PORT Fairy Golf Club has been forced to award its club championships before the final 18 holes could be completed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Terang, Camperdown, Mortlake and Cobden are south-west clubs who are temporarily shutting their doors until at least April 13.
The closures included the cancellation of all competition and social golf.
That meant Shane Gurnett claimed his fifth successive Port Fairy men's title while Vicki Johnstone grabbed her maiden ladies victory.
Gurnett (219) shot rounds of 77, 71 and 71 to take out the win from Adam Tribe (231).
Johnstone (254), who fired rounds of 89, 80 and 85 to edge out Di Robinson (259), said she didn't know how she felt about claiming the title with 18 holes still to play.
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But the 59-year-old, who usually misses the championships due to her shooting commitments, said the unexpected win was connected to her goals for the four-round competition.
"I haven't been in this position because I have been out injured for half of last year and haven't been able to practice," she said of her preparation for the annual tournament.
"I just wanted to stay in touch with the leaders and then I ended up leading and I got asked lady captain (Di Grieves) about what if it got called off.
"While I would have loved to win I didn't want to under these circumstances. I would have loved for them to hang off and play last round when we were all back playing
"I would have rather win it squarely rather than have it awarded but it is what it is. I don't know how I feel about it."
Di Grieves (286) and Peter Chamberlain (241) claimed the B grade title while the C grade championships were awarded to Gary Cooper (285) and Beryl Duncan (323).
In the senior championships Peter Redford won both the 55-65 scratch and handicap while Garry McCosh and John Moore claimed the scratch and handicap titles in the 66-plus class.
Adam Tribe (A grade), Kurt Smith (B grade) and Bob Crispe (C grade) claimed the match play titles.
In the 54 hole nett Gurnett (216 on a countback with Redford), Chamberlain (213) and Cooper (225 on a countback with Wayne Ryan) claimed the A, C and B grade title.
In the ladies it was Johnstone (218), Sue Saul (224) and Linda Vaughan (230) who saluted.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
