/> Women's A1 Pennant Champions – The Grange GC
L-R Jin-Young Yun, Caitlin Roberts, Kristalle Blum, Belinda Singleton, Jean Foo, Cassidy Evreniadis, Ella Adams
The Grange has claimed its fifth Women’s A1 Pennant title and first flag since 2004 by defeating Glenelg 3.5 – 1.5.
The final was played at Kooyonga Golf Club in freezing conditions, with the top temperature for the day reaching only 12.2 degrees.
The players also faced gale-force winds and subsequent wind chill, the only reprieve being only a few light showers throughout the final.
Glenelg hit the score board first, with a solid win to former Tasmania State Player Sarah Crocker (nee Griffiths) 3&1 over Jean-Wei Foo at number five.
At number four for The Grange, Kristalle Blum started strongly to be 4up through nine holes against Josie Hodge and continued that form to win 5/3 to square the ledger.
In her match with Jill Hodge, Cassidy Evreniadis was also 4up through 9 holes and gained another point for The Grange going on to win 5&3, giving her side a 2-1 lead.
The top two matches were tight early. Caitlin Roberts and Glenelg’s Sophie James were square through 9 and at number one Ella Adams was 2up against Glenelg’s Elysia Yap giving her side a slight advantage.
With match two going the distance, it was the number one contest which was to be decided next.
After being dismantled at number two by Yap in the final last year 7&5, Adams reversed the result to win 4&3 showing how far the 16 year-old has improved in the past 12 months.
With Grange having claimed the three matches required to win the title, the number two contest still in progress between Caitlin Roberts and Sophie James, which was square on the 16th, ceased resulting in halves.
Glenelg just couldn’t cover the loss of state number one Jenny Lee (overseas) who has anchored the Glenelg team to each of their past three flags, winning 7&6 in the past two finals against Grange.
The final score today though, was a 3.5 – 1.5 win to The Grange, pleasing all the Grange supporters, who were out in force to support their team.
“The girls worked really hard and it’s been a long time coming, it’s been 11 years since Grange won the Ladies A1 Pennant and I’m really proud of all the girls, they played beautifully”, said Grange Team Manager Belinda Singleton.
Moving over to The Grange this season after winning four A1 titles with Royal Adelaide was Captain Caitlin Roberts.
“It’s just an amazing day, amazing”, said Roberts.
“Obviously it’s a bit disappointing that the boys didn’t quite get over the line, but definitely for the girls it’s been a long time coming and it’s great to step in to a new team and have a win in my first year here,” she said.
Video of Presentation Ceremony below: