MFS Australian Women&aposs Senior Championship The 21st MFS Australian Women&aposs Senior Amateur Championship lived up to expectations with a dramatic conclusion to the event at the challenging Glenelg Golf Club in South Australia. Following the 36-holes stroke play, the Final came down to a thriller between New South Wales players Sylvia Donohoe and Deirdre Brander. Three-time winner Donohoe qualified in second position before defeating Phyllis Fourte in the first round and followed that with a win over another three-time winner, Fay Payne in the quarter-final. She then matched up against local Cathy Payne in the semi-final and advanced to the final with a 5&4 victory. Brander had a relatively smooth path to the final after qualifying in fourth position. Her matches up to the Final included victories over Sue Ceeney, Judy Kruger and Gia Stolz. Brander took an early lead in the Final to be 3up through six holes before going 2up at the halfway mark. Brander continued on her way by winning the 10th hole, before Donohoe fought back strongly to win holes 11, 12 and 14, to get back on terms. The match was all square going down the par five 18th hole. Both players found themselves in similar positions for their second shot with Donohoe hitting her approach to 12 feet. Brander pulled her third shot left and then her chip to eight feet. Donohoe two-putted which required Brander to hole her putt to keep the match alive. With a tense crowd watching from the sideline, Brander&aposs putt lipped out to give Donohoe her fourth title. Donohoe had played Glenelg many years ago, however the redesign in the last few years tested the players all week. Each day proved a different task with the change in wind directions and with her faithful caddie on the bag for the week, Donohoe was thrilled with her win but agreed some of her shots were a little shabby. Last year&aposs winner, Wendy O Connell from Queensland was the leading qualifier after returning a score of 79 in testing conditions during the second qualifying round, but was knocked out in the quarter finals by Gia Stolz in a fantastic match which finished on the 18th hole. In the Championship Flight Matches, the New-Age Flight for players aged 55-59 was fought out by fellow territorians, Chris Taylor and Lorraine Arnaudon from the ACT. Following the 36 holes qualifying, Taylor qualified number one and took on Arnaudon as the number three qualifier in the final after both had tough semi-finals matches which went to the 18th hole. In the end, Taylor prevailed 5&4, in what was a competitive but friendly final. The Veterans Flight, for those players aged 60-64, was another same-state battle between Janet Brooks and Carmel Smith, both from the Sunshine State. Janet just scraped into the flight, qualifying in eighth position, but knocked off the leading qualifier in the first round. Both players had reasonably easy first round matches, however it took Janet until the 20th hole to win her semi-final match, while Carmel cruised into the final with a 6 and 4 victory in her semi-final. Carmel s great form continued on the last day, when she defeated Janet 7 and 6 in the final. The Super-Veterans Flight was hotly contested with the number two and four qualifiers meeting in the final after both reached the last day relatively stress free from their preceding matches. Jill Larritt from Western Australia took an early 2up lead after four holes, however Jane Donohue from Tasmania clawed her way back to have the match all square after 13 holes. Larritt then recovered to win 2&1 to take the title. Click here to view the 2007 MFS Australian Women&aposs Senior Amateur Championship match play results MFS Australian Women&aposs Mid Amateur Championship At the inaugural MFS Australian Women&aposs Mid Amateur Championship, the 54-holes stroke play event went down to the wire. With a quality field of past State Representatives and State Amateur Champions, the event was always sure to live up to expectations. Julie Swanson from Newcastle Golf Club, New South Wales, held a one stroke lead over Kim Burke, also from NSW going into the final round after scores of 81 and 76. In extremely tough final day conditions, Swanson and local hope, Christine Trimmer, were all tied up with three holes to play. However Trimmer faltered at the final hurdle to give Swanson the title by three strokes. On her home course, Trimmer held on to finish in second place, with scores of 81, 78 and 82. Kim Burke took third place, one shot behind. As a former NSW Amateur Champion, and a two-time NSW State Team Member, Swanson had experience on her side and was thrilled with her title. “Once the exhaustion subsides and my feet recover, I will be able to enjoy the win,” she said. It was a great effort by Swanson, who has only returned to golf in the last three months after recovering from a back injury. With her partner Frank Lovkovic on her bag for the three days, the champ tamed the golf course and is looking forward to returning when the 2008 Australian Women’s Stroke Play Championship is to be played at Glenelg in April next year. Click here to view results