Rachel Connor wins the Leveret

Rachel Connor from Manchester Golf Club won the prestigious Leveret Scratch tournament last weekend. Her scores of 73 and 75 for a total of 148 put her one shot ahead of Hannah Barwood and Samantha Round on 149.

Report from Fiona Anderson

10 miles away at Aintree ‘Comply or Die’ was winning the Grand National and at Formby Ladies Lancashire’s Rachel Connor from Manchester Golf Club kept very patient in the testing weather conditions to edge ahead of the quality field and win the Leveret Trophy for the first time.

In the morning it stayed fair and although the sun shone, the strong cold northerly wind showed how difficult Formby Ladies course can be become. In a field of 54 with the highest handicap being 5.7 the CSS rose by 2 shots to 74. Katie Best, Sherwood Forest dropped 3 shots to the turn then found her putting boots on the back nine. Katie came back in an unequalled 32 for 71 gross – the only score all day on the leader board in red figures. Samantha Round, Tadmarton Heath, was close behind with 72. Followed by Rachel Connor (73) and the 13 year old Elizabeth Mallett from Sutton Coldfield Ladies on 74.

In the afternoon with 13 players within 5 shots of the leader Formby had its own race where the lead kept changing hands. The wind had turned to the North West making the well guarded greens all the more difficult to find and many approaches fell into the new bunkers. Taking an early lead was the former British Champion, Janet Collingham, country member of the nearby Royal Birkdale club but whose home club is now Sherwood Forest. Janet carded an excellent 72 – 3 under the afternoon CSS of 75 – for a total of 150. Later the 14 year old Alex Peters of Notts Ladies dropped shots on the 14th and 17th for a 74 to match Janet’s 150. Then the talented Hannah Barwood, Knowle who is determined to master this tricky course dropped a shot on the last for 74 and a total of 149. Meanwhile Samantha Round was in complete control at one over par through 28 holes but an ugly triple bogey at the 11th unsettled her. £ more dropped shots on 12,14 and 15 sent her to Banbury with a rueful smile and a 77 for joint second place on 149.

The course was now clear for the 17 year old Rachel Connor to canter home with a 75 for a winning scratch aggregate of 148. On winning, Rachel was very proud to win the Leveret after years of coming close. She, like so many of the field, who travel from all over England, Wales and Scotland, see it as a great opener to the domestic amateur season. “The course is presented in such great condition and the event is always very well planned “ said Rachel & she’s already looking forward to defending next year.

Everything ran smoothly throughout the day and the club is immensely proud to have hosted such a popular and prestigious event. It is hoped to hold the next Leveret Trophy on Saturday 28th March 2009.

Full list of scores

MS RACHEL CONNOR 73 + 75 148 Manchester Golf Club
MISS HANNAH BARWOOD 75 + 74 149 Knowle Golf Club
MISS SAMANTHA ROUND 72 + 77 149 Tadmarton Heath Golf
MRS JANET COLLINGHAM 78 + 72 150 Sherwood Forest Golf
MISS ALEXANDRA PETERS 76 + 74 150 NOTTS LADIES
MISS REBECCA MCGINLEY 75 + 76 151 Tyneside Golf Club
MS KYM LARRATT 76 + 76 152 Kibworth Golf Club
MS KEENAN ELLIS 76 + 76 152 Sunningdale Golf Clu
MS SAMANTHA BIRKS 77 + 76 153 Wolstanton Golf Club
MS SIAN JAMES 78 + 76 154 Bristol & Clifton Go
MS LAURA MURRAY 77 + 77 154 Alford Golf Club
MISS KATIE BEST 71 + 83 154 Sherwood Forest Golf
MS NIKKI DUNN 79 + 76 155 Harrogate Golf Club
MS CHARLOTTE WILD 75 + 80 155 Mere Golf Club
MS HOLLY CALVERT 75 + 80 155 Lancaster Golf & Cou
MS BRONWYN DAVIES 80 + 76 156 Wolstanton Golf Club
MISS ELIZABETH MALLETT 74 + 82 156 Sutton Coldfield Gol
MS SARAH-JANE EAVES 79 + 78 157 PROFESSIONAL
MISS PAT SMILLIE 78 + 79 157 PROFESSIONAL
MS AMY BOULDEN 80 + 78 158 Llandudno (Maesdu) G
MISS EMMA CLEGG 77 + 81 158 Wilpshire Golf Club
MISS NIKKI FOSTER 75 + 83 158 Accrington & Distric
MS NATALIE LOWE 83 + 76 159 Macclesfield Golf Cl
MISS CLAIRE MACDONALD 81 + 78 159 GULLANE LADIES
MS CHARLOTTE ELLIS 80 + 79 159 Minchinhampton Golf
MISS KATE WHITMORE 80 + 79 159 Sandiway Golf Club L
MISS KIM CROOKS 79 + 80 159 Saltburn Golf Club
MS RACHEL GOODALL 77 + 82 159 Heswall Golf Club
MS SARAH WALTON 84 + 76 160 Clitheroe Golf Club
MISS GIORGINA BROWN 81 + 79 160 Mere Golf Club
MS LISA BARTON 76 + 84 160 Coventry Golf Club
MISS SARA GARBUTT 84 + 77 161 Ganton Golf Club
MS LAURA THOMAS 78 + 83 161 DIDSBURY GOLF CLUB
MS JENNA BIRCH 83 + 79 162 Royal Lytham & St An
MISS RHIAN THOMAS 76 + 86 162 VALE OF GLAMORGAN
MS CAROLINE MARRON 78 + 85 163 Bromborough Golf Clu
MS KIRSTY RANDS 87 + 77 164 Burhill Golf Club
MS KATHERINE O'CONNOR 85 + 80 165 Tadmarton Heath Golf
MS BETH DAVIES 81 + 84 165 FORMBY LADIES GOLF CLUB
MS RACHEL LEWIS 84 + 82 166 Newport Golf Club
MS GEMMA BRADBURY 82 + 84 166 Cottrell Park Golf C
MS HARRIET KEY 81 + 85 166 South Herefordshire
MS ANNA CARLING 86 + 81 167 VALE OF GLAMORGAN
MS LAURA WATKINS 85 + 82 167 BICESTER
MS NICOLA RAWLINSON 82 + 85 167 Leyland Golf Club
MISS LOUISA STIRLING 79 + 88 167 FORMBY LADIES GOLF CLUB
MRS DEBBIE PORTER 78 + 89 167 FORMBY LADIES GOLF CLUB
MS ALEXANDRA BUSHBY 77 + 90 167 Strathmore Golf Cent
MISS LUCINDA MILEHAM 86 + 84 170 Aldwickbury Park Gol
MS JENNY ELLIS 91 + 82 173 NOTTS LADIES
MS TILLY HOLDER 90 + 85 175 OXFORD LADIES
MS STEPHANIE HALL 87 + 90 177 Lindrick Golf Club
MRS SHARON HEWER 90 + 89 179 Sherwood Forest Golf