Two of Orange’s top golfers, Susan Fenwick and Sandra Schultz, have their eyes firmly placed on adding to their list of Duntryleague Ladies Open golf titles this week.
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Both are multiple winners. Schultz is the reigning champion but Fenwick, who won the title in 2014, didn’t get to defend it last year due to work commitments in Sydney.
“I’ve won it three times, but when I knew I couldn’t defend it last year I was upset,” said Fenwick.
The pair, and Victoria’s Kath Bell, will be the top contenders when the division one and two players take the greens at Duntryleague on Wednesday.
The tournament starts for division three and four players on Monday.
The local golfers have been starved of play through winter because of the record rains leaving Orange’s courses unplayable.
Fenwick said: “Most of the locals haven’t been able to get much practice. I don’t mind playing in the rain but the courses have just been too wet to play proper golf.
“I can’t remember the last time I went four weeks without playing golf. It would have to be when I was living in the UK and it was snowing or something like that.”
She said she is expecting some tough competition in the tournament.
“Sandra is the club champion and she’s won it before so Sandra’s obviously very much a strong competitor. Kathy Bell’s used to playing in the wind. She’s a fierce competitor.”
Fenwick was practising at Duntryleague on Sunday to try to catch up on the lost game time.
“I’m up here loosening up a bit and chipping and putting etc,” she said.
Golfing is in her family with both her parents having been golf players, her step-son James Walford is a top golfer and her husband took up the game after they met.
A lack of practice has also concerned Schultz, who works in the pro shop at Duntryleague.
“I’ve only played three games since May. That’s how bad it’s been.”
Schultz is also tipping Fenwick and Bell to be her rivals.
“We’ve got an equal chance. None of us have had much golf recently.”
She said the ability of players outside of Orange to play during the winter would help them.
“Kath Bell, she’s from Thirteenth Beach in Melbourne, she’s probably being playing more golf.”
Duntryleague Ladies captain Maria Crawford said up to 240 players, including golfers from Victoria, Queensland and throughout NSW, will be battling for the title.
“There are a lot of Sydney players, Queensland, Victoria, from different clubs around Canberra and coastal clubs.”
She said the greens had dried out after the rains and were now in excellent condition.