Murdoch Wins Senior Women’s Amateur; Holm Takes Super Senior Amateur
Victoria, BC (October 4, 2011) – Alison Murdoch of Victoria, BC battled strong winds and an even stronger field to win the 26th Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur Championship conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) held at Victoria Golf Club in Victoria, BC. Competitors were treated to a scenic October week to remember at the historic golf club located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Murdoch used her home-course knowledge to navigate the difficult final round posting a 6-over par 78 bringing her two-day championship total to 6-over par 150. This marks the second Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur Championship for Murdoch who won her first in 2005 at Yakima Country Club in Yakima, Wash.
Returning Champion and recent USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Ore. finished runner-up for the second time in 3 years. Frohnmayer, who also won the 1974 PNGA Women’s Amateur Championship at Overlake Golf and Country Club in Medina, Wash., made a late charge for the title making back-to-back birdies on holes 11 and 12 to get one shot off the lead. A costly double bogey on the par 3, 14th was all the breathing room Murdoch would need to roll to a 4 shot victory. Carin Gallie of Victoria, BC had the round of the day posting a 4 over par 76 bringing her championship total to 11-over par 155 good enough for third place.
Carole Holm of Renton, Wash. becomes the first champion of the Pacific Northwest Super Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. Holm posted rounds of 83 and 87 for a two-day championship total of 26-over par 170. Finishing tied for runner-up was Ann Swanson of Redmond, Wash. and Bonnie Vahcic of Port Ludlow, Wash. who both finished with 36-hole totals of 31-over par 175.
A special ceremony was held as it is the inaugural awarding of the Margaret Todd Perpetual Trophy which was presented by Victoria’s most celebrated female golfer. Ms. Todd was on hand to present Holm with the silver perpetual trophy which she originally won in the 1947 BC Women’s Amateur. Margaret Todd was recently inducted into the PNGA Hall of Fame, having previously received similar honors in the Canadian Golf, BC and Victoria sports Halls of Fame.
A founding member of the PNGA in 1899, VGC has always been regarded as a unique jewel in the northwest championship circuit. The last time the club hosted this championship was in 2006 and the players all marveled at the ocean-side scenery and challenging golf.
77 players competed in the Senior Amateur Championship while 32 players competed in the Super Senior Championship. To be eligible for the Senior Championship players must be 50 years of age and for the Super Senior Championship players must be 65 years of age.
