In the swing: Port Kembla Golf Club ladies president Lauris Kentwell with Port Kembla Bowl winner Colleen Bell. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
GOLF
Port Kembla golfer Colleen Bell recovered from a knee operation late last year to play some superb golf at the 33rd annual Illowra tournament that finished at Port Kembla Golf Club yesterday.
Bell won the open singles with rounds of 79 and 78 off the stick on Monday and yesterday to take home the Port Kembla Bowl.
She finished nine strokes ahead of her nearest rival.
Earlier in the tournament Bell paired with Port Kembla Golf Club ladies president Lauris Kentwell to win the Port Kembla Salver open foursomes.
"Colleen's playing better golf than ever," Kentwell said.
"She's probably off one of the lowest handicaps she's been off. She's off three at the moment."
Playing conditions were tough but the course was magnificent. "It's been a very successful tournament. We're one of the few clubs that can run three-day tournaments," Kentwell said.
Kentwell joked that she won the open foursomes because she had a good partner.
When told her playing partner and club president said that, Bell laughed and commented, "No, she would've said I hit her into lots of bunkers, because I did hit her in some bunkers. We play a lot together."
Bell, who had knee surgery last October and was unable to play golf for four months, hit the ball beautifully over the three days, especially her long, straight drives.
"It feels really good to play golf with two good knees," Bell said.
"The course is absolutely fantastic considering all the bad weather we've had."
Division one gross winner was Natika Dunn, runner-up Debbie Byrnes; division two gross winner was Marge Saunders, runner-up Debbie Carrier; division three gross winner was Pat King, runner-up Heather Campbell.
In the stableford competition, nett winner was Jeannie Hogben and runner-up was Sue Blazic, while the gross winner was Dawn Crowther.
The tournament attracted about 350 women golfers over the three days and they came from 16 visiting clubs including Young, Cabramatta and Moss Vale, as well as from other clubs in the Illawarra district.
