After an unprecedented break in the Volkswagen Scramble Season whereby 148 days passed since the last Regional Final was played, the highly anticipated 2019/20 Volkswagen Scramble Championship Final finally took place on the 7– 10 May 2021 on the Sunshine Coast.
The four-day tournament held at Twin Waters Golf Club was certainly worth the wait, a sentiment well and truly echoed by all participants who were fortunate enough to qualify.
Longtime supporters of the Volkswagen Scramble, Bundaberg Golf Club, were fitting winners of the Championship Final playing out a scintillating final round and fending off late charges from RACV Club Healesville and Town of 1770.
Entering the final round as overnight leaders, Bundaberg was the final group to tee off their round and left themselves with work to do following a slow start.
“We were thinking it was just going to be one of those days,” stated Murnane after the team missed some early putts.
Sitting as clubhouse leaders, RACV Club Healesville were eagerly awaiting Bundaberg’s final hole, the par-5 18th, whereby only an eagle would deny Healesville the win.
Lead by PGA Professional Mick Murnane, the Bundaberg team of Tim Russel, Josiah Manteit, Nicole Allen and Thomas Jameson stormed home through the final two holes, finishing birdie, eagle to clinch victory.
“It wasn’t until we were about to hit our second shot on 18, where we knew we needed an eagle to win,” Murnane said.
“Josiah was sitting 210 out, from the rough and a slight downhill lie and he goes and smokes a 3-wood to put it to 10 foot for the eagle putt.”
With crowds and tension building around the 18th green, Tom Jameson stepped up and drained the all-important putt, with nobody more relieved than Murnane himself.
“Tommy had been putting awesome all week, I’m pretty happy as I was last to go and wasn’t sure if I’d make it to be honest.”
“It feels amazing to win,” proclaimed Murnane, who couldn’t be happier to be crowned the 2019/20 Championship Final winners. For Tim Russel this victory was his second in as many years, being a part of the Bargara team who were victorious in the 2018/19 Championship Final.
“The atmosphere you create down here is just incredible.
“It is such a great tournament you can see why everyone wants to get involved in these events because it is just so much fun.”
Meanwhile, the Ladies Championship Final saw Yowani Golf Club extend their lead at the top of the leaderboard and storm home to a four shot victory over the second placed Prospect Vale Country Club.
Lead by Head Professional Paul Finkle, the Yowani team consisting of Margo Bain, Roseanna Barritt-Eyles, Patricia Noel and Rhonda Riches put in an amazing second round 13-under and 53.1 nett result.
This proved to be pivotal as it catapulted Yowani into the lead coming into the final round. With second place Prospect Vale Country Club failing to mount the sort of challenge they would have liked, this left Yowani with a comfortable 4-shot win following a 7-under 59.1 nett score for the round.
“We are all very happy with our effort, we worked pretty hard today so it is a great feeling to get the win,” said Finkle.
“A really good day yesterday was key.”
Finkle was also quick to point out the important contribution made by the Major Partner Volkswagen Group Australia in running Volkswagen Scramble events, “our local sponsor has been supporting our Yowani events for years now.”
If you want to view all the results from each round you can click HERE.