Ryan Western and Sue Skirrow win respective Albany Golf Club championships

Ryan Western and Sue Skirrow were crowned Albany Golf Club men’s and women’s club champions for 2020 after winning their respective play-offs last month.

The men’s final between Western and Shayne Griskonis was played on Sunday, September 20, followed by the head-to-head battle between Skirrow and Kerry Steicke on Thursday, September 24.

Both championship A-grade finals were played over 36 holes on the fairways at Albany Golf Course.

In howling winds and rain, the men’s final was an absolute thriller, with Western and Griskonis unable to be separated after 36 holes.

The two had to go to a play-off hole and Western saved his best shot till last as the putted in a 30-footer from off the green on the 37th to secure the championship victory.

Western made a miraculous comeback as Griskonis was eight shots up after the first 18 holes before Western started his fightback by winning five holes in a row, pegging the margin back to four shots with nine rounds left to play.

He continued his stellar momentum to level the scores at the end of regulation play before sinking the amazing putt.

Terry Sobey took out the men’s B-grade championship over Brian Walker while Dave Bryson won the C-grade final against David Drew.

The women’s final was just as impressive as the men’s final, with Steicke pushing Skirrow right to the final hole of the championships.

Both women had strong rounds and sunk lots of pars along with a few birdies each.

With two holes to play, the scores were all level and the decisive moment came on the 35th hole when Skirrow almost chipped in for a birdie but had to settle for par to go one shot up with one hole to play.

Steicke tried her best to even the game up on the last hole but Skirrow held on to win the championship.

Lesly Wiles won the B-grade over Kerry Lane while Sarah Smith won the C-grade over Sue Bailey.