GOLF

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

TRARALGON-BORN Nadene Gole recently took out the US Senior Women’s Amateur title, surmounting a phenomenal year on the green.

Gole proceeded this win claiming trophies in the Victorian Senior Amateur, South Australian Senior Amateur, Tasmanian Senior Amateur, and New Zealand Senior Amateur.

The previous biggest of the bunch definitely came at the R&A Women’s Senior Amateur in England, where she was crowned champion after pipping last year’s winner Jackie Foster at the second hole in a sudden death play-off.

These achievements and Gole’s efforts have placed her No. 116 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, by far the highest-ranking female senior in the world.

Gole made it to the quarterfinals in her first year competing in the American competition – yet again facing some of the best in her bracket, she said she didn’t feel that nervous given the familiarity this time around.

“Being there the first time felt a little bit foreign, I was probably less prepared this year because there’s been plenty of other things going on,” Gole told the Express.

“I just went out and played golf the best way I could.”

Confidence was the name of the game and Gole exerted that from the moment she stepped up to the tee.

“Not cocky in that respect but I was in control of my game and I was playing pretty good golf,” she said.

“When you’re hitting fairways and greens it probably puts pressure on your opponent.”

Gole faced Canadian Shelly Stouffer in the final in a three and two victory.

Gole never trailed in the championship match, taking a two-up lead on the seventh hole, however Stouffer mounted a case following a birdie on the ninth and a par on the 10th to draw it level.

“Momentum did swing her way, and then I birdied 12, holed an 18-foot on 13 and got up-and-down on 14, birdied 15 and that’s probably when I fired back and it came back to me,” Gole said.

“So, not so much nerves, I just think how a sport can change quite quickly.”

Gole grew up in Traralgon, and as most country kids do, taking up a variety of sports.

Gravitating to golf in part due to her parents Kevin and Joan Hall, she began playing at the Traralgon Golf Club as a junior.

One early memory sprang to mind when thinking back to early life with a club in hand.

“I got my handicap when we use to put our three cards in and I played the West Gippsland Championship with Traralgon and I sent 93 off first dink and I think I was off 36 so I was coming off (as a) 57 net (score). We had to quickly get to handicap to play in the event and I won it and I played quite well early on,” Gole said.

“I was playing state-level at 15 and representing Australia by the time I was 18 – which is late these days.”

Taking a 20-year gap to raise her family, Gole returned to the sport in 2019 before taking up the seniors’ competition in 2022.

“It’s just the sport I love and I’ve come back to it enjoying it and having a different perspective,” she said.

Speaking more in-depth about her passion for golf, Gole said the mental component often interests and challenges her more so than the physical side.

“I think the mental application that’s required, you know, it’s difficult, but I think that some of the best people, the people that become great at what they do is that they understand the mental side of the game,” she said.

This year Gole has spent a great deal of time touring, with quite the trophy case to show for it, but she mentioned that the heavy travel is still a burden even when you’re winning.

“I don’t necessarily enjoy flying economy for 24 hours. I love getting there and competing, and I’m not like the other competitors, they do it full-time – I fly in a week before play and leave and come back to work,” she said.

“A lot of the people my age and a bit older are doing it full-time.”

Gole’s 2024 campaign comes to a close beginning today (October 16) when she defends her women’s title at the Australian Senior Amateur Championships in South Australia as the 10th event to conclude her captivating year.