SANDIWAY and Delamere Forest golfers helped the Cheshire women’s golf team to deliver an historic national title.
After a wait of 30 years, the Cheshire ladies team, led by Sandiway Golf Club’s Denise Burchell, became English County Champions at Betchworth Park in Surrey in the National County Finals played over four days.
Imogen Williamson of Delamere Forest Golf Club and Amy Anson of Sandiway featured in the success.
The eight qualifiers were split into two groups playing round-robin games, with the leaders of each division then playing each other in the final.
It was close in the group games with Cheshire going through on game points after drawing two games and winning the other to meet up with Yorkshire in the final.
They then defeated Yorkshire 6–3 in the decider.
Non-playing captain Burchell said: "The eight finalists faced a course that was fast and bouncy due to the sustained drought.
"The welcome return of Lucy Jamieson after a long injury lay-off, and Morgan Bollan who has done so well representing Wales recently, provided me with a strong line-up that would be essential over four days of fierce competition.
"In the morning, foursomes were going Yorkshire’s way and they secured wins in the first two matches.
"At two-nil down we desperately needed a point from the third match and the ultra-reliable pair of Emily McBurney and Lauren Jones provided it with a gutsy win on the home hole.
"It’s unclear what was said at lunch but it worked. We soon found ourselves up in five of the six singles matches.
"Lauren Jones and Amy Anson were the first to secure comfortable wins and Lucy Jamieson then closed out a 1-up win on 18 having fought off a late surge from her opponent.
"Katie Stephens, who won five from five during the week, added Yorkshire’s solitary singles point to make it 4–3, but Sophie Clafton’s 4&2 win on the 16th clinched the title.
"Morgan Bollan was still out on the course, battling for a sudden death win. She put a cherry on the cake with a chip-in to win. Cue massive celebrations for the Cheshire players and supporters.
"This was our first win in the county finals for thirty years and our fourth win in total since the championship began in 1953."
Cheshire President Marjorie Griffiths said: "It means everything to us as it’s 30 years since we’ve won it.
"We are newbies really as we’re part of Cheshire Golf now we’ve unified with our men, and they’re going to be thrilled to bits.
"We’ve had a lot more investment in terms of playing and training, and we’ve justified that.
"This win followed success for Cheshire’s boys last year in their county final and a very near miss in the senior men’s finals.
"This is without doubt our best run of success at national level in the 119-year history of county golf in Cheshire. Long may it last!"
Cheshire team: Denise Burchell (Sandiway – non-playing captain), Lucy Jamieson (Heswall), Morgan Bollan (Crewe), Imogen Williamson (Delamere Forest), Amy Anson (Sandiway), Emily McBurney (Royal Liverpool), Sophie Clafton (Wallasey), Lauren Jones (Mellor), Becky McGeehan (Chester), Clara Leathers (Wallasey).
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