The Brisbane Golf Club’s Gold Pennant team has lived up to its name by winning the Brisbane District Ladies Golf Association’s Pennant for the second successive year.
Captained by Robyn Elphinstone and with Hannah Reeves, Safina Kyprianou and Lisa Edgar remaining undefeated, the No.1 ranked BGC team finished top of the ladder in what was a shortened 2022 Pennant competition.
The spate of wet weather during May played havoc with the competition. Three of the five clubs – Indooroopilly, Nudgee and McLeod – played only two of their scheduled four matches while Brisbane, along with Pacific, was able to play three matches.
BGC won all three matches played – against Indooroopilly (3½-1½), Nudgee (4-1) and Pacific (4-1), and was declared the 2022 Pennant Champion despite not having played McLeod because that match was washed out.
“It was, unfortunately, a somewhat controversial end to the season, but the undisputed fact is that we were unbeaten,” said Women’s Captain Janet Nathanson.
“With all clubs not playing the same number of matches, the executive of the BDLGA was obviously faced with a tough decision, and that decision was that we are the Champions, for the second consecutive year.
“The scores reflect how well the girls played under very difficult conditions, and always away from home. The players, and fellow club members, have every reason to feel extremely proud.”
Team Captain, Robyn Elphinstone, said the Gold team played superbly. And while praising the efforts of the undefeated trio of Hannah Reeves, Lisa Edgar and Safina Kyprianou, she also paid tribute to the remaining team members – Lesa Lambert, Ashleigh Hay, Carolyn Martin and Lynne Conroy.
“To remain unbeaten through this level of competition is an outstanding achievement, but to win the Pennant is a team effort and all girls contributed,” she said.
“I would particularly like to congratulate Lynne Conroy, who came out of retirement to play the final match this year, and had a fine win. Lynne has now featured in all BGC Gold Pennant winning teams since 2010, with wins again in 2011, 2018, 2021 and now 2022.”
Robyn said that while the Pennant season had been rain interrupted, BGC registered convincing wins over the main contenders, Indooroopilly and Pacific, and ‘the Pennant is ours once more’.
“Once again, it was a great effort this year from all concerned and it was my pleasure to Captain such a talented group of players,” she said.
BGC had five Women’s teams competing during the 2022 Pennant season, and the results were a mixed bag.
In Silver Zone One, BGC was unable to defend its 2021 title, finishing equal second in a competition also contested by Nudgee, Pacific, McLeod, Indooroopilly and Keperra.
Eight clubs – Keperra, Pacific, Gailes, Ashgrove, McLeod, Indooroopilly, Oxley and Brisbane played in Bronze Zone One, and BGC finished tied third, just one win short of overall victory.
Despite boasting brilliant youngsters Angelina Drakos and Aspen Sugars in the team, Weekend Gold came fourth. And Weekend Silver also finished fourth in a strong competition against Wantima, Virginia, Wynnum, Nudgee and Keperra, and had 20 different players and caddies represent the division in 2022. – TONY DURKIN