Eastern states’ visitors Ashleigh Arnold and Adam Hawkins have claimed the Australian Mid-Amateur Championship titles at Hartfield Golf Club.
Arnold, from Bonnie Doon GC in NSW, dominated the women’s event with rounds of 83, 75 and 77 to win by 17 strokes and make a successful defence of the title she won at Bribie Island in QLD last year.
“I’m super-excited that I managed to win again this year,” Arnold said. “It was a goal of mine to go back-to-back, so I’m happy that I put it together.”
Arnold will now be aiming for a three-peat at the 2024 Mid-Am, which will take place at The Links Shell Cove GC in Victoria.
In the men’s event, it was a first Mid-Am crown for Queenslander Hawkins, who was steadiness personified in carding three consecutive rounds of 73 to win the men’s by five from Royal Fremantle’s Adam Hatch.
Hawkins’ triumph was all the more satisfying given that he was returning from injury after breaking a wrist in August. “It feels good,’’ Hawkins said. “I’ve put a lot of work into my game and a lot of time in the gym, so it’s nice to get something out of it.”
The event was played in conjunction with the WA Mid-Amateur Championship and the pair were also awarded those championships. Adam Hatch (Royal Fremantle) was the highest-placed WA player in the men’s event, with Amanda Hurren (Rockingham GC) fifth in the women’s.
In the nett championships, Wanneroo GC’s Jamie Nelmes topped the men’s standings, with Royal Perth’s Jungja Kim second in the women’s.
It is now hoped that the WA Mid-Amateur Championship will return to the events schedule on an annual basis after a break of several years.
View the final standings here.
Ashleigh Arnold was in dominant form to defend her Women’s Mid-Am title
A version of this article first appeared on the Golf Australia website.
