Gosnells’ women made history as they claimed the Division 1 Pennants title for the first time after a titanic clash with Royal Fremantle.
The two top teams after seven group matches went head-to-head at Mount Lawley GC, with Royal Fremantle the favourites having won all seven of their matches – including a 5-2 win over Gosnells back in April.
However, on a changeable day that featured drizzle, heavy downpours and intermittent sunshine, it was a much closer contest, with momentum shifting one way and then the other across the seven individual matches.
It was Royal Fremantle who put the first point on the board in emphatic fashion, with Dempsey Brown putting Brianna Chueakrungthep to the sword en route to a 9&8 win.
Kayla Clarke duly levelled the match with a 5&3 victory over Taehoo Woo, before Grace Cheetham put Gosnells ahead with a 3&2 win over Zoe Grace Ong.
With the other matches all nip-and-tuck affairs, the fate of the Pennant was still very much in the air, however.
Royal Fremantle’s Heather Grace Ong reduced a four-hole deficit to just one to take a high-quality encounter with Halia Edwards down the 18th, but it was the Gosnells’ teen who held firm to win the final hole and post a crucial 2UP victory.
A narrow win for Amanda Gan over Sasha Hofman in the top match kept Royal Fremantle’s title hopes alive, leaving them needing to claim both the remaining matches on course.
As the tension rose, nothing could separate Sarah Terrell and Aileen Sirait through 18 holes, with the pair also halving their first playoff hole.
Aileen Sirait secured Gosnells’ winning point in an epic clash with Sarah Terrell
It was Gosnells’ Sirait – a WA state junior representative – who eventually prevailed, winning her match on the 20th hole and guaranteeing her team the coveted flag.
This allowed Saehi Suh and Heejoo Cho to play out an entertaining halved match before Gosnells’ players and officials celebrated on the 18th green.
Strength in depth
As well as claiming the Division 1 title for the very first time, Gosnells had the honour of winning the centenary championship, with women’s pennants first contested back in 1925.
An emotional team captain Ros McIver paid generous tribute to the players, many of whom she’s known and coached over a period of decades.
“I’m over the moon! It’s been so special to be with them this year. They’ve been a fantastic team and I’m so happy for them,” she told GolfWA.
“I started coaching Gracie (Cheetham) when she was eight years old, and she’s now the oldest member of the team at 40, so I’m really pleased she could be part of this.
“We’ve also got Sasha, who’s in her mid-20s, as well as a number of very talented young players who contributed strongly throughout the season.”
Gosnells’ winning team enjoying the moment
McIver certainly doesn’t think it’ll be another hundred years before Gosnells GC wins the Women’s Division 1 Pennant again.
“We’ve got a lot of good juniors coming through at the club at the moment,” she added.
“They didn’t all play in Division 1 this year, but they have been supporting the team and caddying, and I think they’ve learned a lot from the experience.
“I’m hopeful this can be the start of something really good for our women’s teams in the coming years.”
Although it wasn’t to be for Royal Fremantle’s Division 1 team, the club enjoyed a magnificent women’s pennants season, winning the Weekend South division and Weekday Divisions 4 and 5. All the winning divisional teams are listed below.
Division 1 final scores
Gosnells players first
Sasha Hofman lost 2&1 to Amanda Gan
Saehi Suh halved with Heejoo Cho
Grace Cheetham won 3&2 against Zoe Grace Ong
Halia Edwards won 2UP against Heather Grace Ong
Aileen Sirait won at the 20th against Sarah Terrell
Kayla Clark won 5&3 against Taehee Woo
Brianna Chueakrungthep lost 9&8 to Dempsey Brown
Final score: Gosnells 4.5 – 2.5 Royal Fremantle
Women’s Pennants divisional winners
Weekend Division 1: Gosnells GC
Weekend South: Royal Fremantle GC
Weekend North: Lake Karrinyup CC
Weekday Division 1: Wanneroo GC (pictured below)
Weekday Division 3: The Western Australian GC
Weekday Division 4: Royal Fremantle GC
Weekday Division 5: Royal Fremantle GC
All the season’s results and standings can be viewed here.
