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Home course advantage for Thompson

A course record 73 in round one set the stage for Donna Thompson as she captured her third B.C. Senior Ladies' provincial championship on Wednesday at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club in Roberts Creek.

A course record 73 in round one set the stage for Donna Thompson as she captured her third B.C. Senior Ladies' provincial championship on Wednesday at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club in Roberts Creek.

Thompson, a member at the club for 10 years, started the event with a blistering round of 73 on Monday and followed that up with rounds of 77 and 81 for a 231 score to claim her third Lucy Markham trophy. Thompson also won the B.C. title in 1996 and '97.

Thompson will represent the province at the national championships set for late August in Manitoba. Joining her on Team B.C. are Alison Murdoch from the Victoria Club, Lynda Palahniuk, the reigning senior ladies' champion, and Tia Chisholm.

Palahniuk plays out of Kelowna while Chisholm plays out of the Vancouver Club. Murdoch finished the event with a 236 score with rounds of 78, 78 and 80; Palahniuk was third with a 238 score with rounds of 80, 77 and 81; while Chisholm fired a total of 242 with rounds of 79, 77 and 86.

The tournament got off to a fantastic start on Monday as the full field of 96 teed off in Roberts Creek.

Thompson set the pace with what she described as a "career round."

On day two, Vicki Torbet, who plays out of Marine Drive, tied Thompson's course record score and held the lead heading into the final round. But an accident prior to the start of Wednesday's final round forced Torbet to withdraw, setting the stage for an unpredictable day of golf.

"Vicki was heading to the practice area, slipped, fell and ripped a tendon in her knee," said Debbie Pyne, executive director of the B.C. Ladies' Golf Association. "She was taken to hospital in Vancouver. It was very unfortunate. Vicki is one of the top elite players. You never want to see anyone go down with an injury like that."

Thompson said she was happy with her win but also felt for her friend and fellow competitor.

"The victory is bittersweet for sure. I didn't want to win it this way," Thompson said. "I had Vicki up here twice for practice rounds. She was playing beautiful golf this week. It's very sad, but she wanted us to keep going and play our best. That shows what type of person Vicki is and her strong character."

Pyne added that overall the tournament was a resounding success.

"The course, staff and organizing committee put on a fantastic event," Pyne said. "There is a real sense of spirit and sportsmanship at this event and I think that's evident by the play this week from all the competitors. We have some of the best senior ladies' golfers in Canada. We're two-time defending champs and we're looking forward to a three-peat. I think we have the team to do that."