Kirri and Jay-ar crowned Club Champions
Kirri Davis and Jay-ar Martin have taken out the Ladies and Men’s Club Championships for 2023 at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club.
With cold and wet conditions facing players in the final round, both winners produced outstanding golf to outlast the field and take the title in tight finishes.
Davis, a previous winner in 1994 and 1996, began the final round on the Lake Course one shot behind 2021 champion Judy Kruger. Both players halved the front nine, with matching birdies on the 7th and 9th holes.
With both players pulling off some sensational shots, it was Davis that surged to the front after the turn with a magnificent birdie on the tough Par-3 12th. And after a nervous moment and double bogey on 17, Davis calmly finished with a tap-in par on the final hole, two shots clear of Kruger, to take home her third Club Championship title.
On the Murray Course, Martin started the day three shots behind overnight leader Tyler Sprunt. A level-headed and consistent ball-striker, Sprunt’s lead pushed out to five through the 8th hole, before Martin snatched back the momentum with a brilliant birdie on the Par-5 9th, making the turn just four back.
With a tight approach on 12, Martin’s birdie coincided with a string of three bogeys for Sprunt, bringing the scores all square before a sloppy bogey for Martin on the Par-5 16th had him one shot back as the players moved to the 18th.
With both players in the fairway and just short irons into the final green, it was Martin who produced a shot to remember – landing his approach within inches of the cup and leaving an easy tap-in birdie to tie the lead through 72-holes.
The Championship moved to a three-hole playoff, with Sprunt and Martin heading back out to play the 1st, 17th and 18th to decide the winner.
Starting with matching bogeys on the first hole, the playoff was all but sealed on the tough uphill Par-3 17th with Sprunt leaving his approach agonisingly short – his ball rolling back down the false front and forcing an unfortunate double bogey.
After a solid par, par finish to the play-off, Martin sealed the Men’s Championship for a record 13th time.
A big congratulations to all the players that competed in this year’s event and to all Nett and Gross winners across each of the different grades.
Ladies 2023 Club Championships – Results
D Grade Nett Winner – Carolyn Boston 224, R/up – Barbara Hopkins 233
C Grade Nett Winner – Carol Tytler 229, R/up – Jan Hemphill 231
B Grade Nett Winner – Sharyn Wilson 224, R/up – Kay Clarke 230
A Grade Nett Winner – Nola Crothers 227, R/up – Helen Archer 229
Vets Nett Winner – Nola Crothers 227
Vets Gross Winner – Nola Crothers 272
Super Vets Nett Winner – Carol Tytler 229
Super Vets Gross Winner – Judy Kruger 253
OBE’s Nett Winner – Carolyn Boston 224
OBE’s Gross Winner – Heather Baxter 303
Palframan Winner – Sharyn Wilson 225, R/up – Carolyn Boston 226
D Grade Champion – Judi Lawrance 333, R/up – Barbara Hopkins 338
C Grade Champion – Janice Hemphill 321 (Playoff), R/up – Gloria Roome 321
B Grade Champion – Carol McDonald 298, R/up – Sharyn Wilson 299
Ladies Club Champion – Kirri Davis 251, R/up – Judy Kruger 253
Men’s 2023 Club Championships – Results
C Grade Nett Winner – Ken Parker 296, R/up – Ben Bonwick 303
B Grade Nett Winner – Greg Schinck 303, R/up – Russell Elliott 307
A Grade Nett Winner – David Crossley 301, R/up – Tyler Sprunt 304
Vets Nett Winner – Ken Parker 296, R/up – Greg Schinck 303
Vets Gross Winner – Stephen Campion 330, R/up – Brendon Hennessy 342
Super Vets Nett Winner – Phil Smith 312, R/up – Kerry Parker 314
Super Vets Gross Winner – Des Roome 345, R/up – Kerry Parker 346
Cliff Vagg Winner – Ken Parker 296, R/up – Tyler Sprunt 301
C Grade Champion – Ken Parker 352, R/up – Ben Bonwick 359
B Grade Champion – Kerry Parker 346, R/up – Keith Watts 355
Men’s Club Champion – Jay-Ar Martin 300 (Playoff), R/up – Tyler Sprunt 300