Bourne becomes county ladies’ champion for third time
TRACY Bourne (Willesley Park) completed a hat-trick of successes when she won the county ladies’ championship for the third time at Luffenham Heath GC. Her previous successes came in 2011 and 2012.
She was presented with the Lytton Baker Cup by county president Karen Bonser, who congratulated her fellow club member and the other award winners on their success.
Bourne also won the seniors prize for the best gross in the 36-holes stroke-play stage.
The three-day tournament was played over two weekends and Bourne beat Holly Waterfield (Lutterworth) by 3 and 2 over 36 holes. The weather was sunny and warm throughout, but was described as “fiery” on the first day.
Waterfield, the county junior captain this year, led the stroke-play stages. She hit rounds of 75 and of
1-under-par-71 for her 146 total – for which she won the Cathy Stephens Trophy - to lead the top eight qualifiers into the championship knock-out rounds. The next eight competed for the Russell Trophy.
Waterfield finished no fewer than seven strokes clear of the field. Defending champion Jo Morris (Willesley Park) was runner-up and had a hole-in-one at the ninth in her second round.
Waterfield also won the award for best-placed junior in the championship and the best-placed junior handicap prize for her 71-67138 net return.
In the semi-finals she beat Karen Haynes, a host club member, by one hole, and Bourne was successful by a similar margin in her game with Morris.
Both finalists produced some great golf, with Bourne three up after the opening round.
But Waterfield gradually reduced her deficit over the second 18 holes and they were all-square on the 10th.
Bourne won the 11th with a birdie, and took the 12th hole.
The next was halved, but Bourne won the 14th to be three-up again and when 15 and 16 were halved, she was champion again.
There were some closelycontested clashes both in the championship and in the Russell Trophy. This was won by Rachel East (Cosby), who beat Beth Johnson (Longcliffe) by 3 and 2 over 18 holes.
Claire Bailey (Birstall) won an award for best net over 36 holes (75-74-149 net on countback from second-placed Doreen Brown, of Scraptoft, 75-74-149).
The host club prize for the player for the last 18-holes of qualifying who had not received any other award went to Clare Warman (Luffenham Heath).
CHAMPIONSHIP quarter-finals: H Waterfield (Lutterworth) beat V Mayfield (Rothley Park) 4 and 2; K Haynes (Luffenham Heath) beat C Parkes Walley 1-hole; J Morris (Willesley Park) beat F Brimm (Glen Gorse) at 19th hole; T Bourne (Willesley Park) beat D Miller (Lingdale) 2 and 1.
Semi-finals: Waterfield beat Haynes 1-hole; Bourne beat Morris 1-hole. Final: Bourne beat Waterfield 3 and 2.
RUSSELL TROPHY quarter-finals: C Bailey (Birstall) beat A Horak (Ullesthorpe Court) 1-hole; B Johnson (Longcliffe) beat G Crowfoot (Kirby Muxloe) 3 and 2; R East (Cosby) beat S Jee (Luffenham Heath) 4 and 3; S Pretty (Longcliffe) beat C Warman (Luffenham Heath) 4 and 2. Semi-finals: Johnson beat Bailey 3 and 2; East beat Pretty 4 and 2. Final: East beat Johnson 3 and 2.