At the Ladies Club Championship on Aug. 30, Cathy Horcoff wanted to defend her title “really badly.”
Little did she know she’d need to turn in a personal record to achieve it.
The Prince Rupert resident shot a gross score of 75, which is the best she’s ever done on the Rupert golf course, beating her previous record of 76.
Runner-up to Horcoff was Jackie Touchet with a 79 score, a win that was almost as sweet for Horcoff.
“Jackie commented it’s a ‘duel to death’. Both of us went in wanting to beat each other, but in a fun way. It was very nice for me to squeak past her and do it with a good round,” she said.
The key to her win wasn’t anything technical about the sport itself, but rather the competition.
“Having to compete against Jackie. When you know there’s that true level of competition, you have to elevate your game to be able to compete. That’s probably why we both played well.”
There was lots for Horcoff to like about her winning performance.
“I hit some great golf shots and what did it for me that night was getting up and down around the greens. I had lots of birdie opportunities and tap-in pars,” she said.
What has changed about her game this year, she said, is that she’s striking the ball better. Anything she hits into the greens, she’s putting it close.
“It was exciting for me to be playing (against Touchet) and have to play well to win.”
Cook’s Jewellers is the sponsor for the winning prize from the tournament. Horcoff will be presented with that at the ladies closing fall meeting, which will happen in early fall.
Horcoff, who only golfs about a dozen times a year these days, loves the competitive edge of golf, but it’s herself she is competing against.
“Next time I go out, I’ll be competing against that score. You can’t beat the game,” she said.
The long-time golfer says she is prepared to defend her title again next year.
Both Horcoff and Touchet participated in a golf scramble on Sept. 5. But this time, they played on a team as partners, not friendly rivals. So the opportunity to best each other will have to wait for another time.