Emma has spring in step
After a winter spent improving her game in Florida sunshine and now with a handicap of less than five, Emma Francis cruised to victory in Mannings Heath's ladies' Spring Meeting
She scored a brilliant gross 82 to claim the Claud Champion Cup for the second year running. What made Francis's round particularly impressive was that she was the only lady who opted to play off the orange, formerly men's medal, tees. She also had the rare delight of an eagle on the 288-yard second where she holed her nine-iron approach.
Best gross score in the bronze division came from Megan Little, who marked her debut in the event by winning the Parbury Cup with 93.
She posted the best nett score of the day, 67, but silver and bronze nett prizes went to Margaret Brown and Sybille Shababi with 72 and 71.
The ladies' winter eclectic competition saw participants record their best gross score on each hole over six rounds before deducting half their handicap. Mina Burton finished with a splendid threeover-par 76 for nett 68 to beat Julie Law by two.
Pars on eight of the back nine holes proved just enough to earn 12-handicap Nigel Billingham the countback victory over Colin Cloy in the seniors' medal after both carded nett 67s with Ray Robertson third.
There was a closer finish in the seniors' Invitation where the top three pairs all carded better-ball scores of 43 points and a 12-hole countback was required to find the winners. Nick Kimberley and his Moor Hall guest Paul Hoskison won with Roland Azor and brother Terence from Hockley second and captain Nick Tidey third with Simon Cripps.