Lynbrook duo win Rosebowl

Tough opponents, a windy second round and even a rogue gopher hole - nothing could stop the Lynbrook Golf and Country Club team of Debbie Firth and Sharon Knittel from taking top spot in the Rosebowl provincial championship on their home course Thursday afternoon.
The duo followed an opening round 61 Wednesday with a 63 in round two, carding a 124 total to take first place by three shots over Regina's Edie Laidlaw and Marlene Bennett.
"I was actually the one who wanted to get the tournament to come to Moose Jaw and was on the committee to help get it going, so this worked out well," Firth said with a laugh.
"Sharon and I play doubles tournaments together quite often and we've been successful, when one person isn't doing well the other is, that's usually how it turns out."
As it was, both players were on their game and used the best ball net score format to rack up impressive scores both days. Firth traditionally shoots in the mid 90s but carded rounds of 87 and 90 for the two days, while Knittel hovers in the 105 range but managed rounds of 100 and 102.
"And that's taking a nine and an out of bounds on three. So it could have been better yet," Knittel said.
"I couldn't belIeve I shot an 87 yesterday because I wasn't really paying attention to what I was scoring individually," added Firth. "I was more worried what our team was at."
Given their single shot lead over clubmates Dianne Breton and Kathleen Martell after the first round, that concern was definitely founded heading into Thursday's play.
But Firth and Knittel didn't falter, putting up birdies on three of their first four holes and shooting 32 on the front before carding a seven-under 31 on the back that included an eagle on 16.
The local squad couldn't have known, but Laidlaw and Bennett were hot on their heels through the first nine, as they put up seven birdies and an eagle to card a 28. They weren't quite as solid on the back, shooting 33.
The round nearly took a disasterous turn in the early going as while looking for an opponents ball, Firth's caught a gopher hole with her foot and fell. There was no serious damage, though, and the team carried on their string of successful holes.
"I went down the hill to help look for the ball just caught it on a hole," Firth said. "I hurt my knee a bit but it was okay and we kept going."
The team also successfully dealt with the pressure of playing in front, something that's brought many a player to their knees, both amateurs and pros, in the past.
"Actually I was really bad on the front but Debbie was good, even with the gopher hole," Knittel said, drawing a laugh from both players.
"Then I was shakey on the back and she was making the putts," Firth said. "I knew that we would have to put in another consistent round, and at time it was a little shakey, but we managed to pull it out."
Breton and Martell went on to a second-round 67 and 129 total to finish third, while the Hillcrest Sports Centre team of Jean Kempel and Kusum Palmer put together a second-straight 65 to finish fourth at 130.
Sandra Davey and Emily Montgomery also put together a top 10 finish, placing eighth at 134.

Randy Palmer can be reached at 691-1257