Short course up and running

TOP PLACINGS: Division 2 second place Lucy Richards, third Carol Melhuish and winner Shannon McDonnell, with Division 1 third place Bev Pascoe, second Helen Myers and winner Cherryl Hill.

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WITH the winter season still a couple of weeks away, the running of the first of five rounds of the winter 18-hole short course competition had an early start last week at the Blue Lake Golf Course.

The day saw 27 women take advantage of the mild conditions with some trepidation, as there are challenges to playing the short course with a change of perspective to the normal format.

The short course was first trialled at the Blue Lake club in 2019 and is now entrenched in the program.

Reduced handicaps are set by golflink.

In Division 1 Cherryl Hill had no trouble adapting to the shortened course, finishing with nett 64 off a 12 handicap with six par’s featuring on her card.

Second on the podium was captain Helen Myers carding nett 66, also off a 12 handicap, which included five par’s.

Third place went to the ever-consistent Bev Pascoe with nett 67 off an 18 handicap.

In Division 2 an excited Shannon McDonnell claimed her first competition win, with nett 66 off a 29 handicap to break under the 100 with 95 gross.

A count-back was required to separate Lucy Richards and Carol Melhuish, with the former taking second place.

Richards’ nett 67 off a 21 handicap and five par’s had the wood on Melhuish, with a better back nine score.

Melhuish with her 27 handicap was happy to take third prize.

Nearest to pin on the 16th hole went to Josie Ashby in Division 1 and Lesley McPherson in Division 2.

The pro-shot on the par three fifth hole went to Ashby.