Bottomley wins title after thrilling play-off

A SENSE of deja vu came over Lee Bottomley when she headed into a play-off against Sue Laird for the Coomealla Golf Club Ladies Championship on Saturday.

The duo had been in the same position multiple times before, including a seven-hole epic in last year’s Coomealla title and four extra holes for the Red Cliffs championship earlier this year.

The decorated Laird was victorious on both of those occasions, however a magnificent tee shot on the 11th allowed Bottomley to reverse the trend and claim her second club championship.

Bottomley and Laird were tied at 158 strokes heading into their third and final round, and both shot rounds of 78 to finish on 236 and force a play-off.

After both players shot par on the 10th, it was Bottomley who came out on top. Ann Bowen and Carol Zimmerman tied for third with 263 strokes.

“Sue and I have had a few play-offs over the years,” Bottomley said.

“My form was pretty steady, I tried to keep it pretty consistent. I managed to shoot each round in the 70s which was my goal.

“I had one bad hole on the final round but Sue did as well.

“When we got to the end and found out we were in another play-off I thought I can’t go on!” she laughed.

Laird’s tee shot on the par three 11th landed in the bunker while Bottomley’s landed about “six feet” away from the pin.

Bottomley missed the birdie putt but was still able to secure the victory with a par as Laird missed.

“She actually sunk a really long putt on the 18th to take it to a play-off so I was pretty wary that she was able to do it,” Bottomley said. “I was just glad to finally get a play-off win against her.”

The win rounds out a brilliant season for Bottomley who also won the Red Cliffs Club Championships where she joined as a member while Coomealla was closed due to flooding.

She was also named Coomealla’s best putter and Medallist of the Year at their end of year awards, and also played at number one for the Sunraysia women’s Country Week golf side.