Natalie Studte has taken back to back to Club Championships at Tamworth after blitzing the field on the final day to beat playing partner Michelle Johnston to the trophy.
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Johnston was leading the field after the first two rounds last week, although it was last years winner that finished stronger, turning a three shot advantage heading into the final round into a 13 shot win after hitting 73 off the stick on the final round to finish on 310 from four rounds.
“It was just one of those days,” Studte said.
“It was great – It is very soecial to win it again.”
It was the third time that the champion has had her name on the trophy, winning it once in 2006 where she shot a 69 in one round, before returning to the winners circle last year and then backing it up.
“There was two kids between 2006 and last year,” Studte said.
This time around it was her short game that was on fire, particularly on the fast greens with the course in prime condition after the recent rain.
“It (putting) is not normally one of my strong suits,” Studte said.
“Today they just wanted to go in.”
The Tamworth local is no stranger to the course, spending a lot of time on and around the Tamworth Club when she was growing up when her father Terry Hayes was the club pro for a number of years.
“We pretty much lived here at times when Dad was here.”
“And the course is in the best condition I have seen for a while.”
“It is immaculate.”
Studte was ;pushed all the way by playing partner, friend and 2014 winner Michelle Johnston, with fellow local Prue Done showing top consistency over the four days to finish third.
“We push each other along a bit,” Johnston said.
“It is good competition.”
Over 60 members hit the course for the Club Championships across all grades, with Wendy Crowley taking out B Grade with 387, 11 shots clear of runner up Mary Gurd.
In C Grade Barb Truman finished best, scoring 407 to take the trophy, five shots in front of Norma Jurd.
In the handicap Studte finished runner-up by nine shots to Peta Johnson who finished with 277.
In B Grade Maree Kempton finished two shots clear of Vicki Betts after shooting 296, and Barb Truman beat Norma Jurd to the C Grade handicap trophy after finishing her four rounds with a handy 287.
The Tamworth ladies will now enjoy a quiet time for a few weeks on the club calendar, although Studte and Johnston will be back on the greens this Sunday to contest the Longyard Fourball.
