Success called for local golfer Sandra Hutchison in 2019 as she claimed the NSW, Victorian and Australian International Ladies Open titles in pitch and putt.
Sandra, who is 76 years old and a member at Canberra International Pitch & Putt (CIPP), has been playing the sport for 20 years and prior to last year’s achievements had previously won Australian titles in 2004 and 2005 as well as several state titles.
“The club has got quite a few good women players and it just all fell into place for me last year,” Sandra said. “I think someone else will come up this year.”
It was tough competition for Sandra to claim the trio of titles. At the NSW Ladies Open she came from nine shots adrift in the last round to win the event while the Australian International P&P Open in Canberra was decided by a sudden death playoff.
However it was Sandra’s performance in Victoria, at an unfamiliar course at Phillip Island that she was most proud of.
Sandra said the course featured fast, curvy greens – “lots of people had trouble” – however she claimed a convincing win with her result also ranking her third overall including against the men.
Adding to her titles, Sandra also set a new ladies course record of 46 (8 under par) off the stick at the CIPP course.
When it comes to competition Sandra said she doesn’t have a lot of strategy with “a lot of luck involved” and was pleasantly surprised with her achievements.
“I hadn’t been feeling very competitive before that … I decided I would give it go and I didn’t expect anything. I thought I’d just go for the social part and travelling. The pressure wasn’t on; it will be now,” she smiled.
In terms of upcoming events Sandra said she will likely play in the ACT titles at the end of February. She said pitch and putt is a great sport for everyone to get involved with and, unlike a traditional game of golf, it is over in about an hour and a half.
“It’s a good way to keep fit as well as enjoying the social side of the game. “
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