- Lauren Crump continued her wonderful year by winning the Women's County Champion of Champions at just 15 years of age
- Darcie West beat friend Ellie Lichtenhein on the 1st play-off hole to win the Girls' event
- Emma Brown made it three successive Senior Women's County Champion of Champions titles with an eight-shot victory
Women's County Champion of Champions
- Darcie West beat friend Ellie Lichtenhein on the 1st play-off hole to win the Girls' event
- Emma Brown made it three successive Senior Women's County Champion of Champions titles with an eight-shot victory
Women's County Champion of Champions
Lauren Crump
Shropshire’s Lauren Crump took the Women’s County Champion of Champions title at the Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa.
A 23-strong field took to the course to play 36 holes across two rounds on Sunday, but Crump was in a league of her own in her first appearance in the competition, winning by six shots with a score of 142 (-2).
Crump, 15, was tied at the top with Alessandra Kutz on 73 (+1) after the first round, with Tiffany Mills of Norfolk just a shot back but Crump's second-round effort of 69 (-3), including six birdies, saw her finish six shots clear of Kutz (Kent).
There was a tie for 3rd with Gloucestershire’s Summer Carash and Grace Lambert of Yorkshire both finishing on a score of 151 (+7). Lambert was the only other competitor to complete the Bracken Course under par on round two with a score of 71 (-1). Check out the final leaderboard here.
Crump said: “Being my first year, it is really good, everyone from my county was very supportive. It's a proud achievement for me and especially for Shropshire, we aren’t the most-seen county, so to do it for them was just even better.”
Despite the comfortable winning margin, Crump still had her challenges. She added: “I put it in the ditch on 15 but hit a hybrid to about 20 feet and got away with a bogey. I then hit a 3-wood on 17 to counter the bogey back (making birdie), which was definitely a key moment to make sure I was up there.
"It's a long drive home so there won't be much celebrating. I'll tell everyone and then go again!"
Girls' County Champion of Champions
A 23-strong field took to the course to play 36 holes across two rounds on Sunday, but Crump was in a league of her own in her first appearance in the competition, winning by six shots with a score of 142 (-2).
Crump, 15, was tied at the top with Alessandra Kutz on 73 (+1) after the first round, with Tiffany Mills of Norfolk just a shot back but Crump's second-round effort of 69 (-3), including six birdies, saw her finish six shots clear of Kutz (Kent).
There was a tie for 3rd with Gloucestershire’s Summer Carash and Grace Lambert of Yorkshire both finishing on a score of 151 (+7). Lambert was the only other competitor to complete the Bracken Course under par on round two with a score of 71 (-1). Check out the final leaderboard here.
Crump said: “Being my first year, it is really good, everyone from my county was very supportive. It's a proud achievement for me and especially for Shropshire, we aren’t the most-seen county, so to do it for them was just even better.”
Despite the comfortable winning margin, Crump still had her challenges. She added: “I put it in the ditch on 15 but hit a hybrid to about 20 feet and got away with a bogey. I then hit a 3-wood on 17 to counter the bogey back (making birdie), which was definitely a key moment to make sure I was up there.
"It's a long drive home so there won't be much celebrating. I'll tell everyone and then go again!"
Girls' County Champion of Champions
Darcie West
Hertfordshire’s Darcie West won the Girls' County Champion of Champions event at Woodhall Spa’s Bracken Course on Saturday, following a tense play-off win over friend Ellie Lichtenhein.
Both West and Buckinghamshire’s Lichtenhein finished with a score of 148 (+4) over 36 holes, seeing the pair need to go to a play-off to determine the winner.
On the 1st play-off hole, Lichtenhein found the bunker off her tee shot, whilst West found the middle of the fairway. Another excellent approach from the Hertfordshire youngster ensured she had a birdie putt, whilst Lichtenhein could only find another bunker on the side of the green. Lichtenhein recovered well to give her a chance of a par, as West couldn't convert her birdie putt, ensuring Lichtenhein stayed in contention.
However, Lichtenhein's par putt lipped out, handing the advantage back to West who converted her short par putt before the two held a long embrace on the green, as Lichtenhein congratulated her friend on victory.
On winning the tournament, West said: “It feels amazing. I played really steady, so it was really nice to get the win. I’ve been playing well for most of the season, so it was positive.”
In being involved in a play-off, she said: “I was definitely nervous because I know Ellie, she's one of my good friends, but it was just about staying focused and playing the way I'd been playing throughout the day. It was quite emotional, it was a good win that I think I deserved, and a really nice moment.”
In total, 32 girls took to the Bracken Course in cold and damp conditions to battle it out with Isabella Taylor-Stokes (Styal, Cheshire) holding a one-shot advantage at the top of the leaderboard after the first round, which included four birdies and her second-ever hole-in-one, on the 16th, where she hit her pitching wedge.
Lichtenhein, Molly Campbell (Yorkshire) and West were all-tied for 2nd on 75 (+3), after the first round. A storming back nine in the second round from Lichtenhein, including six pars and two birdies, allowed her to finish with a gross score of 148 (+4). Her earlier tee time put the pressure on the competition.
Taylor-Stokes did not have the same fortune on her second round, with seven bogeys, leaving her in 3rd place with a total gross score of 149 (+5). View the final leaderboard here.
Senior Women's County Champion of Champions
Both West and Buckinghamshire’s Lichtenhein finished with a score of 148 (+4) over 36 holes, seeing the pair need to go to a play-off to determine the winner.
On the 1st play-off hole, Lichtenhein found the bunker off her tee shot, whilst West found the middle of the fairway. Another excellent approach from the Hertfordshire youngster ensured she had a birdie putt, whilst Lichtenhein could only find another bunker on the side of the green. Lichtenhein recovered well to give her a chance of a par, as West couldn't convert her birdie putt, ensuring Lichtenhein stayed in contention.
However, Lichtenhein's par putt lipped out, handing the advantage back to West who converted her short par putt before the two held a long embrace on the green, as Lichtenhein congratulated her friend on victory.
On winning the tournament, West said: “It feels amazing. I played really steady, so it was really nice to get the win. I’ve been playing well for most of the season, so it was positive.”
In being involved in a play-off, she said: “I was definitely nervous because I know Ellie, she's one of my good friends, but it was just about staying focused and playing the way I'd been playing throughout the day. It was quite emotional, it was a good win that I think I deserved, and a really nice moment.”
In total, 32 girls took to the Bracken Course in cold and damp conditions to battle it out with Isabella Taylor-Stokes (Styal, Cheshire) holding a one-shot advantage at the top of the leaderboard after the first round, which included four birdies and her second-ever hole-in-one, on the 16th, where she hit her pitching wedge.
Lichtenhein, Molly Campbell (Yorkshire) and West were all-tied for 2nd on 75 (+3), after the first round. A storming back nine in the second round from Lichtenhein, including six pars and two birdies, allowed her to finish with a gross score of 148 (+4). Her earlier tee time put the pressure on the competition.
Taylor-Stokes did not have the same fortune on her second round, with seven bogeys, leaving her in 3rd place with a total gross score of 149 (+5). View the final leaderboard here.
Senior Women's County Champion of Champions
Emma Brown
Yorkshire's Emma Brown made it three Senior Women's County Champion of Champions titles in three years following an impressive win at Woodhall Spa's Bracken Course.
The 52-year-old was the only woman to shoot under par across the two days, as scores of 73 (+1) and 70 (-2) saw her win the title, meaning she has won the event all three times she has featured in it.
Brown held a two-shot advantage after Saturday's first round but back-to-back birdies on holes 11 and 12 on Sunday saw her take an unassailable lead before she strolled home to win the tournament by a whopping eight shots. Joanne Morris-Bourne (Leicestershire & Rutland) and Lisa Cullinan (Warwickshire) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Malton & Norton golfer Brown said: “It's the third time I've played and the third I've won, so I have been very lucky. I've enjoyed three good weekends down here!
"I’m happy to have enjoyed 36 holes around here again, had some great company playing, and to play well on the Bracken is always nice especially with those interesting greens. I holed a few putts which was nice today.
“I was fairly consistent, I birdied 11 and 12, and 12 I usually make a mess of, so that was a bonus. I felt I made a few shots up there, then played steady from there. It's back to work tomorrow, and then scratch finals on Tuesday, so it's all go at this time of year!" Check out the final leaderboard here.
The 52-year-old was the only woman to shoot under par across the two days, as scores of 73 (+1) and 70 (-2) saw her win the title, meaning she has won the event all three times she has featured in it.
Brown held a two-shot advantage after Saturday's first round but back-to-back birdies on holes 11 and 12 on Sunday saw her take an unassailable lead before she strolled home to win the tournament by a whopping eight shots. Joanne Morris-Bourne (Leicestershire & Rutland) and Lisa Cullinan (Warwickshire) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Malton & Norton golfer Brown said: “It's the third time I've played and the third I've won, so I have been very lucky. I've enjoyed three good weekends down here!
"I’m happy to have enjoyed 36 holes around here again, had some great company playing, and to play well on the Bracken is always nice especially with those interesting greens. I holed a few putts which was nice today.
“I was fairly consistent, I birdied 11 and 12, and 12 I usually make a mess of, so that was a bonus. I felt I made a few shots up there, then played steady from there. It's back to work tomorrow, and then scratch finals on Tuesday, so it's all go at this time of year!" Check out the final leaderboard here.
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org