White digs deep for third open crown
PORTARLINGTON golfer Robbie White overcame a mid-round meltdown to claim his club’s open championship for the third time on Saturday.
White put in two solid rounds to topple a high-class field that was almost entirely made up of golfers with handicaps under 10.
Nicknamed “Real Deal”, White lived up to his reputation with an opening round of 71 followed by an afternoon score of 76.
White’s 147, playing off one, saw him finish three shots clear of East Geelong’s Chris Chapman (-1).
But White almost came undone on the back nine on Saturday afternoon.
He bogeyed 14, 15 and fourputted the 16th for a double bogey.
With his lead closing, White dug deep, paring the par-three 17th and the par-four 18th.
Chapman shot two rounds of 75 for his second, while James Harvey shot rounds of 77 and 74 to finish third.
Bannockburn’s Jacob Toyne (16) led the field into the clubhouse in the morning with a nett 66. Toyne had a nett 71 in the afternoon and his 169 was enough to claim the Cgrade competition for the day.
East Geelong’s Paul McDonald (6) took home Bgrade, finishing five shots clear of Sanctuary Lakes’ Michael Portelli with 158. AAP — Bookmaker the TAB gives us a little something to think about after Day’s bomb. OMNOMNOMNOM. That’s the sound of Rory McIllroy eating his words. The golf star was quick to bash the idea of golf at the Olympics, but this week backtracked on his original sentiments. “To see the crowds and see the turnout, I was glad to be somewhat proven wrong.”