The 2019-20 Women’s GC Tournament was held at Heretaunga Croquet Club from 2nd to 3rd November with 22 players from around the country competing.
Eleanor Ross from Nelson, was looking for her third consecutive title. Entering the tournament Ross had not dropped a single game during her previous two title runs.
It was in block play where she recorded her first loss in three years at the tournament, losing 4-7 to Lynette Grant (Hawkes Bay).
Despite that loss, Ross still qualified top of Block A and was joined in the quarter-finals by Marion Taylor (Auckland), Isobelle-Alan Ward (Manawatu-Wanganui), Isabelle Tong (South Taranaki), Moya Lewis (Taranaki), Helen Reeves (Hawkes Bay), Gillian Railey (Auckland) and Sonya Sedgwick (Hawkes Bay).
In the first quarter-final, Ross took three games to beat Taylor 7-3, 5-7, 7-3. Tong beat ward 7-2, 7-6 in the second, Reeves beat Lewis 7-6, 7-5. Sedgwick also beat Railey 7-0, 7-4 to set up a semi-final contest with Trans-Tasman teammate, Reeves.
It was Reeves who emerged victorious and advanced to the final after beating Sedgwick 5-7, 7-6, 7-4. In the other semi-final, Tong pushed Ross however it was Ross who advanced to her third consecutive final 7-6, 7-5.
Reeves, who will partner Ross at the upcoming GC National Doubles later this month, started strong taking game 1 2-7. Ross bounced back in game 2 winning 7-3 to level the best of 3 match. Ross then claimed game three 7-4 to claim the 2019-20 Women’s GC title and complete the 3-peat.
For full results, click here.
