doubling up after winning the Australian title at Gosnell’s in her home town in October.
One of the strongest fields in the event’s 68-year history featured eight Australian players, an Englishwoman and a Canadian, but it was Dawson, who's based at Lake Karrinyup, who best handled the tricky conditions.
In driving rain, Dawson got the better of Invercargill’s Robyn Pullar in the semi-final winning 2-up, then followed up in the afternoon with a 3&2 win over Pellow.
On the way to her historic win, Dawson qualified in fourth place with a round of 79 on the par-74 course. She then beat Bay of Plenty’s Carol Leary 2-up and then South Canterbury’s Jenny Kellahan 5&4 en route to the semis.