Victorian Amateur Championship
2011 Results
Final - Match Play
2011 was a special year for the Victorian Amateur Championship as for the first time in the history of the men's and women's Championships the event was concurrent, producing many exciting days of golf. In the women's side Charlotte Thomas, who made her way all the way from Singapore to compete in a few summer events in Australia, certainly had a fantastic start by winning this tournament! Charlotte was born in England and started playing golf 7 years ago at the tender age of eleven. 2011 has been a positive year in her amateur career as she also won the Anika Sorenstam Invitational at Mission Hills in China back in September.
In today's match Charlotte played steadily for the first 18 holes trying only to hit fairways and greens while some of Whitney's tee shots let her down in the morning. The second 18 holes offered a much tougher challenge for Charlotte as Whitney rallied and put pressure on her with many birdie putts. Whitney in fact was 4 under the card for those first 9 holes reducing her loses to only 3 down with 10 holes to go. Charlotte, however, concentrated on hitting one shot at a time and remained calm until the last hole when she sank the 2 footer that gave her the victory. Once again this was a great effort by both players!
The men's final was won by Nathan Holman from Woodlands Golf Club who played fantastic golf claiming the title convincingly over Troy Moses from Glenelg Golf Club to win 9/7. Congratulations to all players who played the matches in the right spirit. Thank you to Cranbourne, Commonwealth and Kingston Heath for welcoming this championship to their clubs and for presenting their courses in immaculate condition. Thank you to all the volunteers and rules officials for giving their time so generously to run this tournament in a professional manner.
Nathan Holman & Charlotte Thomas - Victorian Amateur Champions
Quarter & Semi Finals - Match Play
The quarter finals began in windy conditions early in the morning at Commonwealth GC. After the morning matches there were only a few Victorians left with W. Hillier defeating G. Lennon (Heidelberg GC) on the 19th hole, Qeenslander E. Davis-Graham (Redcliffe GC) defeting J. Charlon (Metropolitan) and Charlotte Thomas (Singapore Island GC) defeating B. Elliot (Yarrawonga GC). L. Park (Kingswood GC) was the only state representative to continue to the semifinals after defeating M. Strauss (Long Island GC). However, Whitney Hillier maintained her good form in the afternoon to defeat L. Park on the 18 hole while Charlotte Thomas managed to win her match against Ellen Davis-Graham much earlier winning her match 4/3, to guarantee them both a spot in the championship final tomorrow.
Round 1 - Match Play
Even though Bree Elliot, a Kingston Heath GC member qualified in 14th position she showed she knows her course well and was too strong for young Rio Watanabe (Yarra Yarra GC) the # 3 qualifier, defeating her 3/1. Another great result came from Jo Charlton (Metropolitan GC) who playing excellent golf defeated Minjee Lee (Freemantle GC), the current #1 Australian amateur. Match play continues tomorrow morning also with the Men's Victorian Amateur playing their quarter finals at the prestigious Commonwealth GC. Well done to all the players on their wins and the best of luck for the quarter finals.
Day 2
Windy, hot conditions made scoring interesting for competitors in the second qualifying round of the Victorian Amateur. Elissa Orr, however, continued her strong performance and backed up her first round with another 70 gross – this was just one shot more than her first round and gave her a 139 total. These scores gave Elissa the leading qualifying position 2 shots clear of her closest rival, Ellen Davis-Graham from Redcliffe GC. The waiting was agonising for other players hopeful of reaching the top 16. However, with such a strong field the cut came at 150 gross (6 over par) and some good players just missed out.
The tournament ran very smoothly thanks to the players' exemplary pace of play, the cooperation of the volunteers and rules officials and the excellent condition in which the golf course was presented. Thank you to Cranbourne Golf Club and its entire staff for hosting the championship qualifying rounds.
Next week, the match play component of this event will move to Kingston Heath and Commonwealth Golf Clubs where, for the first time, women and men will be playing on the same courses for their respective titles. Good luck to all the qualifiers and let's hope the weather is as good as we have had it for the last two days.
Click here to see full results
Day 1
Click here to see full results
About
The Amateur Championship of Victoria is the most prestigious tournament on the Victorian women's golf calendar. The event was first played in 1894 and won by Eveline McKenzie. Eveline was also the state champion in 1895, 1896 and 1898.
Up to, and including 1889, this competition also carried with it the Championship of Australia. But on the formation of the Australian Golf Union, the two events became separate from that date.
The Amateur Championship of Victoria is open to amateur players at an affiliated club who hold a Golf Australia handicap not exceeding ten.
The format consists of two 18 hole qualifying stroke rounds where the top sixteen qualify for matchplay. The next eight players will qualify for the Championship Flight.
Two rounds of matchplay and a semi final will take place before the final two players are left to battle out the title in a 36 hole matchplay final.
Victorian Foursomes Championship
On the Sunday prior to the Victorian Amateur Championship the Victorian Amateur Foursomes Championship is played. This event is contested over 36 holes strokeplay. The maximum combined handicap for competitors is 24 at the date of entry.
To view a full list of past Victorian Foursomes Champions click here.
Victorian Salver
The Victorian Silver Salver is played on the Monday and Tuesday of the Victorian Amateur Championship. This event is open to women with Golf Australia handicaps of 11 to 20 inclusive. The Salver is traditionally held across two courses where players will play 18 holes at each of the courses.
To view a full list of past Victorian Salver Champions click here.
Newton Lees Challenge Bowl
The Newton Lees Challenge Bowl is a 36 hole stroke handicap event played in conjunction with the Victorian Amateur Championship and the Victorian Salver against the course ratings of the courses concerned. The Newton Lees Challenge Bowl will be awarded to the winner with the best nett score over the two qualifying rounds. The Newton Lees Challenge Bowl was donated by Mrs. Newton Lees and first played for in 1926.
To view a full list of past Newton Lees Challenge Bowl Champions click here.
Senior Women's Cup
The player with the best 36 holes nett score in the Victorian Amateur Championship qualifying rounds will hold the Senior Women's Cup. The Senior Women's Cup was donated by the Senior Women Golfers Association of Victoria. The association between the Victorian Ladies Golf Union and The Senior Women Golfers Association was first formed in 1963. The cup was first played for in 1967.
To view a full list of past Senior Women's Cup Champions click here.
Coronation Spoon
The player with the best 36 holes gross score in the Victorian Amateur Championship qualifying rounds will hold the Coronation Spoon. The spoon was donated by Miss B.H. Hale, past Secretary of the Victorian Ladies Golf Union and was first played for in 1954. The spoon was given in appreciation of food parcels sent to England by the Victorian Ladies Golf Union during the second world war.
To view a full list of past Coronation Spoon Champions click here.
Past Results
To view a full list of past Victorian Amateur Champions click here.
