English Ladies Golfing Association Press Release
ELLIE GIVENS WINS ENGLISH GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP
County Durham’s Ellie Givens won the English girls’ championship when she beat Nottinghamshire’s Katie Best (below left) 2/1 in a hard-fought final at Old Fold Manor, Hertfordshire today.
“I am really relieved – and happy. I really wanted to win a national championship before I leave for university,” said Ellie, 18, who will be going to Denver, USA at the end of this month.
“This is by far the biggest thing I have won and it makes all the hours of practice and training worthwhile. It’s nice to see how it pays off,” added the England girl international.
Ellie, from Blackwell Grange, has been supported by ELGA’s lottery-funded training programme since she was 11 and has found it invaluable. “It’s been fantastic, it’s helped every aspect of my game, physically and mentally. Everything I could have asked for has been provided,” she said.
The final highlighted the battling qualities of both girls as they played in bright sunshine, but tricky, swirling winds.
Ellie won the first hole and was never to slip behind, but time and again Katie, 17, (Sherwood Forest) pulled her back to all square. “It was a really close match and Katie kept coming back at me right to the end,” said Ellie. “I struggled a bit at the beginning but had a couple of really good up-and-downs later on.”
At the turn Ellie was two up but Katie had squared matters after the 12th. The Durham player came straight back to win the 13th and held on to that slender advantage through the closing holes.
The 17th was the deciding hole. Both girls missed the fairway but while Ellie was able to put her second shot close to the green, Katie had to pitch out of the rough. She was left with an approach of over 100 yards, which finished near Ellie’s ball on the right of the green.
Both girls chipped up and when Katie missed her putt she conceded Ellie’s three-footer – and the championship was decided.
During the match both players demonstrated some superb short-game shots. Katie, a member of ELGA’s Select Midlands squad, almost holed a bunker shot and, when the pressure was truly on, fashioned the most delicate of pitches from a clump of deep rough beside the 16th green.
Ellie also left herself some challenging shots and played them immaculately, notably a tough downhill chip from behind the short 14th and another, from a slope behind the 15th, which finished within inches of the hole. “They were both so difficult,” she said. “I couldn’t have left myself anything harder!”
The Flight Two final was won by Old Fold Manor’s Steph McEvoy who beat Harriet Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) on the 20th. Steph, 16, is the daughter of club professional, Peter McEvoy. She won the 18th to take the match into extra time.
Online scoring: www.englishladiesgolf.org
Visit the ELGA web site at www.englishladiesgolf.org
County Durham’s Ellie Givens won the English girls’ championship when she beat Nottinghamshire’s Katie Best (below left) 2/1 in a hard-fought final at Old Fold Manor, Hertfordshire today.
“I am really relieved – and happy. I really wanted to win a national championship before I leave for university,” said Ellie, 18, who will be going to Denver, USA at the end of this month.
“This is by far the biggest thing I have won and it makes all the hours of practice and training worthwhile. It’s nice to see how it pays off,” added the England girl international.
Ellie, from Blackwell Grange, has been supported by ELGA’s lottery-funded training programme since she was 11 and has found it invaluable. “It’s been fantastic, it’s helped every aspect of my game, physically and mentally. Everything I could have asked for has been provided,” she said.
The final highlighted the battling qualities of both girls as they played in bright sunshine, but tricky, swirling winds.
Ellie won the first hole and was never to slip behind, but time and again Katie, 17, (Sherwood Forest) pulled her back to all square. “It was a really close match and Katie kept coming back at me right to the end,” said Ellie. “I struggled a bit at the beginning but had a couple of really good up-and-downs later on.”
At the turn Ellie was two up but Katie had squared matters after the 12th. The Durham player came straight back to win the 13th and held on to that slender advantage through the closing holes.
The 17th was the deciding hole. Both girls missed the fairway but while Ellie was able to put her second shot close to the green, Katie had to pitch out of the rough. She was left with an approach of over 100 yards, which finished near Ellie’s ball on the right of the green.
Both girls chipped up and when Katie missed her putt she conceded Ellie’s three-footer – and the championship was decided.
During the match both players demonstrated some superb short-game shots. Katie, a member of ELGA’s Select Midlands squad, almost holed a bunker shot and, when the pressure was truly on, fashioned the most delicate of pitches from a clump of deep rough beside the 16th green.
Ellie also left herself some challenging shots and played them immaculately, notably a tough downhill chip from behind the short 14th and another, from a slope behind the 15th, which finished within inches of the hole. “They were both so difficult,” she said. “I couldn’t have left myself anything harder!”
The Flight Two final was won by Old Fold Manor’s Steph McEvoy who beat Harriet Owers-Bradley (Wollaton Park) on the 20th. Steph, 16, is the daughter of club professional, Peter McEvoy. She won the 18th to take the match into extra time.
Online scoring: www.englishladiesgolf.org
Visit the ELGA web site at www.englishladiesgolf.org
Labels: Girls
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 3:39:00 PM
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