Ninety-eight seniors braved challenging conditions during the final round of the 2020 Senior Amateur Championships at the Western Australian Golf Club on Monday.
Sharon Dawson (Denmark CC) and John Banting (Royal Perth GC) played two solid days of golf to secure the 2020 Senior Amateur Championship titles. There was little doubt throughout the final round that Dawson had secured the title, however, the men’s trophy was far more closely contested with the tournament going to a sudden-death playoff in pouring rain.
Michael Lucas (Harvey GC) Banting and Paul Chappell (Hartfield GC), weren’t thrilled with the idea of a playoff in tumbling rain, with one even suggesting a game of scissors-paper-rock as an alternative option to crowning the champion.
The gents put in their best effort with Banting sealing the win with a solid six-foot putt to make par. Banting was “glad my wife got here – she has been caddying for me all day and came back for the last bit of the playoff – I honestly didn’t think I was in it!”
After Round 1 it looked like a 2016 repeat, with former Senior Amateur champions Hartfield’s Paul Chappell and Denmark’s Sharon Dawson leading the pack. Paul Chappell had a four-stroke lead and was strong until hole 14 where he stumbled with a bogey, then another, followed by a triple on 16 opening a window for Banting and Lucas.
“You wouldn’t believe it,” said Paul. “A triple that close to the end – but hey that is golf.”
There was no doubt about the winner of the 2020 Senior Amateur Ladies Championship, with Sharon Dawson of Denmark Golf Club sealing her second Championship win by seven strokes.
Lake Karrinyup’s Carmen Palframan dropped off the top end of the leaderboard after three double bogeys, and three bogeys in her first seven holes. WAGC’s local favourite Alison Eather found the conditions on Day 2 challenging, unable to keep up with the pace of Dawson.
Dawson shared, “John Banting and I go a long way back. We played juniors together at Royal Perth – Junior Pennants right through to Senior pennants. Delighted to have won this alongside Banty as I think he was runner up in 2016 when I won the Seniors. I certainly could have played better on the back nine today but I’m pleased. The weather made for cold, challenging conditions. ”
Many thanks to The Western Australian Golf Club staff and volunteers for hosting this event seamlessly over the last two days.
Results
