Australia’s Nadene Gole made history as she produced four birdies in her final nine holes to win the 2025 English Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship at Gerrards Cross to become the first Australian to take the prestigious title.
The world number one ranked senior women’s amateur saved her best until last as she shot the round of the tournament, a 70 (-2) on Thursday and was the only player in the field to shoot an under-par score across the three days.
After being co-leader on day one, the 56-year-old then dropped two shots behind Switzerland’s Karin Luxon who was leading at the end of round two.
However, with 18 holes to play, Gole, who hails from Melbourne, came back superbly with three consecutive birdies from holes 13-15 to turn the tide and clinch the title with a final score of +5, five shots ahead of Luxon, who finished 2nd on +10.
She said: “It’s a fabulous event to win. I played it two years ago and decided to come back this year, so it’s an absolute treat to win an event I haven’t won before.
“When you become the first person from your country to win something, it’s always special. I’ve been very fortunate to have people in Australia supporting me, my club members and all of my friends back home, so I think they’ll be thrilled that I’ve won and to be the first Australian to win this event, it’s just another thing I’ll really cherish."
This is just the latest title in a long list of honours for Gole, who has won both The R&A Senior Women’s Amateur and US Senior Women’s Amateur Championships in the past 12 months.
The Aussie ace admitted she hasn’t played a lot of golf recently but still looked on top of her game in the sunshine in Buckinghamshire this week.
She added: “Every win is special to me, I don’t rank them, I just love to compete and meet some wonderful people along the way!
“I haven’t played a lot of golf this year, so the first two days, I was a little bit scratchy mentally, so coming into the final round I thought ‘let’s just go out, play some golf and enjoy this beautiful golf course and let the scores speak for themselves.’
“On the 12th, I accidentally pulled a shot into the bunker, and it was almost unplayable. I could have got a little bit upset at that, but on the 13th, I took a 9-iron into three feet and on the 14th, I holed a 12-footer and then on the par-4 15th, I hit onto the green and two-putted for birdie so that helped with a lot of momentum.
“Normally I celebrate with a glass of champagne, but I’m heading up to Royal Birkdale tonight, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to, but maybe I’ll treat myself when I get up there!”
As for Luxon, it’s been another successful week on foreign soil, and she will go home with a well-deserved silver medal after three rounds of 75, 74 and 77.
Julia Brook (Walton Heath), who has been on the rise up the leaderboard all week, finished 3rd ahead of 2023 champion Catherine Rawthore (Sale).
In the various age-group categories, Brook was named the winner in the 50-54 section with a total score of 228 (+12). It was double delight for Gole who also took the honours in the 55-59 category. Rawthore came out on top in those aged 60-64 and Minna Kaarnalahti of Finland took the plaudits in the over-65 age-group for the Christine Willis Salver.
On Wednesday, Charlotte Keenan won the Handicap Tournament with a nett score of -3 over 36-holes.
The 2026 English Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship will be held at Abbeydale Golf Club in Yorkshire from 16-18 June. Check out the final leaderboards here.
After being co-leader on day one, the 56-year-old then dropped two shots behind Switzerland’s Karin Luxon who was leading at the end of round two.
However, with 18 holes to play, Gole, who hails from Melbourne, came back superbly with three consecutive birdies from holes 13-15 to turn the tide and clinch the title with a final score of +5, five shots ahead of Luxon, who finished 2nd on +10.
She said: “It’s a fabulous event to win. I played it two years ago and decided to come back this year, so it’s an absolute treat to win an event I haven’t won before.
“When you become the first person from your country to win something, it’s always special. I’ve been very fortunate to have people in Australia supporting me, my club members and all of my friends back home, so I think they’ll be thrilled that I’ve won and to be the first Australian to win this event, it’s just another thing I’ll really cherish."
This is just the latest title in a long list of honours for Gole, who has won both The R&A Senior Women’s Amateur and US Senior Women’s Amateur Championships in the past 12 months.
The Aussie ace admitted she hasn’t played a lot of golf recently but still looked on top of her game in the sunshine in Buckinghamshire this week.
She added: “Every win is special to me, I don’t rank them, I just love to compete and meet some wonderful people along the way!
“I haven’t played a lot of golf this year, so the first two days, I was a little bit scratchy mentally, so coming into the final round I thought ‘let’s just go out, play some golf and enjoy this beautiful golf course and let the scores speak for themselves.’
“On the 12th, I accidentally pulled a shot into the bunker, and it was almost unplayable. I could have got a little bit upset at that, but on the 13th, I took a 9-iron into three feet and on the 14th, I holed a 12-footer and then on the par-4 15th, I hit onto the green and two-putted for birdie so that helped with a lot of momentum.
“Normally I celebrate with a glass of champagne, but I’m heading up to Royal Birkdale tonight, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to, but maybe I’ll treat myself when I get up there!”
As for Luxon, it’s been another successful week on foreign soil, and she will go home with a well-deserved silver medal after three rounds of 75, 74 and 77.
Julia Brook (Walton Heath), who has been on the rise up the leaderboard all week, finished 3rd ahead of 2023 champion Catherine Rawthore (Sale).
In the various age-group categories, Brook was named the winner in the 50-54 section with a total score of 228 (+12). It was double delight for Gole who also took the honours in the 55-59 category. Rawthore came out on top in those aged 60-64 and Minna Kaarnalahti of Finland took the plaudits in the over-65 age-group for the Christine Willis Salver.
On Wednesday, Charlotte Keenan won the Handicap Tournament with a nett score of -3 over 36-holes.
The 2026 English Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship will be held at Abbeydale Golf Club in Yorkshire from 16-18 June. Check out the final leaderboards here.
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org