The Brisbane Golf Club’s Gold One Ladies Pennant team has helped create history for the club by joining the men as elite level Brisbane District champions at the same time.
Although both teams have won the prestigious Pennant previously, never before in the 122-year history of Queensland’s third-oldest golf club have the two teams been reigning Pennant champions.
The Men’s Division One team won the Brisbane District Golf Association Pennant back in August last year, while the Ladies saluted last week for the first time since 2011 to win the Brisbane and District Ladies Golf Association Gold One division. For the men, it was their first Division One Pennant since 1940.
Ladies Club captain, Elaine Egerton, said the entire club membership was extremely proud of the ‘double’.
“Bringing the Pennant home to our club was just a wonderful feeling, and I am so proud of the girls in our team,” said the Scottish-born Elaine who is in her first year as Ladies captain.
For veteran Lynne Conroy, who first started playing Division One Pennants in 1994 when pregnant with her second child, the biggest thrill of winning her third Pennant title with BGC was sharing the victory with two ‘beautiful, talented and selfless young girls’.
“Our two low markers, Dee Dee Russell and Lisa Edgar, made the difference to our team,” she said.
“But not only are they talented, and spearheaded most of our wins, they are also beautiful young ladies and totally unselfish. As members of the Queensland State Team they both passed up opportunities to play in big tournaments during the season, and preferred to stay with us.”
Lynne, who previously played in winning Pennant teams in 2010 and 2011, said she was still shattered by her loss in the final match – her only defeat of the season.
“In the end it didn’t matter to the overall result, but it mattered to me,” she said.
The Ladies team won 22½ of their 30 games contested over the seven weeks of the competition, clinching the Pennant in the final match against Pacific Golf Club, 4-1. Had they been beaten in that final-round match, defending champions Indooroopilly would have been crowned again.
Clubs contesting the Gold One Pennant in 2018 were Brisbane, Indooroopilly, Pacific, Wantima, McCleod, Redcliffe and Wynnum. Each team had a bye when the matches were played on their home course.
- Dee Dee Russell– a member of the QAS Academy of Golf program, Dee Dee is one of the leading amateurs in Australia. She is a Member of the Queensland State Team and plays off a handicap of plus 1.4. Dee Dee won five of her six matches
- Lisa Edgar– also a member of the Queensland State Team, Lisa’s handicap is plus 0.8. She won all five of the matches she contested
- Lynne Conroy– having won more than 50 honour board events at BGC and representing the club in Pennants over many years, Lynn’s experience was invaluable to the younger team members. Playing off 5.8, Lynne’s record was four wins, one squared match and one loss (on the 18th)
- Kathryn Hilier– a former Club Champion who plays off 6.9, Kathryn has also won numerous BGC honour board events and has been a long-term Pennant player. Like Lynne, she won four matches, lost one and squared one, and courageously fought back from three down with five holes to play in the final round, to win 1up
- Jaculin Zhidam– a nine handicapper, Jaculin joined BGC from Wynnum Golf Club just over 12 months ago and the knowledge of her former course was critical in her 6/5 final win. She also won four matches, lost one and squared one
- Robyn Elphinstone– the non-playing team captain, Robyn was called upon at the last minute to fill in for an ill Lisa Edgar in one match. Playing off 13.6, Robyn covered herself in glory, despite being beaten on the 15th – playing with borrowed clubs – TONY DURKIN
Caption – from left to right, Lynne Conroy, Lisa Edgar, Jaculin Zhidam, Dee Dee Russell, Kathryn Hillier and Robyn Elphinstone.