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Alberni's Little successfully defends senior women's golf title

Jackie Little of Port Alberni has defended her senior women's golf title, winning the BC championship by one stroke.
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Jackie Little

VICTORIA—A pair of past British Columbia Golf Senior and Super Senior Champions in Port Alberni's Jackie Little and Victoria's Alison Murdoch successfully defended their respective titles today at Highland Pacific Golf.

Little, the defending 2011 Senior Women's champion, successfully navigated her way around the demanding par-72 5,643 yard Highland Pacific Golf course to retain her overall title by a single stroke over the eventual runner-up and Super Senior division champion Murdoch.

On a day that could be considered 'perfect for golf', it was as if the wind that tortured the competitors during the first two rounds of competition stayed in bed, clearing the way for blue sky's and gorgeous sunshine.

Little, a British Columbia Golf Zone 6 player admittedly struggled during the final round on fairways and greens that demanded accuracy and a delicate touch. After an outward half that saw her make three bogeys and six pars, Little bogeyed four more on her way in to post a seven-over par 79, 232 total (75-78-79-232).

"Today was a bit of a struggle. I really didn't hit the ball all that bad but I just couldn't get a feel for the greens and my weight on my up-and-downs was a bit off," mentioned Little. "However, the course was absolutely beautiful. The greens were perfect to play on and I just didn't make my scores out there."

"I knew Alison was closing the gap so I kept telling myself to stay cool and calm and the Championship would happen for me. I was able to pull of the victory and I am happy about that."

Murdoch made a valiant effort to come back from five strokes starting the day, stringing together an impressive 10-straight pars on her final 10 holes to post a 233 total (77-81-75) and make things interesting. It was Little who closed with a bogey-5 on the difficult par-4 385 yard 18th hole to bring the final lead to a single stroke, tapping in for the victory and leaving Murdoch wondering what if.

When asked about her day and final score, Murdoch laughed off the prediction she made following round two.

"I said yesterday that I had to shoot somewhere in the mid-seventies and have Jackie give a couple back. I got some help from Jackie and if I would have only shot on the other side of the mid-seventies, 74, we would have finished tied."

"I was really happy with how I hit the ball today. To have only three bogeys, no doubles and the rest pars, I think I did very well," said Murdoch. "I am extremely happy to be the Super Senior champion for the third year in a row and am generally happy there is an event that I can look forward to playing every year."

Finishing third in the overall Championship behind Little and Murdoch by way of a one hole sudden-death playoff was Lynda Palahniuk of Kelowna. Palahniuk, who went into the day sitting in solo third, took a costly triple-bogey eight in regulation play on the par-5 421-yard 13th hole after losing her tee shot, only to hit her second ball into the hazard. She was able to hang on and post a six-over par 78 third round, en route to a 238 total (81-79-78-238).

Tied at that overall total was North Saanich's Penny Baziuk, who pieced today a five-over par 77 final day, 238 total (79-82-77-238).

In the sudden-death playoff that saw the players go back to the 18th, Baziuk missed the green with her approach shot and Palahniuk was just off the side in the fringe. Baziuk played a nice wedge shot only to have it trickle off the side of the green leaving her with a tricky 10-footer to save par. She was unable to do that, posting a bogey five.

With the door wide open for the 3rd place victory and Team BC spot for nationals, Palahniuk nestled her first shot to within three feet and made the putt for par.

The top three competitors from the Senior Women's Championship at Highland Pacific Golf earn the right to compete on Team BC at the 2012 Royale Cup Canadian Women's Senior Championship at the Belvedere Golf Club in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on Aug. 21-23.

Not knowing her availability for Team BC due to a pending shoulder surgery, Little was very optimistic about the teams chances heading into PEI.

"Team BC is going to do fantastic, with or without me. All of our players, especially Alison and Lynda, have great golf resumes and I know will be successful. I do unfortunately have surgery this coming week so I will know after that if I will be able to compete on the team."

Echoing this optimism was Murdoch when saying "British Columbia always has a strong team. We are right up there as the best with two other provinces, especially with the four ladies who have a shot at making this team. I know we will do well."

In the Super Senior division, following Murdoch and Palahniuk on the podium was Calgary's Diana Williams, compliments of her steady three round 246 total (81-84-81-246). Williams narrowly edged out past champion Holly Horwood of Vancouver by a single stroke in the division.

The format for the Senior Women's Championship is a 54-hole stroke play competition between women aged 50 and over as of the first day of competition. All players challenge for the overall title and golfers aged 60+ are classified in the Super Senior division.

** Due to an error in official scoring, a correction to the gross Club Championship standings now has the team of Penny Baziuk and Victoria's Georgina Hermans, representing Cordova Bay Golf Club, declared the winners with a two round combined total of 328 (163-165-328).**

 

1. Jackie Little, Port Alberni, BC, *75-78-79-232 +16

2. Alison Murdoch, Victoria, BC, *77-81-75-233 +17

3. Penny Baziuk, North Saanich. BC, *79-82-77-238 +22

3. Lynda Palahniuk, Kelowna, BC, *81-79-78-238 +22

5. Karen Pultz, Surrey, BC, *81-81-78-240 +24

6. Diane Williams, Calgary, AB, *81-84-81-246 +30

6. Georgina Hermans, Nanaimo, BC, *84-83-79-246 +30

6. Phyllis Laschuk, Vancouver, BC, *83-80-83-246 +30

9. Holly Horwood, Vancouver, BC, *81-82-84-247 +31

9. Denise O'Connor, North Vancouver, BC, *83-81-83-247 +31

11. Margaret Kavanagh, Victoria, BC, *82-81-85-248 +32

12. Nancy Chow, Richmond, BC, *84-89-78-251 +35

12. Donna Doucett, Parksville, BC, *87-82-82-251 +35

14. Vicki Potter, White Rock, BC, *87-86-80-253 +37

15. Sally Dobler, Qualicum Beach, BC, *88-85-81-254 +38

15. Korianne Tylor, Vancouver, BC, *82-87-85-254 +38

15. Elaine Blatchford, Surrey, BC, *79-87-88-254 +38

18. Val Westell, Coquitlam, *86-87-82-255 +39

19. Claire Mitton, Calgary, AB, *91-82-85-258 +42

20. Colleen Wheatley, Shawnigan Lake, BC, *82-93-85-260 +44

21. Shawne Munro, Parksville, BC, *92-86-84-262 +46

21. Medissa Morrow, Qualicum Beach, BC, *89-87-86-262 +46

23. Cindy Beaudet, Calgary, AB, *93-85-86-264 +48

24. Carin Gallie, Victoria, BC, *92-86-87-265 +49

25. Diana Maughan, Vancouver, BC, *98-90-78-266 +50

25. Jenny Steel, Comox, BC, *92-89-85-266 +50

27. Mary Feenan, Surrey, BC, *89-93-85-267 +51

27. Kathryn McGarvey, North Vancouver, *91-88-88-267 +51

29. Cherie Baker, Creston, BC, *91-92-86-269 +53

29. Cheryl Meadmore, Victoria, BC, *88-92-89-269 +53

29. Janet Ruest, Cobble Hill, BC, *93-86-90-269 +53

29. Carol Lett, Victoria, BC, *87-87-95-269 +53

29. Becky Nelson, Vancouver, BC, *85-88-96-269 +53

34. Sharon Zarowny, Surrey, BC, *92-85-93-270 +54

34. Susan Ovans, Victoria, BC, *88-85-97-270 +54

36. Ava Broderick, Calgary, AB, *93-90-88-271 +55

36. Roma Crispin, Balfour, BC, *92-90-89-271 +55

36. Dee Horie, Courtenay, BC, *88-93-90-271 +55

39. Anita Pendergast, Prince George, BC, *97-90-89-276 +60

40. Joan Hinkey, Nanaimo, BC, *94-93-90-277 +61

41. Ruth Blasner, Victoria, BC, *90-94-94-278 +62

41. Diane Rands, Victoria, BC, *93-91-94-278 +62

43. Brenda Samis, Vernon, BC, *95-92-93-280 +64

44. Jean Wilmshurst, Victoria, BC, *99-95-87-281 +65

44. Ginny Storey, Victoria, BC, *91-96-94-281 +65

46. Suzanne Del Casino, Campbell River, BC, *95-93-94-282 +66

47. Judy Rollick, Victoria, BC, *92-96-96-284 +68

48. Shelley Burns, North Vancouver, BC, *97-98-91-286 +70

49. Deb Hutchinson, Campbell River, BC, *97-99-93-289 +73

50. Sheila van Gisbergen, Courtenay, BC, *99-98-94-291 +75

51. Carol Strachan, Campbell River, BC, *97-102-94-293 +77

51. Julia Free, Campbell River, BC, *95-95-103-293 +77

51. Lenore Davis, Victoria, BC, *89-94-110-293 +77

54. Janice Lazzarin, Prince George, BC, *101-100-94-295 +79

55. Lee Ashby, Sidney, BC, *98-105-93-296 +80

55. Cindy Brown, Victoria, BC, *98-104-94-296 +80

55. Colleen Pierlot, Qualicum Beach, BC, *99-98-99-296 +80

58. Judy deSain, Parksville, BC, *103-101-93-297 +81

58. Judy Pouliot, Courtenay, BC, *108-95-94-297 +81

60. Lori Bulmer, Victoria, BC, *109-95-97-301 +85

61. Jeanie Hopps, Victoria, BC, *103-104-99-306 +90

62. Nel Bing, Victoria, BC, *110-100-99-309 +93

63. Rita Clarkson, Vancouver, BC, *102-115-106-323 +107

64. Nancy Sing, Victoria, BC, *112-113-110-335 +119

DID NOT FINISH

DQ. Darleen Michell, Ladysmith, BC, *+38

JWD. Marcia Littlewood, Victoria, BC, *+19

JWD. Maureen Hibberson, Victoria, BC, *+73