As a gold miner and champion golfer, WA Amateur finalist Ebony Heard is quite experienced with handling precious metals.
The Goldfields Golf Club member will face off against WA state representative Jessica Whitting tomorrow after getting past Claudia Pisano in this morning's semi-final at Cottesloe Golf Club.
Heard has plenty of silverware from her time as a seven time South Australian state representative, but since 2010 she has moved into digging for gold as a dump truck driver at Kalgoorlie’s famous Super Pit.
During her five years in Kalgoorlie, Heard has continued playing a game that has became more about enjoyment than performance.
“It’s not necessarily a comeback,” said Heard about her return to the WA Amateur.
“I just enjoy my golf these days and whatever happens happens as I just try and play when I can.”
This is Heard’s second WA Amateur final appearance after finishing runner-up to Jess Speechley in 2009, but as a three time SA Amateur champion Heard is feeling good ahead of another final appearance.
“I’ll just try to relax and settle my nerves a bit,” said Heard about her approach for tomorrow.
“Like I said I enjoy my golf a lot more these days — there’s no pressure so I’m just going to go out and enjoy it.”
Golf isn’t the only enjoyable aspect of Kalgoorlie for Heard, who takes a lot from her job at the Super Pit.
“I drive dump trucks and work a week on and a week off,” said Heard.
“It’s a great job there, the Super Pit’s right on the edge of town and I love it. There’s also a beautiful golf course — Goldfields golf club’s been amazing they’re really supporting and I’m very lucky to be a member there.
“They’ve all been watching all week so they’re 100% behind be, they’re great.”
Royal Fremantle’s Jess Whitting will be hoping she can replicate the result of her namesake Jess Speecley as she makes her debut final appearance.
“I wasn’t expecting to make it past the first round, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Whitting.
“I’m quite nervous but it should be good and I’ll have a lot of support out there.”
Whitting said she scrambled a lot through her semi-final match against Mount Lawley’s Alysha Anhahtakrishnan, and the Royal Fremantle member wants to final another level in the final.
“I got away with making pars a lot, it was pretty steady golf all day,” said Whitting
“I feel like I’m going to have to up my game tomorrow and hole bit more out there.
“I’ve heard some good things about (Heard), she can bomb the ball so I’ll definitely have to bring me game.”
The 36 hole Women’s final will commence at Cottesloe Golf Club at 8:15am, following the Men’s final that tees off at 8am.