Friday 1 December – Final
Spring Valley’s Greg Ebinger and Erica Kreymborg have won the 2017 Sir Dallas Brooks Trophy.
The pair defeated The National’s Jason Johnson and Stephanie Wearne from Victoria on the 19th in a close and exciting final played at the superbly presented Metropolitan Golf Club on Friday 1 December.
After hot and humid conditions greeted the players for the first three days, the final was played in wet and overcast weather with the Kreymborg and Ebinger duo receiving two stokes.
In a highly decorated 184-game AFL career, which included being a member of the 2000 Essendon premiership side, a two-time Essendon best and fairest winner and all-Australian honours in 2001, Johnson was no stranger to the pressure associated with playing for a title. However the 2 marker who’s been playing golf more exclusively since retirement, thoroughly enjoyed the week speaking of how great of an event the Sir Dallas Brooks is.
The pairs could not be split after 9 with each team struggling to gain a significant advantage in the trying conditions. Despite losing the 10th, Johnson and Wearne would win the next two holes thanks to two superb iron shots from Wearne on both 11 and 12. The enthralling contest continued as the 13th was squared before the Spring Valley pair would take the momentum winning three straight holes. Facing a dormie situation Johnson and Wearne would rise again winning both 17 and 18 after two high pressure putts from Wearne in front of a few brave followers. The teams would head down the 19th determined to find a winner. After Wearne and Kreymborg both found the fairway the men would step up to play their approach shots. Ebinger would produce the shot of the day coming within two feet. Unable to get up and down would result in victory to the Spring Valley pairing.
Having recently won the Spring Valley Mixed Foursomes Championship, Ebinger and Kreymborg decided to maintain the combination at Victoria’s biggest mixed event. The final victory also capped off an amazing week for Kreymborg having holed in one at Metropolitan’s 13th hole in Wednesday’s opening round of matches.
The Spring Valley pair commended their opponents on the fighting spirit they showed in the final holes. The pair had never played in the event before and are already looking forward to defending their title next year. Kreymborg was extremely complimentary of Ebinger’s play on the final day in the difficult conditions, producing some wonderful shots under pressure.
Click here for full results and photos for the week.