Nature pulls rank

PLAYERS PREVAIL: Betty McKechnie, Yvonne Shirley and winner Maxine McGregor were not deterred by the rain last week at the Attamurra golf course.

WET conditions descended on the Attamurra golf course for the women’s club championships semi-finals, making play uncomfortable.

The A Grade players were first to hit off, with Jennifer Van Rijthoven continuing her good form against Helen Gregory.

Van Rijthoven was just in the lead at the halfway mark and held on to defeat Gregory 3/2.

Last year’s champion, Kerry Pedlar played a past champion, Faye Mainwaring with Pedlar the victor finishing 4/3.

This week will see Rijthoven attempt to win her first championship and Pedlar to make it a consecutive win.

Both players hit a long ball and will be a great spectacle to see.

In B Grade, big hitter and in-form player Anne Headlam defeated the experienced finalist Di O’Donnell 4/3 with the results not indicative of the match.

The remaining finalist, Janina Morrison, who has only been playing for about three years had a close match with Andrea Pegler.

Pegler succumbed on the 17th hole giving the match to Morrison 2/1.

The final between Headlam and Morrison will be an interesting match with both players having their strengths.

C Grade saw Donna Jennings play veteran Lois Harvey.

Jennings, who has had better days on the course, could not counteract Harvey’s straight game and Harvey finished 7/6.

Women’s president Mary Kentish played Heather Chapman and Kentish’s long game was too strong.

Harvey will play Kentish in what could be a close game for the C Grade championship.

Five D Grade players will contest a stableford round for the championship.

Those not playing in the finals had the opportunity to play a stableford round and only 10 decided to take on Mother Nature while others played cards.

Maxine McGregor claimed the winners’ voucher with 31 points from Yvonne Shirley on a count-back from Betty McKechnie, both with 30 points.

Jan Shanahan won the pro shot on the eighth hole.

Ion Saturday 23 women, including four from Portland, played a stableford round.

Sharran Waters, another promising player, recorded a win with 37 points, from runner-up Janina Morrison with 34.

The eight rundown winners needed 30 points or better to claim a ball.