Orr adds ninth Manitoba Women’s Senior title to trophy case

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This article was published 13/08/2022 (1490 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rhonda Orr winning Golf Manitoba’s Women’s Senior Championship has become an annual summer tradition around these parts.

On Friday evening at Larters at St. Andrews Golf and Country Club, Orr captured her ninth provincial senior’s title in 10 years and seventh in a row.

The 60-year-old golfer out of Southwood shot 74-79-75 for a three-round total of 18-over 228 to give herself a 14-stroke victory over second-place finisher Tammy Gibson out of Niakwa.

“Well, I have a goal to win 10. I think Jo-Ann Lindsay won it 10 times so I’d like to get there,” said Orr moments after being reunited with the trophy.

Lindsay actually won it nine times between 1992-2005, which puts her and Orr in a tie for the second most Manitoba women’s senior crowns. Elmhurst’s Ann Tachan (1966-1982) stands alone in first place with 10.

“You know, it’s funny. Every year I kind of just set my goals and because I’m still active, maybe I don’t think about it as much. Obviously, I got my nice Hall of Fame induction this year so part of this year was to go out and prove that I deserve to be there. I think I did that today,” said Orr, who was inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame in May.

Orr will now spend the next few weeks preparing for the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship that’s set to take place in Winnipeg at Breezy Bend Country Club from Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The event has been circled on her calendar for quite some time.

“Oh, it’s really special. I’ve been looking forward to this. I think it was three years ago when it got announced and then cancelled,” Orr said.

“It’s been on my radar wanting to play at home, wanting to play somewhere where you’re comfortable playing and having your friends and family around to support you. It’s just really exciting.”

Orr’s best finish at nationals was fourth place. She hopes to make the most of her hometown advantage and reach the podium for the first time. But there’ll be some stiff competition with B.C.’s Shelly Stouffer coming to town. Stouffer recently won the USGA’s Senior Women’s Amateur in Alaska.

“I gotta win. I know it’s tough. Shelly Stouffer just whipped everyone at the USGA’s, but you have to go in believing that that’s your goal,” said Orr.

On the men’s side, Rossmere’s Rob Oliphant won his first Manitoba Senior Championship.

The 57-year-old got off to a hot start by shooting a 67 in Round 1 on Wednesday, followed by scores of 74 and 75 for a 216 total. Niakwa’s Jay Doyle (74-74-71) settled for second and Elmhurst’s Carl Lechman (77-77-68) took the bronze after finishing strong on Friday.

“Well, it’s pretty good. I won the Match Play earlier in the year so it was nice to follow it up. We have a really good player coming to seniors next year in Todd Fanning, so this was my year to take it,” said Oliphant with a laugh. “It’s been a good year.”

Oliphant, a member at Rossmere since 1976, doesn’t have to go far to work on his game.

“My mom and dad bought a house on the second tee and my mom thought it was a good place to stick me. I don’t know if (the course) was a babysitter or not. When we were allowed to join at 12, we started playing and that was just our schtick all summer long,” Oliphant said.

“We played golf all day long and that was it. Funnily enough, I bought a house on the golf course on the first hole, about 300 yards from the first tee, so that’s been my thing.”

Oliphant will head to Alberta for the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club (Sept. 6-9).

“I enjoy the national events. I’ve gone to a number of mid-amateur national events and I just enjoy them,” said Oliphant.

“I don’t putt very well on those courses, but anyway, that’s another story.”

taylor.allen@freeepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31