Annika Rahtbone and Ella Scaysbrook, teammates at Club and State Levels, are set to shine at this week’s women’s NSW Open.
The pair, fresh off a win in last weekend’s Metropolitan Major Pennant Final, had their first hit out at Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club today.
For Scaysbrook, it’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks; fresh of her playoff win at the Regional Qualifying tournament at Bathurst, the 18-year-old from Newcastle trekked to Adelaide for the South Australian Amateur Classic to grab her first national ranking event.
“I was really happy to win. It was just me and Riley (Millers) who went over, and it was kind of nice to do it all myself; just be in my own zone.”
Scaysbrook admitted she didn’t think winning so soon after collecting a WPGA Tour-sanctioned tournament would come as quickly as it did, but she was overjoyed to do so.
“I thought backing up the next week was always going to be tough, but
I was on kind of a high after Bathurst, so I just kept the roll going.”
And, of course, there was a Major Pennant Final at Riverside Oaks just last Sunday to cap it all off.
“it was a pretty special win too, it was my third with the team.”
Like Scaysbrook, Annika Rathbone was still revelling in Sunday’s victory, her fifth with the team.
“It was awesome to win the final, I played pretty well, and I’m really excited for what it means for this wek.”
Unlike Scaysbrook and her other NSW State Teammates, Rathbone’s preparation for the week has been slightly different due to her work duties as an electrician with State Rail. She’s had to be more than a little resourceful with her limited practice time.
“I came out a couple of weeks ago for a practice. It was my first time seeing it.
Both players agreed that the course’s condition was first-class and that it would take a lot of work to post a competitive score.
“It is in a pure condition, a lot like the Australian; the greens are quite similar,’ Rathbone said.
Scaysbrook, who has played the Magenta Layout on several occasions, said the key was to keep hitting it straight and staying in the fairway.
“It’s a really good match-play course. I’ve played the Fayde match-play here a few times, so I feel I know it quite well.
“It’s playing a bit different this week, a bit longer than what I’m used to, though.”
“It’s always windy here, no matter what, so you’ve got to keep it on the fairway and get it on the greens pretty much,” Scaysbrook added.
As for their chances this week, neither was getting too far in front of themselves.
” I’m excited, not just for this week but the whole two weeks.”
“It will be good to show a lot of people how good we can compete,” Rathbone added.
“My first goal for the week will be to just make the cut,’ Scaysbrook said. “Once I do that I can make a move. I never give up; I always keep going,” Scaybrook grinned.
