AN unusual three-way tie was a thrilling finale to the weekend’s Riverside Open golf tournament.
Ash Whitehouse, Brendan Rowse and Dom Vartuli all finished their 36 holes on 148 strokes, necessitating play-off holes to determine a victor.
The trio still could not be split after playing the 18th hole three times and when daylight disappeared on Sunday evening, the call was made for all three to be named joint winners.
Alongside the well-credentialed group winning the A Grade men’s title, Angela Plumridge won the A Grade women’s competition, leading both days to win with 163 after rounds of 82 and 81, finishing ahead of Lisa Garioch on 168.
Whitehouse said the unusual situation was one they were happy to be part of.
“Three mates all playing together and finishing on the same score, we were pretty happy with the result,” he said.
“We all played the 18th hole three times and we all parred it each time and the light was making it hard to see.
“They’re getting a bit harder to win these days so it is nice to get another one under the belt.”
The Open title was Rowse’s first at his home club.
“It’s always a tricky one in play-offs against some of your closest mates, and I think it was a fitting result in the end,” he said.
“It was quite an atmosphere coming into the play-off holes – there was a bit of LIV Golf about it.
“In the three play-off holes I hit the three-iron shots of my life but just couldn’t hit the putts I was looking for.
“I think it’s great for local golf that we have so many players in the running.
“I t pushes us and brings the best out of each other.”
Impressively, the weekend was Vartuli’s first two rounds of the year, work having eaten into his golfing hours.
“If you haven’t touched a golf club in a while I don’t think there’s any pressure as you have no idea where it’s going to end up,” the reigning Murray Darling Golf Association champion laughed.
“If there had been more light we could have kept going but with three good golfers there who knows how long it might have taken to get a result.
“A win is a win. You can’t complain too much with it and we were all happy to take it.
“Hopefully I can have a decent result at Red Cliffs this weekend.”
