Golf Vic Vol 60 No 2 2019

As for 18-year-old Nishimura, her weekend rounds of 68-69 blew the field away in the women’s event, especially when she rolled in four consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 14th, the third of them from shouting range but the fourth a tap-in at the par- three 14th. Runner-up in the Asia Pacific women’s championship in 2018, she was the class player in a field weakened by the tournament’s clash with the Queen Sirikit Cup competition in Adelaide. Nishimura’s win was instructive in an era where athletes can be pampered souls; she never deigned to hire a caddie or talk to a coach, dragging her own clubs and making her own decisions. Although she travelled with the Japanese team, she was technically a lone wolf. She wore pink and white on the final day, rather than the customary red and white of Japan, not for any reason other than the fact she has already moved on from the nation’s elite amateur programs and into Japan’s rookie program. “I already graduated from the JGA team,” she said later. “I’m prepared to turn pro, but JGA is still supporting me.” As for her apparent lack of support on the course, it was a shrug of the shoulders: “I can focus on my game plan,” she said. Nishimura, who comes from outside Kyoto, finished at 10-under despite a double bogey from behind the green at the par-five seventh hole on the last day. At least two Australians were in with a chance before Nishimura ran wild on the back nine on Sunday. Queensland’s Becky Kay had a share of the lead momentarily and eventually finished tied-second with another Japanese player, Miyu Yamashita, while Victorian champion Stephanie Bunque played in the final group but faded to fourth place. Riversdale had itself another couple of legends for the honour roll and Nishimura, who won a tournament two years ago at home, had it in perspective. “That was big, but this is bigger,’’ she said. Crabtree surveyed the great list of names on the men’s cup and found it hard to fathom. “I’ve never been close to a lead, never played in the last group. This is unbelievable. I don’t even know what to think yet.’’ Golf Victoria 11