SMITHFIELD — There were no extra holes needed this year to decide the Birch Creek Ladies Club Championship. Tammy Gustaveson made it three titles in a row Thursday as she put together two solid rounds. The first 18 holes took place last week with the second and final 18 being played on a beautiful morning at Birch Creek on Thursday.
“I felt good both days we played,” said Gustaveson, who was also one of the top players at the Logan River Ladies Championship. “..
. I like Birch because it is more open and you can just really swing away. At the River, for me, it’s more of a target game.
” Consistency was the key. Gustaveson followed up an 80 from the first round with an 81 on Thursday. Her two-day total of 161 was 11 shots better than Teresa Lundahl (172).
Those two ladies tied a year ago and needed two sudden-death playoff holes to decide the champion. Just like in 2023, Gustaveson took a lead into the second round. She was up six strokes over Lundahl and eight on Mandy Haynie, who ended up third at 175.
But like the Gustaveson, the other ladies scored right around what they did in the first round. “I knew Teresa was six strokes behind and Mandy was eight and Dawn (Drost) was 12, so I figured if I could just play like I did last week that I would have a chance,” Gustaveson said. “I felt really good about coming into today’s game.
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But you never know because these ladies can improve by 10 strokes in a round, so you never know until everyone is in.” That happened last year, but Gustaveson also had some struggles in the second round in 2023. That was not the case this year.
Having purchased three new irons recently, Gustaveson wasn’t sure if she should use them in the championship. She decided to put them to work on the final round. She was able to hit some nice drives and sink some timely putts as well.
“The new irons worked really good,” Gustaveson said. “I challenged myself to do that, and they worked really well. .
.. Within about 100 yards, I use my irons.
My driver has been working really well.” A string of pars had Gustaveson looking at an even lower score in the final round. An out of bounds drive on No.
15 cost her as she recorded a seven for that hole. “I don’t like to take sevens,” Gustaveson said. “That messes with your game.
I battled back though and settled my nerves with a birdie on the par 3.” That birdie game on No. 17 after a good tee shot with her new 9-iron.
She finished strong to wrap up the 2024 title. “It seems like that is the way I play my game,” Gustaveson said. “When I get in trouble and I have to battle, it makes me play better.
It gets my concentration going the right way. ..
. And it worked out really good with one of my new irons.” The golfer from Providence won her first title in 2003.
Three championships in a row has her on the edge of tying the longest title streak for the Birch Creek ladies. Pam Seamons won four in a row. “Well, that gives me something to go after,” said Gustaveson when told about Seamons’ streak.
“But I’ve got to work that much harder because these girls are 50 years younger than me. ..
. This old gal is still going and having fun.” The three-time champion made sure to thank Birch Creek grounds superintendent Chad Daniels.
“The conditions were really good and let me tell you, Chad Daniels and his crew have got this course in great shape,” Gustaveson said. “For as hot as it has been this summer, they have this course in great shape. I don’t know how much better it could get.
The greens were good. They were fast, which is my tempo. “All around it was just a good round for me.
The girls I played with were really simple to play with. They are good players and that kept me motivated.” The pace of play by the leaders was also good as they completed their 18 holes on Thursday under four hours.
“We all played about the same pace, and I think we all liked it,” Gustaveson said. “We didn’t have anyone in front of us and we just kept going. That’s important to me because I’m kind of a fast player anyway.
” Lots of work has been paying off for Gustaveson, who admits to being driven by competition. “I probably golf every day,” Gustaveson said. “I do something with the clubs every day and that helps.
This is a hard game. It’s the hardest game I’ve ever played and I have played a lot of sports. “.
.. I word hard at it.
That is part of the competitive side of me. It’s always been like that with me. I was the biggest tomboy in Providence.
I had five brothers, so I had to be.” Gustaveson plans to keep golfing and hopes to still be playing well next summer..
