YOUNG Kerang golf prodigy Olive Spitty has been described as a “just a natural” after blitzing the field in the Murray Downs Ladies Club Championship.
The 12 year-old won by an astonishing 20 shots to runner-up Maree Thurwood, carding 76, 83 and 80 over the three rounds, to leave a large gathering of golfers in awe of her talent.
“She’s easily the best young golfer I’ve ever seen, she has the most immaculate swing, which is just so easy and natural and incredible to watch – she’s just a natural golfer that has some of the most amazing shots in her repertoire,” Murray Downs Ladies club captain Mag Kiley said.
“She’s most certainly capable of going all the way, we’ll be watching her on television instead of watching her playing around here soon enough.”
“She has a great family base that support her incredibly which is so important – she’s been a junior member here for about four years now, but this is the first time she’s played with the other ladies, she usually plays competition golf with her dad on the weekends.”
Olive’s incredible golfing talents haven’t been confined to just Murray Downs however, with the Year 7 student at St Mary MacKillop College the reigning champion at the prestigious Commonwealth Golf Club as well as having also being the reigning Kerang Golf Club Ladies Club Champion.
But perhaps Olive’s greatest achievement to date would be as a member of the Commonwealth Golf Club’s victorious Division 1 pennant team, which recently won the Victorian Country Championships at the Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
Olive’s father Andrew, who himself is a keen golfer, was thrilled for his daughter and all she has achieved in such a short period of time.
“We’re incredibly proud of her, she’s achieved a fair bit so far over her short golfing journey – the most important thing is she loves playing and as long she enjoys it that’s the main thing,” Andrew said.
“We just try and support Olive and Mabel (Olive’s younger sister, who also plays) as best we can – we just try and support them and show them the way to play and try and help with their development.”
Olive’s dream of one day competing on the LPGA Tour and travelling the world may already be one step closer, with both her and her sister Mabel set to jet off to the United States to compete in the upcoming school holidays.
In the other results from Wednesday’s final round of the Ladies Club Championships, Lynne Bishop claimed the A Grade handicap title with a score of 213 from Runner-Up Maree Thurwood. Marg Moore was crowned B Grade Champion with a score 273 – eight shots clear of Runner-Up Sue Davis, while Jenny Lynas and Lois Tippett were declared the C and D Grade Murray Downs Ladies Club Champions.
