2016 sees the restructure of two prestigious Victorian state titles, the Men’s & Women’s Victorian Champion of Champions. The events invite Club, District and State Champions to compete for the pinnacle title.
The Men’s Championship was first played in 1954 and won by Doug Bachli, who in the same year famously came from behind at Muirfield to upstage American Walker Cup player Bill Campbell, to become the first Australian to win the British Amateur Championship. Bachli won the titles again in ’59 and ’63, while other notable champions include Mike Clayton (1980), Matthew Griffin (2006), Jin Jeong (2008) and Nathan Holman (2012). The championship has been played most recently in conjunction with the Port Phillip Open Amateur, and for the first time will be played as part of a 36-hole Ivo Whitton Event, the inaugural Woodlands Open Championship.
The Women’s Championship was first contest in 1929 and won three years in a row by Susie Tolhurst. In 2015, the Victorian Women’s State Rankings trophy was renamed by Golf Victorian in her honour. The Championship was previously structured as 36-hole stroke play qualifying with knock-out match play for the top 8 players. The leading qualifier after 36-holes was awarded the Joan Fisher Plate perpetual trophy, in honour of Fisher who was the 8-time Champion of Champions. Ironically, this year the event will be played in conjunction with Metropolitan Golf Club’s Joan Fisher Plate, a longstanding 36-hole stroke event.
Joan Fisher Plate (inc. Victorian Women’s Champion of Champions)
The Joan Fisher Plate will be played over 36-holes (18-hole cut for top 30 gross players plus ties) on Friday 23 September and sees the incorporation of the 2016 Victorian Women’s Champion of Champions title.The starting field will be limited to 100 female players who hold a GA Handicap of 15.4 strokes or less with a number of players exempt from ballot as indicated on the entry form. The entry fee is $80 including a light lunch.
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Woodlands Open Amateur Championship (inc. Victorian Men’s Champion of Champions)
The Woodlands Open Amateur Championship will be played over 36-holes on Sunday 18 December and will incorporate the Victorian Men’s Champion of Champions title. The starting field will be limited to 84 male players who hold a GA Handicap of 5.4 strokes or less with a number of players exempt from ballot as indicated on the entry form. The entry fee is $80 including a light lunch.
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