In near perfect conditions the Junior 2^nd teams of Cambs and Hunts and Suffolk played a friendly match at Menzies which resulted in a 2 - 1 victory for Cambs and Hunts. The course was in excellent condition and proved a good challenge for the girls.

In the top match Lindie Tapping (Gogs) and Natasha Bamford (Ely City) produced some excellent golf to run out winners 6 & 5. The second pair of Sophie Nicoll (Gogs) and Morgan Tritton (Bourn) played well but came up against a very strong pair and lost their match 6 & 5. The third match was evenly contested for the first nine holes but Charlotte Platt and Annabel Gibbons (Bourn) gradually pulled ahead to run out winners by 5 & 4 to secure the team victory.

Natasha Bamford and Morgan Tritton made their 2^nd team debuts and Libbi Pikett (Girton) was the travelling reserve.

(Photo shows l-r Chris Heath (2^nd team Organiser), Natasha Bamford, Libbi Pikett, Lindie Tapping, Sophie Nicoll, Morgan Tritton, Annabel Gibbons, Charlotte Platt (Captain) and Maureen Mansfield (County Junior Organiser)

Despite the pleasant sunny conditions the St Neots course proved a real challenge for the Division 2 meeting. Anyone straying off the fairway found the lush rough punishing. Terry Robinson (Ely City) played some solid golf to take the Gross prize with a round of 95, on countback from Suzie Miles (Bourn).

St Neots Joan Cheeseman used her local knowledge to win the lst nett prize and to claim the Audrey Nicole Cup with an excellent score of 73 on countback from 2nd placed Stephanie Allan (St Ives) and 3rd placed Terry Robinson. Fourth place went to Sue Smith (Bourn) with a nett score of 76 on countback from Elaine Randall (Bourn) and Suzie Miles.

(Photo shows (l-r) Joan Cheeseman and Terry Robinson)

Emily crowned as the new Junior Girls Champion

Royston’s Emily Smith claimed her first Cambs and Hunts Junior Girls Championship with two solid rounds in tricky conditions. The Abbotsley course was in excellent condition but with the cold wet conditions throughout the 36 hole competition it proved to be a severe test for the youngsters, with anyone straying off the fairway being punished by the lush rough.

Emily posted a morning round of 84 to share the lead with defending champion Megan Taylor (Brampton Park). With both players scoring round of 89 in the afternoon for 36 hole totals of 173, Emily clinched victory on countback on the back nine.

As a result of her morning round Emily qualified for the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship.

Emily completed a perfect day by winning the Biddy Wade Trophy for the most improved player, with a score of 17 under par on her best four scores of the year, with Sophie Nicoll and Lindie tapping joint second on 14 under par.

The Handicap Cup was won by Charlotte Platt (Bourn) who returned and excellent morning round of 69 and followed this with a solid afternoon round of 78 for a total score of 147. Chloe Ashman (Ely City) was second with rounds of 77 & 83 for a total of 160.

In the 18 hole Stableford Competition Ely City’s Natasha Bamford was victorious with 33 points with Chloe Drewery (Brampton Park) in second place with 30 pts.

The 9 hole stableford competition was claimed by Trinity Hales (Gogs) with 16 pts, one ahead of Ili Brooks (Ely City).

The Par 3 Championship was won by Elle McGurk (Gogs) with an excellent score of 27 pts with Harriet Morgan (Gogs) 2^nd with 26 pts and Paige Hardwidge (Kingsway) third with 24 pts.

(Photo shows Emily Smith with County President Greta Barclay)

With the holder unable to defend her title, Sarah Attwood (Gogs) and Amy Rae (St Ives), two former Champions battled their way through the field at Brampton Park Golf Club to challenge for the ultimate prize.

The qualifying rounds of the three day event were played in cold overcast conditions. Sarah Attwood topped the qualifiers when she set a course record of 69 in the afternoon round for a total of 145, followed by Amy Rae on 150.

The first quarter-final was a match of high quality but Sarah Attwood overcame a stubborn opponent with a 4 & 2 victory over Chelsey Herbert (Gogs). Ely City's Tina Broadley was in fine form when she defeated former Champion Jackie Gregg (Links) 4 & 3. Brampton Park's Junior County Champion Megan Taylor used her local knowledge to fight back from four down to edge out Amy Brown (Old Nene) on the 19th hole. Another former Champion Amy Rae (St Ives) proved too strong for Marcella Tuttle (Links) as she ran out a 6 & 5 winner.

In the semi-finals despite a spirited fight by Tina Broadley, Sarah Attwood maintained her form to take the match 4 & 3. The other semi-final was very evenly contested and went to the 19th hole before Amy Rae edged ahead of Megan Taylor.

In the final Sarah Attwood took an early lead with two solid pars on the first two holes. Amy reduced the arrears on the third hole but Sarah sunk a 10 ft birdie putt on the 4th to regain her two hole advantage. After halving the 6th with birdies Amy reduced the arrears on the 7th hole with another birdie and Sarah went through the turn one up.

Sarah gradually increased the pressure with birdies on the 11th and 14th holes to move into a four hole lead.

Amy fought back with a birdie on the 15th hole and was unlucky when her chip to the 16th hole lipped out. This left the door open for Sarah to clinch the half she needed to run out a winner by 3 & 2.

Laura Todd (Ely City) won the County Plate, a competition for the second group of 16 qualifiers. In the quarter-finals she had a comfortable 7 & 6 victory over Gillian Attwood (Gogs) whilst Sharren Kjenstad (Ramsey) won 6 & 4 against Abbotsley's Maria Bayes. Brampton Park's Ros Irons produced some solid golf in defeating St Ives Paula Ewing 6 & 4. Junior County Vice Captain Megan Willis (Old Nene) showed great composure as she went to the 20th hole to secure victory over Ely City's Elaine Bertram.

In the semi-final Laura Todd defeated Sharren Kjenstad 4 & 3 and the same result saw Ros Irons defeat Megan Willis.

The final proved an interesting battle with neither player taking control the lead changed hands throughout the round. It was no surprise when the match went down the 19th hole where Laura Todd clinched victory with a solid putt for par.

Sarah Attwood (Gogs) took away a hat trick of trophies when she also claimed the Allen Newport Trophy for the best scratch total in qualifying with rounds of 76 and 69 for a total of 145 and the Scratch Bowl awarded for the best gross score at the Division 1 meeting and the County Championship (80-76-69 for a total of 225).
Photo shows Sarah Attwood with her three trophies & Laura Todd with the County Plate

Photo shows Sarah Attwood with her three trophies and Lara Todd with the County Plate

Despite the extremely miserable cold wet conditions Megan Willis of Old Nene produced some solid golf to record a round of nett 75 in the Junior County Medal played at Ely City Golf Club. Megan was the only player of the five who competed to play to her handicap. In second place was Ely City’s Chloe Ashman with a score of 79.

(Photo shows Megan teeing off on the 1^st tee)

Eleanor Gamble took the honours in the County Development Squad 9 hole challenge on the Par 3 course at Bourn.

In near perfect conditions 18 youngsters aged between 7 and 13 took part in the competition which resulted in three players locked together in the lead on 24 points. Eleanor clinched top spot on countback over the last six holes, with Natasha Bamford (Ely City) claiming second place and Ella Mason (Ely City) in third place.

(Photo shows l-r, Natasha Bamford, Eleanor Gamble and Ella Mason)

In the first Junior County Medal of the season played on the Wandlebury course at Gog Magog the youngsters made light of the blustery wind with the top four players playing under their handicap and the fifth player playing to her handicap.

Jade Guest (Gogs) continued her run of success with an amazing round of nett 65 to take top spot, as a result of which she has reduced her handicap from 11 to 9.5.

Her playing partner Chloe Neal (St Neots) took second place on countback from Lindie Tapping (Gogs) with both players recording great rounds of 71 with Chloe Ashman (Ely City) fourth with 72. Sophie Nicoll (Gogs) was fifth with a 73.

(Photo shows left to right Chloe Neal and Jade Guest before they set off for their game)

In a rare appearance in County Competitions St Neots Paula Parker made a successful return when she won the Cambs and Hunts Division One title. In near perfect conditions she posted a score of gross 77 to clinch top spot in a record field of 72 competitors.

In the nett competition Saffron Walden's Elaine Purcell used her local knowledge of the tricky greens to take top spot with an excellent round of 71 with Jane Webster (Ely City) scoring a very creditable 73 to take second spot. Second team Captain Sharren Kjenstad (Ramsey) took third place with 76 just ahead of St Neots Lesley Ince.

In the afternoon foursomes a countback was required when two pairs carded 33 points. Sarah Attwood and Joanne Herd (Gogs) claimed top spot with Lesley Gilchrist and Sarah Jones (Gogs) having to settle for second place. The battle for third and fourth place was also resolved on countback with Ely City's Pat Blyth and Julie Aspinall just edging ahead of Pat Nixon and Christine Ratcliffe (Ely City) both having scored 30 points.

(Photo shows Paula Parker with the Margery Newport Trophy)

The top thirteen girls competed for the Lesley Ford Trophy on the 18 hole Lodge Course. In near perfect conditions St Neots Chloe Neal played solid golf to produce a brilliant round of nett 67 to clinch the title, with Chloe Ashman (Ely City) in second place with a nett 69. The Scratch prize went to Jade Guest (Gogs) with a solid round of 81.

Fifteen girls divided into two sections competed on the 9 hole Manor Course. In the top section Brampton Park's Chloe Drewery romped home with a magnificent score of 27 points with Gogs Anna Guest in second place with 22 points.

In the second group Ella Mason (Ely City) finished in first place with an excellent 23 points with Saffron Walden's Isabelle Brookes in 2nd place with 20 points.

The remaining 12 girls competed on the Par 3 course with Charlie Churms (St Neots) scoring a gross 40 to take top spot and Jordanne Sillitoe (Ely City) and Ruby Davis (Links) sharing 2nd place with gross 43

The putting competition for the younger players was won by Jessica Hollingworth (Girton), with Abbie Hardwidge (Kingsway) 2nd and a hole in one for Brampton Park's Holly Cardwell helped her to secure 3rd place.

In the top match Marie Bayes (Abbotsley) and Jackie Smith (Saffron Walden) took on local player Rosemary Farrow and Polly Brown (Gogs). The match was evenly contested with Rosemary and Polly taking a two hole lead at the turn but Marie and Jackie fought back to level the score on the 11th hole. Rosemary and Polly forged their way back into the lead and ran out winners 3 & 1.

In the second match Veterans Captain Liz Smith (Ely City) and Linda Kelsey (Saffron Walden) romped into an early lead and reached the turn four up. Tina Broadley (Ely City) and Sarah Oldham (March) put up a spirited fight but eventually went down 5 and 4.

Laura Todd (Ely City) and Chalani Allen (Gogs) took on Edie Douglas (Links) and Glynis Anderson (Menzies). They took an early lead but Edie and Glynis fought back to square the match. Once again Laura and Chalani regained the lead and were 2 up at the 16th. Edie thought she had reduced the arrears when she sunk a long putt for a birdie, but Laura sunk a four foot putt for birdie to half the hole, and win the match 2 and 1.

In the final match 2nd team Captain Sharren Kjenstad (Ramsey) partnered Emily Smith (Royston) against Grace Eastment (Menzies) and Barbara Coe (Links). Sharren and Emily raced into a 3 hole lead with Sharron recording birdies on the first two holes. Grace and Barbara reduced the arrears and went through the turn two down. The back nine were very evenly contested with Sharren and Emily holding firm to record a 2 and 1 win to clinch a 2 all draw.

(Photo shows (l to r) Polly Brown, Rosemary Farrow, Grace Eastment, Linda Kelsey, Veterans Captain Liz Smith, Glynis Anderson, Barbara Coe and Edie Douglas)

(Photo below shows (l to r) Sarah Oldham, Marie Bayes, Jackie Smith, Tina Broadley, 2nd Team Captain Sharren Kjenstad, Chalani Allen, Emily Smith and Laura Todd.)