Tim Gilotti shook off the effects of man flu to record a famous victory in the weather-affected Aglime Sand Greens Championship of WA.
The Bunbury Golf Club member (pictured above) eked out a one-stroke victory over a stacked field after torrential rains on Saturday at Northam Country Club reduced the event to 27 holes.
Early starter Gilotti completed his first round before the worst of the weather called off play, his one-under 71 leaving him just two strokes back from leader Stephen Lord (Cottesloe) and alongside Gillam Jones (Callingiri), Dan Negus (Hartfield) and Peter Gaby (Goldfields).
With most of the field unable to complete their opening 18, Round 2 was reduced to nine holes – effectively ruling out the likes of past champions Adam Davey, Rod Shemeld and Jay Motzel, who all opened with 76.
With so few holes to play with, a strong start to the second round was imperative, with Northam CC’s small, firms greens and surrounds punishing inaccuracy.
Overnight leader Lord’s challenge faltered early with four consecutive bogeys, while Negus fell to three over for his round after five, to leave the steady Gilotti and Jones – playing together – in pole position.
Tim Gilotti was the only player to finish the championship under par
A bogey for Gilotti at the 12th (his third) handed Jones the lead, but he promptly gave it back with a dropped shot of his own at 13 (his fourth).
From then on it was almost a match play encounter between the duo down the stretch, with both players making steely pars at the next three holes.
The decisive moment came on the par-four 17th (their 8th), where Gilotti made a rare birdie to Jones’ par to take a one-stroke lead down the last.
Cool as a cucumber, Gilotti found the fairway off the tee of the par five, while Jones found trouble in the trees allowing his rival to play conservatively.
While both ultimately made par, it was enough to secure Gilotti victory by the narrowest of margins at level par for the day and -1 for the championship.
Ailing Gilotti gets it done
A regular contender at this event without getting over the line, Gilotti was delighted to score the most significant title of his career to date.
“This is huge for me,” he told GolfWA. “I really enjoy playing in this event each year, it’s always great to catch up with the country boys and it’s even better to get the win – especially as I’ve been crook with a bit of ‘man flu’ these past three weeks.
“When I saw the final round was only going to be nine holes, I thought to myself that it would be the luckiest golfer that won. This is a tough course and I got a few lucky breaks today, but also played some pretty good golf along the way.”
Elsewhere, despite his slow start, Dan Negus bounced back with birdies at his sixth and ninth holes that earned him a share of second place alongside Jones, who had the consolation of taking the Close Winner crown as the top-ranked player from a sand greens course.
The Sand Greens Championship is famed for the camaraderie between players
Stephen Lord finished fourth, two strokes further back, with Rod Shemeld and Tony McFadyean T5th another shot adrift.
The Sand Greens Championship also incorporates the now-traditional Super Scroungers two-man Ambrose event and the 4BBB Championship on the Thursday and Friday.
Darryl Mitchem & Astyn Temby (York GC, Lancelin GC) combined to take the 4BBB top spot, with Travis Stribley & Jarryd Crees (Moora Lake View GC, Merredin GC) winning the Scroungers.
- Final leaderboards here.
- Image gallery from Sand Greens final round here.
- Image gallery from Super Scroungers here.
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