Sudden-death putt-off decides ladies inter-island golf tournament

More than 50 women golfers from the San Juan Islands and from Mount Vernon gathered at Orcas Island Country Golf Club on July 22 under sunny skies to play in the inter-island Ladies Invitational Scramble golf tournament. “We are so pleased with the turnout as we revive this inter-island tradition,” said Mary Riveland, coordinator of the tournament for the Orcas club. “Next year we hope to play on all three islands.”

Golfers from other islands and Mount Vernon were met at the ferry by volunteer drivers and taken to the course, where they enjoyed a breakfast of baked goods and fruit donated by members of the Orcas Club. Teams were assigned by the organizers to mix less experienced and more experienced players and to include women from different islands. A picnic lunch was provided by the golf course café, Bogie’s, at the end of the first 9 holes of play and the post-game awards were held while players enjoyed dessert.

Each team played the best ball on each shot, tallying the total. After 18 holes of golf of play, two teams were in a tie for first place, calling for the sudden-death playoff on the green of the 9th hole. The two leading teams, captained by Kathy Youngren and Suzanne Gropper, included golfers from Orcas, San Juan, and Lopez islands. Each team designated one player to take one putt with the ball closest to the hole determining the winner. While both putts came extremely close to the pin, the winning putt was made by Bev Smith of Lopez Island, securing the tournament win for the Youngren-led team, Kathy Youngren, Bev Smith, Colleen Smiley, and Miki Straughan.

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