Fiona Almond has taken out the 9 Hole District Championship played on her home course, Singleton, today.
A golfer for just ten months, Almond played a steady game to win the title on 15 Stableford points playing off a handicap of 23. She finished two ahead of another local, Tillie Dangel.
“It’s not all about winning, I really only play to play better than I did last time, and today I did,” Almond said.
“I didn’t really know what to expect today but it was good to play with other women of the same ability.”
Almond, a former handy squash player, took up the game at her mother’s instigation.
“My mother has always hounded me to play and she plays twice a week. She’s 89, so I will have to follow in her footsteps,” she said.
2025 marks the third year of the 9 hole Championship conducted by the Hunter River District Golf Association, an event designed to encourage beginner women into competitive golf.
For runner up, Tillie Dangel, the tournament has only whetted her appetite for more.
“I just love it, it’s the best thing for me,” she said.
“I love the time that you spend away from your phone and you just focus on your game, it’s good to get out.
“Today I didn’t expect the outcome that I had. I was happy with hanging on to my good shots, letting go of my bad shots and just being more resilient out on the course and I couldn’t be happier with the people that I did it with.”
The 9 hole Championship is a unique event, starting with a free one hour tuition session conducted by GolfNSW Regional Manager, Mark Ingrey.
Players are then accompanied around the course during the competition and are assisted with rulings and general golf course etiquette.
“I found the clinic very good. I think I was getting a little bit lost in my game and Mark gave me a few things to focus and work on to try and improve,” said Singleton’s Erin Bailey.
Leoni Scorse from the Vintage was also another grateful recipient.
“I found the clinic excellent. I found Mark to be a very, very good explainer of what we should be doing and good with his demonstrations and I got a lot out of it, particularly getting the ball up in the air with the chipper,” she said.
And today’s winner Almond, has no doubt the tips worked for her.
“I was off the green and I remembered what I was taught and I chipped the ball very close to the pin and was able to sink the putt.
“It sure helped me.”
As they say _ winners are grinners.
