Sydney’s Doey Choi has completed a remarkable feat, winning the Queensland Women’s Stroke Play and Queensland Women’s Amateur in the same week.
And 17-year-old Louis Dobbelaar is sure to celebrate his birthday in style tonight after winning the Queensland Men’s Amateur.
Choi, who also won the Queensland Stroke Play as a 14-year-old in 2014, adds her name to the prestigious trophy with the likes of Karrie Webb also completing the "double" in 1994.
New South Wales state representative Choi defeated No.7 seed Rhianna Lewis 4&3 in a stunning final match this afternoon after accounting for Victoria’s Alexandra Hilliard 4&3 earlier in the day at Gailes Golf Club.
“I played really solid this week and got the job done,” Choi said. “I’ve won the stroke play before so it’s pretty cool to do the double.”
Choi never trailed in any of her matches until a shaky start in the final saw the 18-year-old 2-down after 3 holes. Unable to convert early putts, Choi turned to her caddie for motivation.
“I felt really tired going down the first hole and made a bogey on the 3rd, and Rhianna made a birdie on the 2nd so I was 2-down.
“My caddie Josh gave me some food and made me feel a lot better. He was helping read my putts and I was putting really good then.”
Despite Lewis’ fighting spirit and consistency, Choi emerged victorious on the 16th hole to cap off a superb week.
Lewis, of Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast, defeated South Australia’s Charley Jacobs 4&2 earlier in the day to reach the final.
Louis Dobbelaar is sure to remember his 17th birthday as the day he engraved his name on the Queensland Men’s Amateur trophy, to match his Queensland Boys’ Amateur trophy from 2015.
The QAS athlete had a tight semi-final tussle with fellow Brisbane Golf Club member Lawry Flynn, who held the upper hand for most of the match.
However, it was Dobbelaar’s consistent ball striking that paid dividends.
“I was about 2-down all day to Lawry, I didn’t hole too many putts,” Dobbelaar said after his round.
“I kind of got lucky coming down the 18th and was fortunate to take the match into extra holes. To sneak a few in at the end was really nice and we both played well.”
After banking his spot in the final match, Dobbelaar faced Victoria’s Blake Collyer in a 2018 Interstate Series QLD v VIC rematch.
While Collyer was confident from his semi-final victory over good mate Will Heffernan, who later caddied for him, errors on the green led to missed opportunities to convert the match. After the Victorian made a double bogey on the 13th, Dobbelaar was sitting comfortably at 5-up.
A clutch birdie on the par-4 14th finalised the match 6&4.
Dobbelaar paid tribute to his friends and family who flocked to support the dual state title holder.
“I didn’t expect all my mates to be out here but it’s good to have a local event where I have a lot of support from my mates. Can’t wait for celebrations tonight.”
The 16 lowest scores from the Queensland Men's and Women's Stroke Play Championship, which were decided on Tuesday, qualified for the respective Amateur Championships, which were decided by matchplay.