Over 30 area golfers competed for the Ladies Open championship hosted at the Westlock Golf Course Aug. 6-7.
Elaine Maloney walked away as the winner after a tiebreaker playoff between her and Jean Melnychuk. Both ladies shot a 172 two-day total.
It was a close competition as Maloney shot 85 and Melnychuk shot 90 on day one, then day two wrapped up with a score of 87 for Maloney and 82 for Melnychuk.
Course head pro Kevin Lynes said he was happy with the weekend tourney.
“It went well. The competition level was high, so that was good,” Lynes said.
The tourney moved into a fast playoff on day two, during which Maloney shot par on the first hole for a score of five, with Melnychuk finishing off the playoff with a score of six.
This year’s victory marks the fifth win for Maloney, who previously won the Women’s Open in 1991, 1996, 2004 and 2013.
Lynes noted that both women have previously competed against one another at the Women’s Open. In 2013, Maloney defeated Melnychuk in the Women’s Open at the Westlock Golf Course.
While Lynes was pleased with the tournament competition and the turnout, he’d like to see more ladies compete in following years.
“We only had 30 ladies, but that’s becoming typical. I’d like to increase it,” he said.
Lynes said that the number of ladies has been lower in recent years, but that he is working hard to change that.
“In the past it’s been as many as 50 or 60, but it’s just been slowly dwindling. It’s good to see it up a little bit from last year but of course our goal is still to get more and more every year.”
Over the weekend the weather held steady for the women. Lynes noted that the men had some rain during the Men’s Open.
“Weather conditions were great ... the ladies got away lucky,” Lynes said.
