Hawks Nest Ladies Golf

TWO Championship events for 2025 were decided last week in the ladies fixtures, with the finals of the individual Matchplay competition and the second round of the Foursomes.

After a long and rain-delayed series of knockout rounds, the Matchplay Championship came down to the final playoff between Deb Gardner and Kathy Griffiths. Thankfully the weather had improved, and conditions were great for the Monday matchup which saw the ladies battle it out for the honours. And it was Deb Gardner who won on the 13^th hole, becoming our 2025 Hawks Nest Ladies Matchplay Champion. As well as scrambling her way out of trouble a few times, Deb played some beautiful golf to overcome runner up, Kathy. While Deb said she didn’t necessarily feel confident going into the match, she just played steadily against a good opponent and took her opportunities as they came up.

The final of the Matchplay Plate was decided between Carolyn Affleck and Sue Hair. Despite being unwell, Carolyn played her trademark consistent golf to claim the 2025 Matchplay Plate title.

Sue held on gamely until the 15th, squaring many holes, but felt she was not able to match her opponent’s great putting around the greens.

Congratulations to our Championship Winners and Runners Up for 2025, and thankyou to everyone whose participation helped create such depth in these competitions. Well played!

The Tuesday ladies event was Round 2 of the Foursomes Championship, and 48 hardy souls came back to play the second and deciding leg on an icy cold morning. Many who played found the conditions challenging again, though there were some good individual plays that boosted team scores. Sue Kovacs hit a beautiful approach shot from 70 metres out, converted by the team with a close putt for birdie on the 7^th hole; and Judy Benson chipped in from 40 metres out on the 14^th for a team par. Others weren’t so lucky, with one team on the 13^th doing well to get close with their 4^th shot, only to hit trouble in a bunker taking another 5 shots to get out. Another unnamed pair finished the 18^th in fits of laughter with a score of 13, after putting a couple of balls into the dam, then the rough, and more rough – anywhere but the hole. There’s probably a grumpy cat meme somewhere with the caption: “Should have stayed in bed!”

Results: Tuesday 17/5/25

Ladies Foursomes 18 Holes

Daily Winners: 1^st Kathy Griffiths & Sue Kovacs on 70.5; 2^nd Robyn Keegan & Judy Benson 73.5; 3^rd Angela Clipperton & Denise Sainty 74

Runners Up (76.5-78 C/B): Di Bott & Jo Scott, Di Smith & Tanya Sinclair, Sue Fordy & Pauline Barham, Jan Olsen & Trish Sattler, June Biddle & Dawn Wiggins

The 2025 Foursomes Gross Champions were Angela Clipperton and Denise Sainty, well clear of Runners Up Jo Buttrey and Carolyn Affleck. The 2025 Foursomes Nett Champions were Jo Scott and Di Bott with a great winning score of 149, with Robyn Keegan and Judy Benson the Runners Up just 2 shots behind. Congratulations ladies – well played!

Tuesday Lady Vets 9 Holes

There were 9 Lady Vets who braved the chill in the short game today, with some good scores carded. Jeanette Kemp was at her reliable best with an excellent 15, taking the win from Robyn West just 2 shots back.

Results: Tuesday 17/6/25

Winners: 1^st Jeanette Kemp on 15; 2^nd Robyn West 13; 3^rd Ann Browning 12; 4^th Marie Pegram 10

Another excellent field of 51 keen players turned out for Thursday’s Lady Vets 9 Hole event in very chilly conditions. Lorraine Bragg and Jo Scott topped the nett scores with 34, and there was a slew of very notable chip ins from Robyn West on the 13^th, Jeanette Kemp 6^th, Maureen Ward 6^th and Pauline Barham 18^th. Robyn’s was a great 15 metre putt from off the green straight into the hole, while the others were all putts from 8 to 10 metres off the putting surface. Clever!

Results: Thursday 19/6/25

Lady Vets 9 Hole Event

Winners: 1^st Janet Moore on -3; 2^nd Jeanette Kemp 2 C/B; 3^rd Jo Buttrey 2 C/B; 4^th Sue Kovacs 2 C/B; 5^th Robyn Deppi 2

NTP Hole 3 : Division 1 Liz Ross

NTP Hole 16: Division 1 June Biddle; Division 2 Jo Scott; Division 3 Donna Gorton

Kudos to all of our ladies who participated in this week’s matches in such bracing winter weather. Well played!

By Dianne BOWES