Ken Brewer of Lynwood Country Club and Monash’s Jacqui Morgan have taken out the 2019 ACT-Monaro Seniors Golf Championship.
One hundred twenty senior golfers from across Australia descended on the National Capital last week for the three-day 54-hole event.
Although played in somewhat windy conditions, the enthusiasm of the competitors wasn’t affected and spectators got to witness some exceptional golf.
WINDSWEPT START
In gusty winds, Day one at Queanbeyan was a thriller.
Greg Harnwell (Kogarah GC) ended the day leading the men’s after an outstanding round of 70 by three-shots from Ross Brockman (Long Reef GC), with Ken Brewer and Mathew Doughty (Royal Sydney) both a shot back on 74.
In the women’s section, Jacqui Morgan carded an excellent 76 to establish a four-shot lead over Queanbeyan local Pauline Jeffery with victorian Heather Harley a further shot back.
Day Two at Gold Creek saw the winds arrive early and stay all day.
Despite the conditions, there was some excellent scoring.
Greg Harnwell managed to hold onto his lead with Ken Brewer moving into second place. A trio of golfers, Geoffrey Walker (Young GC NSW), Mathew Doughty (Royal Sydney) and Ross Bockman (Long Reef GC NSW) were locked in third place.
John Mihaljevic from Royal Canberra flew the ACT flag with pride, firing a very impressive one over par 74 in difficult conditions.
In the ladies’ event, Jacqui Morgan continued her solid form with a tidy 82 at Gold Creek to extend her lead to six over Pauline Jeffery.
An impressive second round 83 by Wendy Hergenhan of Bega saw her move into third place alongside Heather Harley and Wendy Hergenhan.
THRILLING FINISH
Federal Golf Club turned on the sunshine and thankfully lighter winds for the final day on Thursday.
Players arrived early for some sneaky putting practice and the driving range was getting a good work out before the shotgun start.
Greg Hanwell and Ken Brewer were neck and neck for most of the day, and so it remained at the end of the 18th, with a playoff for the champi0onship required.
Both players squared the first play-off hole, the 18th in regulation, so it was back to the tee for the third time. Maybe it was nerves, but this time the hole played a little harder, and neither player could get to the green in regulation.
A missed chip 3rd shot from Greg Hanwell allowed Ken Brewer to pitch his third to around 12 feet.
Greg’s fourth ran to the back of the green, and his return putt was left a couple of feet short.
While Ken Brewer’s par putt slid past the hole, he made no mistake with his bogey securing his victory.
The win is Brewer’s first ACT-Monaro title, and it also locks up a place in the 2020 NSW Senior Open at Thurgoona Country Club.
The ladies winner was six-time NSW Senior Amateur Champion Jacqui Morgan (Monash CC NSW).
Morgan was never headed in the final round, running out an impressive 12 shot winner from Newcastle’s Jill Blenkey.
Both Ken Brewer and Jacqui Morgan praised the DGA organising committee and commented on the standard of golf played by all during the week.
