Jean Whitehead teams competition winners Sue Wilton, Lauren Higgins and Beryl Drake show off their new silverware.
THREE Warrnambool golfers beat the searing heat to take out the annual Jean Whitehead teams competition in Port Fairy yesterday.
With the temperature hovering around 38 degrees, Sue Wilton, Beryl Drake and Lauren Higgins battled 102 golfers to win one of the Port Fairy club’s most prestigious competitions.
The annual competition started in 1984 when club stalwart and avid golfer Jean Whitehead donated a trophy for a women’s team event.
It began as a competition for fours, but is now played as a threes event.
The Warrnambool trio finished with a combined score of 218, seven shots ahead of their Warrnambool clubmates Jenny Bullivant, Carmel Hughes and Di Goodall, who finished with a combined score of 225.
Drake, who finished on 71, said a birdie on the par three 15th hole and another earlier in the game played a major role in the win.
“Those couple of birdies helped, but having the three of us finish with scores in the low 70s was what got us over the line,” she said.
Wilton finished her round on 74, while Higgins had a 73.
It was the fourth time Drake won the bowl and the third time for Wilton.
Yesterday’s win was the first Whitehead bowl for Higgins, who said it was a nice reward after a tough day on the course.
“It was a tough out there today,” Higgins said.
“The wind was up a bit, but the heat was what made it most difficult, there was just nothing you could do to escape it.
“It was a great win on an excellent course — we are very happy.”
A grade hours went to Carmel O’Keeffe on 71, Beryl Duncan took out B grade on 67 and Cathy Wagg was the top of C grade with 70.
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au