Consistent play over two days carried Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay to a comfortable victory in the Mount Brenton Golf Club’s ladies amateur tournament.
“I was dialed in yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) which was great,” said Stouffer following the awards presentations at the event.
Stouffer shot a 73 Saturday and a 72 Sunday for a 145 total, with four birdies during each round. She won by a full eight shots over Christine Proteau from Port Alberni, who improved to a 73 Sunday after an opening-round 80 and finished at 153.
Stouffer got off to a bit of a rough start on the front nine Saturday with a 40, but shot 33 on the back nine. She went out-of-bounds with her tee shot on No. 2 the first day.
“After that, I played pretty solid,” conceded Stouffer.
She went 35 on the front nine and 37 on the back nine Sunday.
Stouffer previously won the tournament two years ago and also way back in 1993 before she was married.
“It was a little bit better today (Sunday),” said Stouffer of her performance. “I hit the ball well this weekend.”
Opportunities to hone her skills are far more limited than they used to be for the busy mom of two boys aged 10 and 11.
“So I’m busy with them and working fulltime,” she added.
“I just play in tournaments. I don’t practice or play.”
Stouffer also cashed in three skins wins on Sunday.
She always enjoys coming to Mount Brenton and seems to have success here.
“This is great,” Stouffer enthused. “The course is nice, it’s in great shape.
“I putted pretty well today (Sunday). Sometimes my putting’s not the greatest.”
Proteau, who has won the tournament on several occasions, made a late charge with a solid second round, but couldn’t overcome the huge deficit she dug for herself after that 80 on Saturday.
Penny Baziuk from Ardmore took third low gross with a 155 (77-78), Carla Escobar from Cordova Bay claimed fourth at 160 (78-82) and Cottonwood’s Georgina Hermans rounded out the top five at 167 (87-80).
Completing the top 10 were: Joan Hinkey of B.C. Players North Island 169 (84-85); Mary Braithwaite of Mount Brenton 172 (89-83); Darlene Michell from Mount Brenton 172 (89-83); Krista Nabb of Duncan Meadows 176 (90-86) and Susan Hughes from Mount Brenton 184. Billie Chang of Mount Brenton actually finished ahead of Hughes at 176 (91-85), but had a higher placing in low net.
Mount Brenton players occupied four of the five top low net places, with Susan Kubisheski first (134), Bev Bruce second (140), Chang fourth (142) and Barb Naylor fifth (143). Janice Kilpatrick was sandwiched between the Mount Brenton group in third place at 140.
A total of 75 players competed in the tournament, a slight increase from previous years.
Kath Burnell did her usual great job coordinating the Mount Brenton organizing team’s efforts.