Team hits the greens

Decked out in their striking blue argyle sweaters, they are the Bendigo district's best lady golfers and they are set to come out swinging at the Victorian Women’s Country Teams event next week.

Bendigo will contest division one of the three-day scratch match play tournament, having been elevated to the top level after winning division two in 2011.

And with their team’s mix of youth and experience, they hope to be in the thick of the action when the prizes are being awarded.

“We came very close to winning last year, with any one of three teams in a position to take the title going into the last day,” says captain Bernice Campbell.

“Bendigo ended up third overall on percentage, but it was our best shot ever at the championship.”

Campbell says the squad has been training since April, with members taking part in local and metropolitan pennant, two 36-hole Ivo Whitton Trophy events, clinics, match play practise sessions and club and state competitions.

The team was presented to the district at the silver division day held at Belvoir Park Golf Club on August 15, and their final lead-in event was an 18-hole stroke at Axedale last Sunday afternoon.

They head to Melbourne on Sunday, ready to hit the greens for four 18-hole battles next week.

Bendigo plays East Gippsland at the Huntingdale Golf Course at 8am on Monday, and will take on Mornington Peninsula and South Western at the Settlers Run course near Cranbourne on Tuesday.

They finish against North Eastern on Wednesday at the Peninsula course in Frankston. 

The squad comprises nine skilful players from clubs including Neangar Park, Bendigo and Axedale whose handicaps range from five to nine.

At just 17, Kristi Bilkey is the youngest golfer to earn selection and joins her mum, Jenni, as a district representative.

A fundraising day to help cover the cost of the trip was held in July at the Bendigo Golf Club.

“We have had some great donations from businesses throughout Bendigo and surrounding areas, so a big thank you to them,” says captain Campbell. 

Bendigo’s nine-member playing squad is:

JANELLE BROWN

Neangar Park Golf Club

Handicap: 5

Janelle is the reigning club champion and has been for the past five years. She recently made the top eight of the Victorian Women’s Championship play-offs at Yarrawonga in a field of more than 160 competitors. She deserves her spot as the Bendigo and District team’s number one player.

CARMEL BOURNE

Bendigo Golf Club

Handicap: 5

Carmel is Bendigo’s current club champion and was a member of Sunshine’s winning pennant team this year. She puts a lot of work into her game and brings stability and experience to the team.

TAHLIA HOLMBERG

Neangar Park Golf Club

Handicap: 6

Tahlia is an up-and-coming junior who is in her second year in the country teams squad. She has won many events in the district, including the Victorian Autumn tournament in Hamilton this year. She also finished in the top eight at Yarrawonga. Though just 19, Tahlia shows maturity beyond her years and is a very valuable team member.

JENNI BILKEY

Bendigo Golf Club

Handicap: 6

Jenni is a stalwart of this Bendigo team and puts a lot of time and effort into becoming the best player she can. A very steady player and great role model in the team, she has won previous club championships, gold letter events and district tournaments.

KRISTI BILKEY

Neangar Park Golf Club

Handicap: 6

The daughter of Jenni Bilkey, 17-year-old Kristi is a very competitive junior who has worked extremely hard to lower her handicap this year and earn selection in the district team for the first time. She was runner-up in the 36-hole Ivo Whitton gross event at Bendigo in July and took out the overall nett. She was runner-up in the 2014 Bendigo club championship.

JENNA HARDING

Neangar Park Golf Club

Handicap: 7

A successful junior, Jenna has made a strong return to golf over the past two years following time off for study and a shoulder reconstruction. She played in Sunshine’s winning pennant team this year. Jenna is a big hitter who can be very intimidating to the opposition.

HELEN LEECH

Neangar Park/Calivil golf clubs

Handicap: 7

Helen is the Calivil club champion and a long-time member of the Bendigo representative squad. She has won many Victorian and local events over the years and is a strong match player who will be an experienced and reliable member of the team.

BERNICE CAMPBELL (captain)

Neangar Park Golf Club

Handicap: 8

Bernice has been involved with country teams as a caddie and player for 14 years and this is her third time as playing captain. She has won many gold letter events, pennant titles and local tournaments and is a strong match player. Her wealth of experience will be a great asset in helping the junior team members.

RUTH ISER

Axedale Golf Club

Handicap: 9

Ruth has been involved with the Bendigo Country Teams squad for the past seven years. She has had pennant success and played a lot of local and distant tournaments. She is considered the ultimate team player.

SUPPORT CREW

Team manager: Noela Henning (Neangar Park), who  looks after all the finer details of the trip. This is her third year as team manager. 

Selectors: Rosi Punton and Rosemary Monotti (both from Bendigo Golf Club).

Rosi is a handy golfer herself, playing off 11, and has been busy analysing the squad’s performances throughout the year.

Rosemary has been involved as a selector and caddie for many years and provides a level head, confidence and enthusiasm.

Caddies: Trish Shanahan (Axedale), Katrina McNaughton (Neangar Park), Tracy Jefferies and Lindy Carter (both Bendigo).

Trish has been involved with Country Teams in the past but comes on board this year as a caddie. 

While the other three are rookies in the group, they are all strong golfers in their own right who will act as steadying influences on the Bendigo players throughout the tournament.