Monash Country Club’s Jacqui Morgan has collected a record fourth straight NSW Women’s Senior Amateur Championship after a thrilling final against her National Representative team mate, Kim Burke, at Mudgee Golf Club.
The final was the third time in six months that Morgan, the defending Champion and reigning Australian Senior Women’s Amateur Champ, and Burke, the recently crowned New Zealand Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, have faced-off in a match-play contest.
Despite the players struggling a little with the pace of the greens due to the heavy overnight rain, It was Burke who coped better, jumping out an early three-hole lead after five and looking in complete control until Morgan made a move with a birdie on the 6th.
“I chipped in, that got me going,” Morgan said.
The Monash Country Club legend won another couple of holes in quick succession, and suddenly, the pair were back to all-square walking to the 10th tee. Burke appeared to regain control of the match by winning a couple of holes early on the back nine and be on her way to victory. Morgan wasn’t finished, and after the wins on the 14th and 16th the match was once again anyone’s for the taking.
The pair couldn't be separated after 18 holes, and after six sudden-death holes, Morgan finally retained her Crown with a par on the 24th.
“It was tough, I’ll tell you," she laughed.
”The spectators were all saying they didn't care who won, they simply wanted to get back to the clubhouse.”
“I thought we were going to be out there forever.”
After the victory, Morgan praised her Australian team-mate, Burke.
“Kim is a great player."
“It’s ironic; she wins one, I win one. In New Zealand, she beat me in the semi-final on the 19th hole. All of our matches are close,” she said.
Morgan almost passed up the chance to defend her NSW crown after she was selected to be part of a National Senior selection to take on a team from the Australian Defence Force at the National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula last weekend. As luck would have it, the event had to be rescheduled.
“I was lucky with the timing. It was supposed to be last weekend and I was going to play that instead of the NSW Senior; it’s representing Australia, and we don’t get the chance that often."
“The Defence Force had to move the date, which meant I got to play in both, which is great."
“Luck’s a fortune. Sometimes in this game, you make the right call, and it works out,” Morgan smiled.
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