A PAIR of Warrington golfers returned with a trophy not won by anyone at the club for more than 30 years.

Pauline Goulden and Elizabeth Hatton, both from Appleton, became the first Warrington Golf Club pair to win the Manchester and District Past Lady Captains Competition since 1979.

After winning the first round at Swinton Park with 44 points, the pair went on to comfortably finish first in the final at Daventry with a score of 41.

“We’ve played together for years but never actually as a partnership,” said Hatton, ladies’ captain at Warrington Golf Club in 2009. “We really just had two good days.

“We didn’t think anyone had won it before until we got the trophy and were looking at the previous winners.

“It was won by pairs from Warrington in 1972 and 1979, but no one since then.”

The pair, playing in a foursome format where players take alternate shots, were not expecting to win a competition that brought entries from Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.

Goulden, the club’s ladies’ captain in 2008, added: “We were a bit nervous for the final, but played well.

“We were really pleased to win and got to take the trophy back to Warrington Golf Club afterwards, so it’s in the trophy cabinet now.

“Everyone was happy to see us bring the trophy back, although some of them were more surprised!”

The successful pair will now look to defend their title next year, as well as potentially teaming up again for other competitions.

Hatton explained: “We didn’t really think we would win it, we just joined because we thought it was a nice competition.

“We both have different partners normally for the club competitions, but our regular partners hadn’t been captains, so we probably will play together again.

“We certainly will go back – we’ve got a taste for it!”