Stefan Albinski has won an unprecedented sixth straight WA State Amateur Championship with a playoff victory at Mount Lawley earlier today.
Albinski joined Glenys Ferguson of Wanneroo in the winners circle, who won her first WA Senior Amateur Championship.
At the commencement of Round 3, it appeared that the reign of Albinsi would be over, trailing by five strokes from overnight leader Barry Squires. Albinski put in a great final round in tough windy conditions, firing a 1-over 73 with a crucial birdie on the 16th that pulled him square with then leader Ian Mcpherson.
Mcpherson and Albinski would finish the regulation 54 holes tied at 10-over par, but it would take two playoff holes to separate the pair. It would be heartbreak for Mcpherson who missed a 3 foot putt for the championship on the 10th and opening playoff hole, and he was unable to recover as Albinski made par on the 18th to secure the title.
Ferguson started the day two strokes back of overnight leader Debra Majteles and a shot behind of Shirley Van Der Brugghen in second place. The three would go head to head for the entire day with the lead exchanging hands on numerous occasions.
It would be Ferguson and Van Der Brugghen who would head to the last with a tie for the lead, but a great drive and approach up the hill from Ferguson gave her an outstanding birdie chance, and Ferguson would hole the 15 foot putt from just off the green to secure the title.
As WA’s highest placed finishers, Glenys Ferguson and Ian Mcpherson will represent the state at the National Seniors Championships to be held in Mandurah in October.
Debra Majteles and Peter Chang, both of Mount Lawley, would win the nett for the event with Katherine Divitini and Barry Squires finishing as the runner-ups.
Day Two of the State Senior Amateur at Mount Lawley saw some big lead changes in the Men’s event while the Round 1 of the Women’s Event got underway.
Mandurah’s Barry Squires leads ahead of tomorrow’s final round at 3-over par after overnight leader David Limback backed up an outstanding 2-under par opening round with an 84 on day 2 to fall out of the top 10.
Squires holds a two shot lead over the rest of the field, with Melville Glades’ Nigel Goodall two back at 6-over par and Harry Crosby of Wanneroo and Ian McPherson of Joondalup in the top three at 7-over par.
Five time defending champion Stefan Albinski is still within striking distance with rounds of 76 and 77 to sit five strokes back of Squires.
Debra Majteles of Mount Lawley made the most of her home course knowledge, shooting an opening round of 82 to hold a single stroke lead over Shirley Van Der Brugghen of Melville Glades.
Glenys Ferguson is third with an 84 while Janine Northrop, Sue Thomson and Rosalind Fisher sit tied for fourth on 85.
LEADERBOARDS
