Jessica Pickwick of Kilmore and Newry’s Janice Marchesi have taken home the silverware at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
Pickwick will need to make room in her trophy cabinet after adding her third Betty Kernot Trophy to the shelf this afternoon. The overnight leader from Kilmore hit the ground running with three birdies out of the gates on the Old Course to finish 2 under par on 34 through the turn. A further three birdies on the back was good for a one under par round of 72 to secure Pickwick the number one qualifying position for the Country Championship match-play and a 36-hole total of 145.
Hot on her heels was an old Tarlteon State collegiate teammate and the 2016 Country Champion, Casey Wild. The Wodonga member carded five birdies for a championship low score of 2 under par 71 to finish two shots back for the second qualifying position. Jane Wall (Barham), Johanna Wyllie (Tambo Valley), Jade Shellback (The National), Deborah Rix (Cobden) and Steffi Vogel (Cobram Barooga) rounded out the 3rd to 7th places for the match-play rounds tomorrow.
A play-off was required for two players tying for the 8th and final position of the Championship following the unavailability of qualifiers Jo Flaherty and Judy Langford for the match play rounds. Foursomes partners Helen Pascoe (Buninyong) and Rebecca Thomas (Leongatha) tied on 165, forcing the clubs out of the accommodation and back on course for a sudden death play-off. Both players started strong with birdies to halve on the first hole and pars on the second forced play to continue up hole 3. A pin-seeking iron shot in from 160m from Pascoe gave her an eagle opportunity, with a tap in birdie good for a win over Thomas and a match-up against the number one seed in the morning.
The best nett score for the two days in the Championship field went to Johanna Wyllie. The leftie from Tambo Valley has showed solid form, backing up her nett 73 yesterday with a round best of nett 70 to finish two under nett par on 143. Jenny Chandler of Cardinia Beaconhills finished close in second place by a mere shot, with rounds of 73 and 71 today for a 36-hole nett score of 144.
Janice Marchesi of Newry has won her first Glenelg Cup title over on the challenging West Course. The 30 marker carded rounds of nett 78 and 75 for a 36-hole total of nett 153 to etch her name on the coveted trophy. Marchesi was thrilled with her victory today following close calls with a runner-up finish in 2012 at Rich River and sitting in the overnight lead after round one last year, also at Rich River. Finishing in second place on a count-back was district neighbour Sue Marsden. The Maffra member posted nett scores of 77 and 79 off a handicap of 19 for a nett 156, with her 79 today edging out Rich River members Marg Mould and Lesley Gray. Marsden also recorded the best gross total, with scores of 96 and 98 for a total of 194 to win by one shot from Helen Amott of Warragul on 195.
Golf Victoria wishes to extend our sincerest thanks to the Cobram Barooga Golf Club, in particular the staff members, women’s committee members and volunteers who have worked tirelessly around the clock providing first class service to all players in a friendly and welcoming environment.
The match play rounds of the Country Championship will all be contest on the Old Course, starting from 8am tomorrow morning with the semi-finals in the afternoon and 18 hole final on Friday morning.
Click here for full results, photos & match play draw.