Julie Milne turned sparkling club form into a district level victory today when she ambushed a quality field to win the prestigious individual crown during the June Gillivour Silver Salver.
Milne, a member at host club Portarlington, won the overall and A grade crowns with a fine 38 stableford points that she attributed to a “bit of good rhythm” in which she’s currently reveling.
Her total was three points better than A grade runner-up Elizabeth Raftery, of Bendigo, who shared the day’s next best score of 35 with Ocean Grove member Deb O’Neill, the winner of B grade.
Raftery’s score was enough to propel her Bendigo team, including Leanne Robertson and Sue Holland, to victory with 96 points to win the time-honoured June Gillivour Silver Salver.
O’Neill and clubmates Sharon Cresswell and Susie Stevens were runners-up with 89 points in the chase for the silverware, awarded to honour one of Portarlington and the SWGA district’s most successful golfers and administrators.
Milne, on a roll in club golf, too, said playing on her home course was an advantage against a quality field of visitors.
“But that only helps if you’re hitting them all right, which thankfully I am at the moment,” she said.
“I was in a bit of good rhythm out there today, putted well and managed to get out of any bunkers, so it was really a thrill to win because I know the wheels could come off at any minute,” she said modestly.
“I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve won, it’s quite an honour.”
Raftery, the reluctant spokeswoman for the winning team, said her score was built on hard work rather than anything spectacular.
“There was a lot of scrambling all day … it wasn’t pretty, but it was effective,” she said, heaping praise on Portarlington’s condition.
“I thought the course was fabulous because Bendigo is wet and muddy at the moment and this was nice grass to play off.
“It was lovely to win an event with Leanne and Sue … we’ve played regularly together (over the years).”
