Most English golf professionals would not know where Branxton is.
Davies, who was a hit among Hunter golf fans when she played at the ALPG Players Championship at Horizons in 2003 and 2004, used the 36-hole tournament as preparation for the Australian summer events. Played as a men’s pro-am tournament for 17 years, numbers were dwindling so officials decided to switch to a female event last year which kick-started a revival. The major beneficiary of the Branxton event is the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. General manager Richard Jones and tournament organiser Mick Watson were impressed with the English star. “She was great for the event and she said she is keen to come back next year,” Jones said. “Now she has won the Australian Open she should stick to the same preparation.” Davies had not played since her victory at the Dubai Ladies Masters in early December last year when she arrived at Branxton.
After agreeing to auction off a place for someone to play alongside her, which raised close to $1000 for the charity, Davies lined up for the shoot-out on the Friday afternoon prior to the event starting.