4TH TITLE FOR JACKIE
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Cambs and Hunts Golf Championship - Saffron Walden Golf Club
Jackie Gregg (Links) won her fourth County title at the Cambs and Hunts Golf Championship played at Saffron Walden.
The qualifying rounds of the three-day event were played in near perfect conditions on a well prepared course with slick greens. Sarah Attwood (Gogs) topped the qualifiers with rounds of 79 and 78 for a total 157, followed by Paula Parker (St Neots) with rounds of 81 and 79 for a total of 160 and Marcella Tuttle (Links) with rounds of 82 and 79 for a total of 161. Gregg qualified in seventh place with rounds of 80 and 83 for a total of 163.
In the quarter-finals Gregg defeated Parker (St Neots) 7 and 6 whilst Sarah Smith (Links) defeated Gogs Jane McGuffog 2 and 1. Sarah Attwood (Gogs) beat fellow Gogs player Tabitha Brain 4 & 2 and Links Marcella Tuttle gained a solid 5 & 4 win over Caroline Agnes (Links).
Gregg saw off the challenge of Tuttle in the semi-final and junior Sarah Smith pulled off a surprise 1 up victory over former Champion Sarah Attwood.
The final proved an interesting battle between a seasoned past Champion going for her fourth title and a promising junior in her first ever senior final.
Gregg took the lead on the second hole, but Smith fought back with a birdie and par to take the lead on the fourth hole. Gregg then produced three holes of pure magic with two birdies and a hole-in-one to take a two hole lead. Despite this barrage Smith retaliated with a birdie on the ninth to reduce the arrears to 1 down at the turn. Gregg went 2 up with a par at the 10th but Smith came back to win the 12th. Another birdie on the 13th increased Gregg's lead but once again Smith responded by winning the 15th.
With Gregg finding the greenside bunker Smith had a chance to win the 16th but just failed to sink her putt. On the par 3 18th Gregg found the green with her drive, but after a nervous first putt she sunk the 3ft return putt to clinch the match 1 up to take the title.
Lesley Ince (Brampton Park) won the County Plate, which was for the second group of 16 qualifiers. In the quarter-finals she defeated Marie Bayes (Abbotsley) 2 & 1 whilst Tina Broadley (Ely City) beat Rosemary Walker (Girton) 3 & 1. Brampton Park's Mo Poole beat Greta Barclay (Ely City) 3 & 2 and the same score saw Claire Tuttle (Links) defeat her sister Laura.
In the semi-final Broadley secured a 2 & 1 victory to end the run of promising junior Claire Tuttle. Ince reached the final when she won her match against Poole 2 & 1.
In the final Broadley won the first hole, but Ince took the initiative by winning the next three holes. Broadley responded by winning 3 of the next 5 holes to reach the turn 1 up. Once again Ince fought back by winning the 11th and 12th holes and sinking a monster putt on the 13th to secure a half. She then won the 14th to go 2 up before Broadley reduced the arrears by winning the 15th. Ince closed out the match by winning the 16th and 17th holes for a 3 & 1 victory on her birthday.
The Allen Newport Trophy for the best scratch total in qualifying went to Sarah Attwood. Sarah Greenall won the Scratch Bowl awarded for the best gross score at the Division 1 meeting and the County Championship (76 - 83 - 80 for a total 239)
(Photo shows Jackie Gregg with the trophy)