Perth’s Hannah Green and Gold Coaster Karis Davidson have won the chance to live out a dream.
Green, 19, and Davidson, 17, are the winners of the 2016 Karrie Webb Series as the two leading players in national rankings events for the past year.
Thanks to the generosity of Australia’s greatest female golfer, each player will receive $10,000 to put towards their tournament and training expenses this year.
But it’s the prize that money can’t buy that both players are already “extremely excited” about – the chance to spend a week with Webb during the 2016 US Open at CordeValle, south of San Francisco, in early July.
Green, of Mt Lawley Golf Club, topped the series table with 613 points including a win in the Victorian Amateur and a string of top-five finishes, also won the prize last year alongside Julienne Soo.
And the Golf Australia national squad member, who also enjoyed a great summer in professional events around Australia and New Zealand, said she couldn’t wait to catch up with her idol Webb for a repeat of last year’s adventure.
“We had an awesome experience, it was my first time meeting Karrie and going to a major,” Green said.
“Getting to know her and she how she does it – and how others do it – it’s an awesome experience.”
Davidson sealed her scholarship with a gutsy win over Green in this week’s Bowra & O’Dea Women’s Classic at Lake Karrinyup Country Club near Perth.
That, combined with victory in the Queensland Amateur, was enough for 609 total points, well clear of fellow Gold Coaster Robyn Choi in third place.
The Sanctuary Cove-based teenager was thrilled with the cash aspect of the scholarship, but was even more taken by the chance to meet one of her fellow Queensland heroes.
“She was one of my idols growing up,” the quietly spoken Davidson said.
“It’s a great thing to look up to … and Karrie is definitely a great player, so it should be a great week in the US with her.”
Green, who effectively began the Bowra & O’Dea with no sleep having flown home from representing Asia-Pacific in the Patsy Hankins Trophy triumph over Europe in Portugal, said the scholarship was a key factor in that decision.
“Yes, it was a big motivator. I wanted to play this week to get as many points and win (because) it’s such a great opportunity and I don’t think you realise it until you get to do it.”
Golf Australia high performance director Brad James was thrilled for both young women.
“To have the opportunity to spend a week learning from Australia’s most accomplished golfer is something they’ll remember for a lifetime and hopefully take that experience and use it to further their careers,” James said.
“It’s a good reward for the consistency they’ve shown through the year and we wholeheartedly thank Karrie for the time she puts into developing the future stars of our game.”
Click here for Karrie Webb Series final standings.