Royal Melbourne breaks pennant drought
A proud Royal Melbourne team keeps the men's department one piece of flag.
Click here for the results of all Victorian Pennant finals
Australia's most famous club, Royal Melbourne, has broken an 88-year drought by winning the men's single title in the Victorian metropolitan pennant contest, while Huntingdale stunned undefeated Commonwealth to win the women's crown
The victory of Royal Melbourne over Metropolitan near Victoria goes in the annals of the club; it is the first club since 1931, when the legendary Ivo Whitton, winner of five Australian Open titles, led the winning team.
It was also the very first time that the club won the men's division one and men's foals in the same year.
The victory in division 1 was secured when the number 3 of Royal Melbourne, James McMillan, Metropolitan team member Aiden Didone 3 and 1 at the 17th hole closed today.
Royal Melbourne eventually 5-2 in general with Victorian stars Matias Sanchez and Darcy Brereton victorious in the numbers 1 and 2 games.
"It's an extraordinary opportunity for us," said club captain David Thomas, who was among those who watched the final in Victoria.
In the women's division, a final, Huntingdale dominated to win 5½ – 1 ½, despite being the underdog. Weapon-state player and 14-time club champion Helen Gubbels took care of match-winning fourth point when she made a solid par at the par-five 17th hole to defeat Commonwealth & Kai Shipp.
The result was the opposite of last year's final and was a surprise, given that Commonwealth had gone through the season unbeaten. But on the day the Commonwealth won only one match – Nr. 5 Kim Kennedy defeated Huntingdale captain Emily Smith three and two at the sixteenth hole.
The winning Huntingdale team consisted of 14-year-old Malaysian immigrant Jeneath Wong, who played number 1 and defeated Commonwealth team member Alex Hilliard 3 and 2.
Full results list (click here for competition scores):
PEOPLE
Division 1
Royal Melbourne
final
metropolitan
Division 2
Latrobe
final
Rosanna
Division 3
Woodlands
final
Riversdale
Division 4
Medway
final
Kooringal
Division 5
Box hill
final
eastern
Section 6
Bacchus Marsh
final
Ranfurlie
WOMEN
Division 1
Huntingdale
final
Commonwealth
Division 2
Victoria
final
metropolitan
Division 3
Rosanna
final
Settlers Run
Division 4
Latrobe
final
northern
COLTS
Division 1
Royal Melbourne
final
Yarra Yarra
Division 2
Peninsula-Kingswood
final
Huntingdale
Division 3
northern
final
Churchill-Waverley
Division 4
Kew
final
Kooringal
Division 5
eastern
final
Settlers Run
WOMEN'S WOMEN
Division 1
Victoria
final
Huntingdale
Division 2
Cranbourne
final
metropolitan
Division 3
Rosanna
final
Latrobe
Division 4
Yering Meadows
final
Box hill
