Bel braves weather to land crown
PRESTBURY Golf Club, Cheshire and England’s young star Bel Wardle swept to a comfortable victory in the English Girls Championship at Littlestone, Kent in brutal weather conditions.
The 17-year-old, who plays off plus three handicap, has been a regular player with England Girls in recent season and she won the Cheshire Girls Championship for a record fourth successive time earlier in the season.
Bel shot 72 in the third round to give her a seven-shot advantage and when the fourth round was abandoned due to atrocious weather conditions Bel was delighted to win the championship after missing out last year.
Her plan was to get off to a quick start in round three and holed a three-foot putt for an eagle on the first hole then birdied the next two holes to move to ten-under par and parred her way to the turn.
It was a very difficult back nine in gale force conditions and Bel said: “It was so tough coming in and on the 10th I started wondering how I could get the club back in the wind and we were only just making the fairway and h=when you were over the ball it was a matter of take whatever stance you could and give it a go.
“I just kept things simple, I didn’t go pin hunting, I just tried to hit greens and control my shots into the greens and I am delighted my plan worked.”
Prestbury ladies played for Mr Captain’s Prize and it was won by Caroline Harrison-Croft with 38 points from Jane Campaigne 36 and Ellen Call, Lynne Cameron, Emma Bolam and Trish Hunt, all 35.
Prestbury’s men played a medal for the ‘major’ Rawsthorn Trophy and David Aitchison led in with 69 from Martin Keates 70 and Paul Allen and Nick Wood, both 71.
Wilmslow juniors played for the Robinson Trophy and former Junior Captain Hywel Shaw showed his class as he led in with 67 from Dan Fosbrook 71 and Ben Tomlinson 74.
Wilmslow ladies were in medal mode as they played for the Bell House Cup and Putter and Heather Coxson won a cpo on 71 from Michele Marr, three less than Ann Pater and Jill Dodson.
Macclesfield ladies played a 36-hole medal and leading in with 159 was Kay Atkin from Alycia Sutton 162 and Judy Mutter had the lowest gross of 197.
Judy also won the Day One prize with 82 and Day Two honours went to Julia Dunne 78.
The subsidiary Stableford competition was won by Wendy Higgins with 31 points.
A singles Stableford for Alderley Edge’s men produced some good scores led by Matthew Robinson with 44 points, one more than Nigel Howells and Chris Edwards.
Edge’s ladies played a par competition as a Brenda Hendry qualifier and top of the shop on level par was Tracy Smith from Jean Walker, Alison Roberts and Wendy Rule, all -1.
The latest medal at Mottram Hall was won by Graham Webb with his 72 taking him clear of Martin Firth 73 and Mark Saunders and Martin Routley, both 75.
A Thursday Stableford at Shrigley Hall was won by Steve Brooks with 37 points from Pete Wills 35 and Janet O’Brien and John Hogan, both 33.