The 2026 Lithgow Ladies Golf Championships sponsored by Westfund and Lithgow Auto Group has reached the halfway mark and there are three championship titles in A, B and C grade titles up for grabs. Along with the scratch scores there are also handicap events in the three grades with the championships at the 36 holes mark with a further 36 to be played. Players have had to contend with some different conditions especially last Sunday that threw up rain, wind and freezing conditions and amazingly some played better than the better conditions the day before.
The A grade scratch event is a matter of ‘catch me if you can’ with Joanne Banning (16) a clear leader. After leading Deanna Goodsell (21) by only one shot, Banning showed a clean pair of heels with an excellent 88 off the stick while Goodsell struggled in the shocking conditions posting a round of 106 to now trail by 19. But as all golfers know anything can happen in golf especially in championship golf. Banning’s rounds consisted of 91, 88 for a total of 179 while Goodsell scored 92, 106 for her 198. Banning also leads the handicap section on 147 nett with the talented Christine Peachman six back on 153 nett. Also in the picture is Heidi Inwood on 153 nett and all three are very competitive which makes for a good finish.
The B grade scratch and handicap is highly exciting with ties in both events. Leaders in the scratch are the inform Julie Rosewarne (27) and Kim Burton (27) who is also very consistent. Rosewarne’s rounds were 109 and 100 for a total of 209 while Burton a little bit more consistent with 104 and 105 for her 209. Leonie Hughes (32) holds a narrow one point lead in the handicap section with three players snapping at her heels all on 153 nett. Hughes’ nett score of 154 consisted of rounds of 76 and 78 while one back are Julie Rosewarne, Carol Burton (27) and Kim Burton. The closeness of the four players should make for a very exciting finish.
C grade has a different format with their event being a stableford and the leader is Robyn Houlison (37) after amassing rounds of 39 and 30 points for a total of 69 points. In second place is Krystan Griffiths (38) who is back on 55 points.
One again a big thanks goes out to sponsors Westfund and Lithgow Auto Motors for their valued support of the championships.