Wanneroo star Kirsten Rudgeley has continued her rapid rise on the golf circuit after claiming the 6PR Special Achievement Award at last night’s RAC Sports Star Awards at Optus Stadium.
The victory for Rudgeley means that GolfWA has four of the past five winners in the category, with Minjee Lee (2013), Min Woo Lee (2015) and Fred Lee (2016) all being crowned former winners.
It caps off a fantastic 12 months for the talented youngster, winning the 2017 Women’s Amateur Championships of Western Australia as well as the Ivie Temperley Trophy at the Annual Golf Dinner in August.
Rudgeley wasn’t the only GolfWA representative at the RAC Awards, with Hannah Green and Minjee Lee both nominated for Western Australian Sports Star of the Year, taken out by Perth Glory player Sam Kerr.
Green secured her path to an LPGA Tour card in 2017 with three victories on the Symetra Tour, earning her a nomination at the prestigious WA event.
Minjee continued to impress throughout 2017 finishing the year as Australia’s top ranked female golfer, but couldn’t make it back-to-back wins for GolfWA in the category after Curtis Luck took out the top award last year.
Super coach Ritchie Smith was nominated for the KPMG Coach of the Year, narrowly missing out to Wildcats leader Trevor Gleeson.
Smith has played a significant role in the development of many young Western Australian golfers, with Minjee being his most high-profile client.
Craig Bishop was remarkably nominated again for his coaching prowess, however couldn’t secure the title for a second straight year.
Fred Lee was a finalist in the Railtrain Junior Sports Star of the Year Award, with athletics ace Sasha Zhoya claiming the title.
Lee is currently caddying at the ISPS Handa World Super 6 at Lake Karrinyup.
Jan Plaisted was also nominated for her Service to Sport rounding out a terrific night for GolfWA at Optus Stadium.
