Wittenoom Cup ends in an all-Albany affair with David Offerman and Toni Hunter securing titles

Persistence was the key to two thrilling comebacks in Albany’s premier amateur golf tournament that ended in an all-Albany triumph on the weekend. David Offerman and Toni Hunter, both from Albany, each overcame a two-shot deficit after day one to secure the Wittenoom Cup and Brenda Wittenoom Plate respectively. After a spectacular round on day two, Offerman overtook overnight leader Ian Guildford by one shot with a score of 138 to lift the trophy ahead of a 150-strong field. Twenty players finished within four shots of Offerman, but it was local Ian Smith who rounded out the all-Albany podium with 141. Shayne Griskonis finished the weekend with the best gross score across the two-day event with 156. Hunter’s score of 140 was the best of all 90 women, outshining the previous champion, Denmark’s Christine Randall, by a single shot to claim the coveted plate. Royal Perth’s Marie Intini secured a commendable third place in the competition finishing two shots off the pace. Former winner and Nedlands Golf Club member Cath Bellemore claimed the women’s gross event with a score of 164. Offerman has been competing at the tournament for 15 years and said his process did not change from last year’s effort which saw him gain a spot on the podium “It feels really good. I was really happy coming third and I just tried to do the same thing really and play to my handicap,” Offerman said. “I played a couple of shots less than my handicap and that’s what got me over the line.” The 64-year-old said he knew if he was persistent with his game he would give himself the best chance of success. “I didn’t change a whole lot, I did the same thing on day one as I did on day two and played a couple of shots that put me under my handicap,” he said. “I think just persistence and making sure I did the same thing on the second day.” Hunter, 54, marked a miracle comeback to the game after a year-long hiatus from the sport. “It’s very exciting. I’ve been away for a year and I came home and my first real hit at golf since and I’m chuffed,” Hunter said. “I had a once-in-a-lifetime round (on day one) and so I thought I just had to really concentrate and keep my act together. “I had a couple of really awful holes and I just thought of you know what? Head down bum up and just keep going. “If I’m doing it, I’m sure someone else is gonna do it.” This tournament marked Hunter’s seventh appearance and she had nothing but praise for previous winner Randall, who finished second. “Christine is very cool, calm and collected and she’s been around the golf course for quite a while and she is very stoic,” she said. “There were lots of great players in the field but I just kept ploughing on.”