Sports

Winner and sponsors of the 2019 Findex Pro Am. Image: Contributed

Findex ALPG PRO AM goes to sudden death playoff

Starting proceedings was the Duncan’s Carpet Cleaners who generously give us $1500 for NTP on the 10th for the Thursday afternoon shoot out.

Gennai Goodwin was the lucky winner with her 7 iron shot finishing only 267cm from the hole.

Tahnia Ravnjak from Wollongong took out the 2019 Findex Yamba ALPG pro-am defeating West Australian Whitney Hilliar in a sudden death playoff after both players had shot 3-under par rounds of 70. Ravnjak secured a bumper payday, in the process also winning the 2019 ALPG ClubCar Series.

Not only did Hillier and Ravnjak have the pressure of playing the playoff for the prestigious pro-am title, as it turned out whichever player won the playoff would also take out the 2019 ALPG ClubCar Series meaning the difference between winning and losing for both players was a cool $4000.

At the first playoff hole, the par 3 10th hole at Yamba Golf Club, Hillier had a chance for victory after hitting a fantastic 7-iron just 3 metres from the pin.
However, her putt slid past the hole and it was on to the second playoff hole, the par 5 18th hole.

Both players hit superb tee shots, Hillier bravely taking the driver and the longer hitter Ravnjak taking her 3 wood for safety. Ravnjak hit her second shot just short of the green, while Hillier pulled her second shot from a tough downhill lie in the fairway, closely flirting with the out of bounds left of the fairway.
While lady luck was on Hillier’s side she was left with a tough pitch under some tree branches which she misjudged leaving the door open for her opponent.
It was Ravnjak’s time to shine and the Wollongong native played a superb pitch to less than 2 metres from the pin, and after Hillier had missed her par putt from just over three metres the stage was clear for the 25-year-old and she calmly rolled in her putt for victory and a $9500 payday.

Hillier, the winner of the Brisbane Invitational at McLeod Country Golf Club last Tuesday, had the consolation of a cheque for $3500 for finishing second in the ClubCar series along with the second place cheque of $2000.

Breanna Gill and Katelyn Must finished in a tie for 3rd place in the pro-am after shooting 2-under par rounds of 71.

In the amateurs Zane Lowe was the men’s winner with 41pts from Andrew Kelly 40pts on a c/b from Peter Brennan and Henry Heron and 5th place went to Wayne Rice with 38pts.

In the Lady amateurs Glen Czarnota was the winner with 38pts from Paula O’Keeffe 37pts, 3rd was Jayne McCormack 35pts, Darrie Nightingale was 4th with 34pts on a c/b from Carolyn Aitken.

Nearest to the pins were; On the 3rd Wayne Rice and Jayne McCormack, on the 10th Henry Heron, the 12th was Brendan Carson, the 17th was Irvine Gillies and Jayne McCormack.

Thanks to FINDEX and Duncan’s Carpet Cleaners for the ongoing support in golf of the Yamba Golf Club.

Chris Durrington