Elaine Ratcliffe won the battle of the two former Curtis Cup stars as she edged Kerry Smith in a pulsating final day of the English Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Bedfordshire Golf Club.
Ratcliffe (Essendon) raced out the blocks to find herself 4-up at the turn in the final, but she was pegged back before holing a birdie putt on 13 to remain 3-up.
Smith (Waterlooville) responded by winning the next two holes before producing a sensational sand save from the back of a bunker on a downslope on 17, to take the match down the last.
Smith hit the 18th green to make par to force the match to extra holes, and another superb shot to five feet on the 1st looked like it could complete a remarkable comeback.
But Ratcliffe had other ideas as she rolled in a 15-footer for birdie and Smith missed her resulting short putt to try and continue the match. Ratcliffe said: "I can't really believe it. I came to play this week just to see what it's like - I'm just gobsmacked and over the moon. To win an English Championship is huge, to win the Ladies (in 1998) and this is really special to me.
"I knew I just had to keep playing shots. I frittered a little bit on the back-nine, I just got tired as I'm not used to playing 36 holes. On 17 I thought I might have it but Kerry hit a phenomenal bunker shot - it was worldly. It wasn't a very good shot into 18 but I saw the putt (on the 19th hole), the green looked good and I made a good roll at it. But I did think she'd hole her putt to keep the match going."
Asked about celebrations, she added: "Hopefully I can drive home and get out the car - because my back is getting stiffer by the minute! My other half and son are doing some racing at Silverstone, and my other son is doing A-levels so I think a lie-in tomorrow will be the extent of it and perhaps a glass of rose - or even a bottle!"
Earlier in the day, Anne Wheble (Dartford), who enjoyed a fine week of golf, found herself 2-up at the turn but Smith fought back in a ding-dong battle of a semi-final. Wheble made a brilliant up-and-down for par on 16 from the 17th tee box, but Smith rolled in a 15-footer for birdie. Wheble knocked in a 25-foot par putt on 17 to keep the match going but Smith prospered 2-up on the last.
In the other semi-final, Ratcliffe got ahead on the 1st, and despite Tracey Williamson (Sheringham) clawing it back time and again, Ratcliffe was never behind in the match as she saw out a 2&1 win. Full list of results here.
Smith (Waterlooville) responded by winning the next two holes before producing a sensational sand save from the back of a bunker on a downslope on 17, to take the match down the last.
Smith hit the 18th green to make par to force the match to extra holes, and another superb shot to five feet on the 1st looked like it could complete a remarkable comeback.
But Ratcliffe had other ideas as she rolled in a 15-footer for birdie and Smith missed her resulting short putt to try and continue the match. Ratcliffe said: "I can't really believe it. I came to play this week just to see what it's like - I'm just gobsmacked and over the moon. To win an English Championship is huge, to win the Ladies (in 1998) and this is really special to me.
"I knew I just had to keep playing shots. I frittered a little bit on the back-nine, I just got tired as I'm not used to playing 36 holes. On 17 I thought I might have it but Kerry hit a phenomenal bunker shot - it was worldly. It wasn't a very good shot into 18 but I saw the putt (on the 19th hole), the green looked good and I made a good roll at it. But I did think she'd hole her putt to keep the match going."
Asked about celebrations, she added: "Hopefully I can drive home and get out the car - because my back is getting stiffer by the minute! My other half and son are doing some racing at Silverstone, and my other son is doing A-levels so I think a lie-in tomorrow will be the extent of it and perhaps a glass of rose - or even a bottle!"
Earlier in the day, Anne Wheble (Dartford), who enjoyed a fine week of golf, found herself 2-up at the turn but Smith fought back in a ding-dong battle of a semi-final. Wheble made a brilliant up-and-down for par on 16 from the 17th tee box, but Smith rolled in a 15-footer for birdie. Wheble knocked in a 25-foot par putt on 17 to keep the match going but Smith prospered 2-up on the last.
In the other semi-final, Ratcliffe got ahead on the 1st, and despite Tracey Williamson (Sheringham) clawing it back time and again, Ratcliffe was never behind in the match as she saw out a 2&1 win. Full list of results 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