Dale’s birdies blitz field

Crothers led the big field from start to finish, opening with a six-under 66. That lightning start included seven birdies with just one bogey.

Day’s one-lead of one stroke increased to three after the second-round with a four-under 68 which, despite four bogeys, included a huge eight birdies.

The lead further increased to four following the third round in which he repeated his brilliant first round 66 with six birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.

After Thursday’s third round he was rightly very happy with his game. “I drove the ball well and made some good putts,” 23-year-old Crothers said at the time. 

“My game is in good shape and ready for tomorrow.” Crothers proved that with another sustained round in which he fired his fourth consecutive sub-par round, a one-under-par 71. It had three bogeys but moreover, contained four birdies. 

It was a very satisfied winner. “I was more excited towards the end knowing that I’d won,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.

“It was great to see the hard work paying off. It’s the best four consecutive rounds I’ve played.

“I drove the ball all four days really, really good and held some putts which helps. The course was in really good condition despite rain beforehand. The weather was good. It didn’t rain until presentation time!” 

Runner-up was Brayden Petersen from Asquith Golf Club NSW whose total score of 277 was 11-under-par, six adrift of the winner.

After a solid two-under first round 70, defending champion Frazer Droop stumbled with a second-round 75.

But on day three, the star final year trainee was one of just two players who recorded the best individual round score with a glorious seven-under-par 65. The sizzling 65 put him in outright fifth position at that stage.

Droop went on to have another equal best fourth round score, of three-under for an overall event total of nine-under-par 279 for a tied third position.

Another local trainee Jamie Stapleton missed the cut after two rounds of 77 for a 10-over-par and a tied 65th position. 

Crothers’s win was his first trainee championship title. He also claimed the Victorian Trainee Championship which was played concurrently during the four-day Tocumwal tournament. And there was the biggest slice of the tournament’s overall $35,000 purse.

Head coach at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort Evan Droop was full of praise for his trainees. “It was just a fantastic effort by Dale as a first-year trainee,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.

“It just continues the outstanding results from the trainees. I think we’re the envy of every trainee in Australia with three trainees.”

Upon his return to YMGCR Pro Shop, the popular Dale was showered with congratulations on his outstanding Tocumwal performance which he appreciated.