The Golf Australia Victorian team has claimed victory in its annual match against the Australian Defence Forces, after earlier in the week the Golf Australia national team drew with the Defence Forces.

The GA Vic team went into the final day of the event trailing 6.5 to 5.5 after the day one fourball and foursomes matches, however came home strongly in the individual matches, winning 8 of the 12 matches.

“It was a great come back from the team”, said Pat Giles, Victoria’s non-playing team captain.

“We are thrilled to win the event as it is a special one on the calendar,” he said.

Played at Sorrento Golf Club, the Victorian team of Alex Austin, Mark Abeyaratne, Gordon Claney, Geoff Charnley, Ian McCleary, Guy Krall, Stephen Valentine, Colin George, Robert Wallace, Alan Bullas, Helen Pascoe and Suah Kim combined well to outlast the Defence Forces.

Justin Wells from the ADF was presented with the Paul Lulofs Medal as the only undefeated player.

Earlier in the week at Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club it was a much tighter affair, with the match between the Golf Australia national team and the ADF finishing all square.

The event came down to the last pair of Chris Campbell and Justin Wells fighting out the result on the last hole of the last game of singles. GA's Chris Campbell prevailed for a 1 up win over Wells to even the match 12 games all.

“The tie was a fitting result after both teams played some scintillating golf over the two days at a magnificently prepared Peninsula Kingswood North and South courses” Mike Peeck, GA’s captain said.

“It was a pleasure to be a part of my wonderful team which consisted of Chris Everett, Christopher Campbell, Peter Hargreaves, Colin Hallam, Geoffrey Walker, Stephen Valentine, John Mihaljevic, Mark Gatty, Peter Wightman, Louise Mullard and Adele Douglas,” Peeck said.

The GA national and GA Victorian matches against the Australian Defence Forces are played yearly, over a Ryder-Cup style format. The event is highly regarded on both the Golf Australia and Defence Forces schedules and it played in great spirit and wonderful camaraderie. 

Full results:

GA National v ADF Match: https://www.golf.org.au/eventscalendar#/competition/2151378/info

GA Victorian v ADF Match: https://www.golf.org.au/eventscalendar#/competition/2325545/info