Queensland going home with Gladys

BY iseekgolf.com | Australian Ladies Amateur Tour | 2007 Gladys Hay Memorial Cup Interstate Series | Wrap | 18 May 2007

Queensland has won the 2007 Women’s Interstate Teams Matches with a victory over fellow title contenders Western Australia on an exciting final day at Barwon Heads Golf Club.

Despite bleak and dreary conditions on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, the two teams put on a contest fitting of a championship decider.

Needing to win the day, to win the series, the West Australians started positively with a square and a win in the morning foursomes. Australian Amateur Foursomes Champions Rochelle Miles and Stacey Shanahan were held in check by Bree Arthur and Courtney Massey but Kristie Smith and Whitney Hillier managed a 3/2 victory over Cecilia Nha and Sheree Hasson to give their state the edge heading into the singles.

Queensland’s Katrina Jones put the contest back on level terms with a 1up victory over Shanahan which placed the pressure back on Western Australia. Hasson then stepped up to do her bit for the sunshine state, holding Hillier to a square and it all came down to Miles who needed to defeat Massey to keep her state in the hunt.

Sadly for Western Australia, Miles was only able to manage a half which was enough to hand Queensland the title. Nha then overcame Sharon Dawson to begin the Queensland celebrations and Bree Arthur completed the triumph, emphatically claiming the last two holes against her National Squad team mate, Kristie Smith to win her match 2up.

“I’m a little emotional actually,” said Queensland Manager Jo-Anne Atkin.

“We came down with no expectations and no pressure to perform and it’s a wonderful feeling to see the girls get up.”

Atkin praised the attitude of her players and their ability to function so well together.

“This week was definitely a team effort. We trusted everybody in their respective positions and then trusted them to go out and do the job.

“Western Australia was putting a bit of heat on in the morning but we stuck to our game plan and sent the same five players out and just told them to go out there and enjoy it.”

The win was Queensland’s first since 2002 when they claimed the title at Royal Adelaide.

Meanwhile New South Wales managed to steal second spot on the table with their clinical win over Tasmania. The Blues claimed both foursomes matches in convincing style before going on to claim all but one of the singles. Laurie Chew claimed the sole point for the Apple Isle, defeating National Squad member Frances Bondad 2/1.

Victoria defeated South Australia by two points in today’s other match. The teams split the foursomes before the home state took control in the singles with wins to Stacey Keating, Grace Lennon and Clare Choi. Kate Combes squared with Samantha Holt whilst Stephanie Na triumphed over Australian Amateur runner-up Emma Bennett 2up.

Gladys Hay’s nephew, Mr Peter Hay, was on hand to present the trophy to the triumphant Queensland team. The 94-year old is the longest serving member at Barwon Heads Golf Club having been on the books for 80 years.

Golf Australia thanked Barwon Heads Golf Club for giving up its beautiful course to stage the event. The club was incredible supportive in securing caddies for the girls. The gracious hospitality and immaculate course presentation contributed to an outstanding week of golf.

The Men’s Four Nations Cup gets underway on Wednesday, also at Barwon Heads Golf Club. The best amateur men from Australia, Japan, Canada and New Zealand are set to battle it out in what promises to be another exciting tournament.

Source – Golf Australia