‘‘I love Tasmania!’’ declared the delighted winner after a thrilling penultimate-hole win against long-time rival and seven-time winner Sylvia Donohoe.

‘‘I was just 16 when I won the junior title in 1964,’’ added Puckett, who is now a 67-year-old California-based grandmother of seven who shared her second senior title with twin brother and caddie Russell Bennett.

‘‘That was truly amazing. It’s always fun to win your first but I think it’s harder to win the second and it means more because I’m four years older.

‘‘And to beat great players like Sylvia and [reigning champion] Josie Ryan makes it very special.’’

The ever-increasing gathering of spectators that followed the finalists through light rain around Riverside Golf Club yesterday were richly rewarded with a pulsating conclusion to the week-long tournament.

With the scores level after nine holes, Puckett won three in a row to get one hand on the trophy she last won in Victoria in 2010.

Both escaped from the bunker on the 14th before Donohoe, who had won the last two tournaments on Tasmanian soil (Ulverstone in 2008 and Seabrook 2002), reduced the deficit on the 15th.

The pair, who had met twice before in semi-finals, went shot-for-shot on a nervy 16th before the contest was decided on the tricky, wind-affected par-3 17th.

Both made the green in two to leave testing eight-footers. Donohoe’s putt stopped just millimetres short and in the knowledge that she could afford two shots, Puckett wrapped it up in style with just one.

‘‘It was just pure relief because it was very nerve-wracking,’’ she said.

‘‘Sylvia’s a very good golfer, you’d have to be to win seven titles, and I admire her tremendously.

‘‘I just tried to keep the thought that if I could par every hole, she was going to need birdies.

‘‘I was really proud of my bunker shot on 14 but I was gagging coming down 15, no question.

‘‘At 16 I just said ‘you’re two up with three to play, that’s a good position to be in’ and just tried to par the hole.’’

Puckett, who spends two months each year at Noosa Springs and the rest in the US, represented Australia at the world cup, won the Victorian championship twice and has been a finalist in the US senior amateur.

She said she had thoroughly enjoyed her second successful sojourn to Tasmania.

‘‘I have loved Launceston. I really love your restaurants. I reckon I’ve been to the best I’ve ever eaten in this week and the countryside here is also lovely.’’

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