2013 Senior Women’s Championship
Final Recap
Lynda Palahniuk Claims Rain Shortened British Columbia Senior Women’s Title at Chilliwack Golf Club
Chilliwack, B.C. (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Lynda Palahniuk of Kelowna captured the 2013 British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship after the final round was cancelled due to inclement weather at Chilliwack Golf Club in Chilliwack, B.C.
After leading through 36-holes, Palahniuk and 53 other competitors arrived at the tree-lined Chilliwack Golf Club today with the intention of challenging the difficult par-72, 5819 yard course layout. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other intentions for the final round.
After a 40-minute delay to start the round, only a handful of groups were able to trudge through sideways wind and rain to play six or fewer holes before play was halted for an hour. After careful consideration and deliberation, the Committee for the Championship decided to cancel the final round, paving the way for Palahniuk to be crowned champion after 36-holes.
“We did everything in our power to continue this prestigious Provincial Championship but the weather wouldn’t cooperate,” stated Wayne May, British Columbia Golf’s Rules Chair for the event.
“The Committee met and decided in the interest of preserving the course, the integrity of the Championship and the fine play of all of the players in rounds one and two, the final round had to be cancelled due to unplayable course conditions.”
The course became unplayable in a number of spots, most notably the 5th green being almost completely under water despite the valiant efforts of the Chilliwack Golf Club grounds crew to keep it dry. When all was said and done, Palahniuk was ecstatic to be named British Columbia’s top senior woman albeit in a fashion she wouldn’t have predicted.
“It feels superb. It’s been a long time coming and I feel happy today,” stated Palahniuk.
A long time coming is an understatement. Palahniuk last won the British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship in 2002 and the Canadian Senior Women’s a year later, a gap of 11 and 10 years respectively that she credited to the strength of her competitors.
“I think it speaks to the quality of players we have in British Columbia. The best Senior Women golfers in Canada have come from British Columbia over the last 10 years so its a real challenge to win this tournament,” stated Palahniuk.
The week would start off with predicted rain but in reality, intermittent sunshine and brilliance for Palahniuk. She started her title efforts on Tuesday with a one-under-par 71, a round in which she called “strange.”
“It was awesome [to start off with such a great round]. It’s strange when you have a good round and it feels so easy. It seemed like a real easy round.”
She followed her impressive round up with a second and ultimately final round of three-over-par 75, 146 total. She would finish three strokes ahead of defending champion Jackie Little of Port Alberni at 149 and five-strokes ahead of Surrey’s Karen Pultz at 151.
When asked of the quality of players chasing her on the leader board had the final round been contested, she said with a smile on her face “the best. Hall of Fame people.”
“The course is in superb shape and it’s a shame this crazy rain had to come in and spoil our final round,” she lamented.
The trio of Palahniuk, Pultz and Little will now represent British Columbia on Team BC heading to the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior at Spallmucheen Golf and Country Club in Vernon, B.C., from August 20-22. According to Palahniuk, the team will revel in the pressure.
“Team B.C. is going to play awesome. There is a little added pressure because it is in B.C. but I think it will be a great event [for us].”
Palahniuk claimed both the Senior Women’s and Super Senior Women’s divisions following 36-holes, leaving way for Victoria’s Alison Murdoch and Vancouver’s Holly Horwood to finish tied for runner-up in the Super Senior division.
British Columbia Golf would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Chilliwack Golf Club for their tremendous efforts over the week.
Round Two Recap
Lynda Palahniuk Holds Three Stroke Lead Going Into Final Round at B.C. Senior Women’s
Defending champion Jackie Little narrows round one gap by a single stroke; two other past champions within reach of leader
Chilliwack, B.C. (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Lynda Palahniuk gave a single stroke back to the field during her second round at the 39th British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship to stay in the lead with a three-stroke lead over her competitors at the 5,819 yard par-72 Chilliwack Golf Club in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Palahniuk, a resident of Kelowna and owner of the 2002 B.C. Senior and 2003 Canadian Senior Women’s titles, followed up a first-round 71 with a three-over-par 75 to post a 36-hole 146, +2 total.
Palahniuk would surrender three bogeys on her outward half in what seemed like never-ending rain drizzle on day two before settling down by carding a single birdie and bogey on her inward half for the +3 round. This is her fourth consecutive round in the 70′s at the British Columbia Senior Women’s dating back to last year.
Sitting in second place all by herself is defending champion Jackie Little of Port Alberni. Little was able to regain a single stroke on round one leader Palahniuk thanks to a days’ best two-over-par 74 on the rain battered yet pristine Chilliwack Golf Club.
Little, trying for her third consecutive and fourth overall Senior Women’s title, carded a bogey five on the par 4-265 yard second hole before making the Championships’ only eagle to date on the par-4 375 yard fourth hole. Little would make four bogeys and a single birdie on her remaining 14 holes on way to posting a two round 149, +5 total (75-74).
Sitting in solo third in the Senior Women’s division is Surrey’s Karen Pultz thanks to a second round four-over-par 76. Pultz’s two-round 151 total (75-76) has her sitting at +7 overall, five strokes off Palahniuk’s pace.
A pair of former champions in Victoria’s Alison Murdoch and Vancouver’s Holly Horwood are sitting tied in fifth and are well within reach of Palahniuk at +9. Murdoch redeemed her round one 78 with a three-over-par 75 to post 153 (+9) while Horwood posted rounds of 77-76 to reach the same total.
In the Super Senior division, Palahniuk holds a commanding seven stroke lead over Horwood and Murdoch. Vancouver’s Phyllis Laschuk is in fourth place at +15 (78-81-159) while Qualicum Beach resident Sally Dobler is alone in fifth at +17 (79-82-161).
Taking home the two-round Zone gross title is the team of Palahniuk and fellow Kelownian and Kelowna Golf and Country Club member Melanie Grant. The Zone 2 team finished with a +14 cumulative score, good enough for the victory.
The team of Little and Dobler representing Zone 6 take home the Zone net title thanks to an even par score over 36-holes, good enough for a five-stroke win over Zone 3.
The Club Team titles were also contested during rounds one and two, seeing the duo of Palahniuk and Grant take home the gross title for Kelowna Golf and Country Club while Crown Isle Golf Resort claims the net prize thanks to the impressive play of Courtenay’s Dee Horie and Sheila van Gisbergen.
The Senior Women’s Championship wraps up tomorrow with a closing 18-holes that is expected to see outstanding play by the provinces top-ranked senior-aged women. Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
To view final round starting times and daily results, please click here
Round One Recap
Lynda Palahniuk Holds Four Stroke Lead Heading Into Day Two at British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship
Palahniuk leads both Senior and Super Senior divisions; Defending champion Jackie Little currently T2
Chilliwack, B.C. (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Lynda Palahniuk takes a commanding four-stroke lead following round one of the 39th British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship held at the5,819 yard par-72 Chilliwack Golf Club in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Palahniuk, a resident of Kelowna and a member of the Kelowna Golf and Country Club, opened her title bid with a one-under-par 71, good enough to create a four-stroke margin in the Senior Women’s division between her and Surrey’s Karen Pultz, Richmond’s Nancy Chow and defending champion Jackie Little of Port Alberni.
Lynda Palahniuk Poses Following Her Opening Tee Shot at the 2013 British Columbia Senior Women's Championship
After opening with 12 straight pars, Palahniuk, the 2002 British Columbia Senior Women’s champion, would find her first and only shade of trouble on the day, taking bogey on the par-4 326-yard 13th hole. She would bounce back by making birdies on the par-4 298-yard 15th and her final hole of the day, the par-5 410-yard 18th. Palahniuk would be the only player under-par for the day.
Sitting in a three-way second place tie heading into tomorrow after firing rounds of 75 (+4) are Little, Pultz and Chow. Little is looking to claim her third Senior Women’s title in as many years while both Pultz and Chow are looking for their first.
Others looking to close the gap with Palahniuk are Vancouver’s Sandy Young (76), Bellingham, Washington’s Catherine Allen (77), North Saanich’s Penny Baziuk (77), Vancouver’s Holly Horwood (77) and fellow Kelownian Melanie Grant (77). With the 54-hole event stretching into Thursday and inclement weather expected for the next two days, it is realistic that no lead is safe with 36-holes remaining.
The landscape of the Super Senior division after round one has Palahniuk holding a six-stroke lead over Horwood, followed by defending Super Senior champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria and Vancouver’s Phyllis Laschuk at seven-over-par, 78. Rounding out the division’s top-5 is Sally Dobler of Qualicum Beach who shot a first-round 79.
The format for the Senior Women’s is a 54-hole stroke play competition with no cut between women aged 50 and over as of the first day of competition. All players challenge for the overall title and golfers aged 60+ are classified in the Super Senior division.
The Zone and Club Team Championship runs during rounds one and two with results being published following round two.
To view round two starting times and daily results, please click here
Preview
Chilliwack Golf Club Set to Host British Columbia’s Top Senior Women Golfers
Richmond, B.C. (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)- Chilliwack Golf Club in Chilliwack is set to host the 39th British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship on June 18-20, 2013.
Featuring tree-lined fairways and mountain vistas, the Chilliwack Golf Club (Par-72 5,819 yards) will pose as an excellent obstacle standing in the way of the competitors in their hopes of hoisting the Lucy Markham Trophy as champion.
Defending champion Jackie Little of Port Alberni is looking to make it three-in-a-row and add her fourth Senior Women’s Championship overall. She successfully defended her 2011 crown by winning last year at Highland Pacific Golf. If Little were to obtain her fourth title, she would join Colleen McCulloch and Dorothy Wilks as the only three individuals with four or more Senior Women’s trophies on their mantle.
A perennial challenger and 2012 Super Senior champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria will be looking to dethrone Little in this year’s Championship and add to her 2005 & 2009 titles.
Past champions Phyllis Laschuk of Vancouver (2003 & 2010), Kelowna’s Lynda Palahniuk (2002) and Holly Horwood of Vancouver (2006 & 2007), are also considered favourites as all three have excellent golfing résumés and would love to be crowned the winner at the Championships conclusion.
Other notables to circle on the leader board are North Saanich’s Penny Baziuk, Surrey’s Karen Pultz, Bellingham’s Catherine Allen and Calgary’s Cindy Beaudet.
The format for the Senior Women’s is a 54-hole stroke play competition with no cut between women aged 50 and over as of the first day of competition. All players challenge for the overall title and golfers aged 60+ are classified in the Super Senior division.
The Zone and Club Team Championship runs during rounds one and two with the competitors for each team being determined prior to the start of play.
The top-3 performers at the British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship will represent British Columbia at the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship from August 20-22 at the Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club in Vernon, British Columbia.