Golf
5 November, 2024
Locals win Nell Smithett Memorial
On Friday, November 1, the Horsham Golf Club held its annual Nell Smithett memorial trophy, with a good turnout from the Wimmera, Western District, and Naracoorte.
This year was a new stableford format of three teams, with all scores counted.
The winner, who scored 104 points, was one of the two Horsham teams competing in the tournament. The winning team featured Barb Hawkins, Heather Greenaway, and Joyce Mills.
Runners up were Sylvia Adams, Sandra Munn and Penny Trueman from Naracoorte with 103 points.
Heather Greenaway also won the division one singles event with 39 points, ahead of Hamilton's Robyn Holcombe, who had 38 points.
Naracoorte's Penny Trueman won the division two singles event with 40 points ahead of Horsham's Julie Obst on 37 from a countback.
The nearest to the pin were: 2nd Hole - Liz Jackman (Toolondo); 8th Hole - Penny Trueman (Naracoorte), 11th Hole - Kerryn Price (Hamilton); 13th Hole - Glenda Clarke (Port Fairy).
The Nell Smithett trophy has been held annually since 1970 in honour of Nell Smithett, a great contributor to Ladies Golf from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Nell won several State Titles and represented Victoria during the 1930s and 1940s. She was an active member of the state Council for 30 years, and her special talent was her involvement with the Scratch Score Sub-Commitee.
She was a Victorian champion in 1936 and 1937, the Australian and New Zealand Foursomes Champion in 1937, a member of the Tasman Cup Team and the Victorian State team five times from 1936 to 1949, and a member of both the VLGU and the ALGU State Councils.
Alongside Burtta Cheney, she was responsible for inspecting the scratch scoring system in Britain and bringing that system into operation for all Australian lady golfers. As a member of the scratch score subcommittee, she visited most golf clubs in Western Victoria.
Today, Nell is remembered by Golf Victoria. The Women's Victorian 72-hole stroke play for the Nell Smithett Trophy is an Australian Women's Amateur ranking event and part of the Karrie Webb Series.
Her contribution to Ladies' Golf is remembered each year when teams from many clubs travel to compete at the Horsham Golf Club.
Lorraine Mitchell said she was happy with the numbers.
"We are very happy with the numbers, the weather was great, and the course is in good condition," Mitchell said.
"We had 12 different clubs come for this event and are hoping for more next year."