Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Club has held off late charges from both Ulverstone and Kooindah Waters to complete a wire-to-wire win at The Scramble Championship Final at Sanctuary Cove.
Starting the final round with a buffer of slightly more than five shots, the Yarrawonga team of PGA Associate Dale Crothers, Fletcher Kelly, Jason Hanson and Scott and Lachie Thompson found it tough to make putts early in their round at The Palms Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on a steamy Gold Coast Thursday.
They yielded nett eagles with their only two birdies on the front nine but a holed putt by Scott Thompson for eagle on 10 and a slam-dunk chip shot for birdie by Lachie on 13 ensured they kept pace with the chasing pack.
With four holes to play they trailed Koondah Waters by 1.8 shots but made birdie for a nett eagle on the par-4 15th and then converted Dale’s tee shot to 10 feet for birdie at the par-3 16th.
With three nett eagles and a nett birdie in their final five holes, Ulverstone set the mark in the clubhouse at 59.7-under par.
Although he didn’t tell his team-mates, Dale knew that their lead was just 0.3 of a shot standing on the 18th tee but the leading team all week completed their victory in style, making birdie for a nett eagle and a total for the three days of 62-under par for a win by 2.3 shots.
Dale is a two-time Victoria/Tasmania PGA Associate champion but said that there was something special about winning in a team of boys spread along the Murray River.
“Jason has been into me all week about that, he thinks this is the biggest win of my career now,” said Dale.
“Definitely the most fun. Sanctuary Cove has put on a really good show for us so pretty happy to come out of it with a win with the guys.”
For Jason Hanson, the victory is one that he hopes those back home recognise to its fullest.
“It’s not every day that you win The Scramble and become the best Scramble players in the country,” he said, much to his team-mates’ amusement.
“I’m expecting a full party for myself.
“I think work will close down for the day, put on a special function – as they should.
“It’s just what they should do.”
The Ulverstone team of PGA Professional Darren Spencer, Troy Purton, Lachlan Murfet, Ethan Miles and Jeremy Adams snared second with their closing round of 21.9-under par while the Kooindah Waters team of PGA Professional Zach Churcher, Troy Evans, Mitchell McPhee, Justin Evans and Jacob Lane climbed four spots into third thanks to the best round of the day, a 23.6-under 46.4.
In The Scramble Consolation Final, Portsea Golf Club’s nett score of 51.6 saw them finish a shot clear of Townsville Golf Club (52.7) with Geelong Golf Club (53.2) snatching third from Meadowbrook Golf Club by just 0.1 of a shot.
Photos: Jason O’Brien