ENGLISH COUNTY FINALS AT LONG ASHTON

Yorkshire make winning start

by beating Sussex 6-3

Yorkshire began their defence of the English counties’ championship with a 6-3 win over Sussex at Long Ashton Golf Club in Gloucestershire.

In the day’s other matches, Leicestershire beat Dorset 6-3 while Hertfordshire beat Warwickshire, also by the margin of 6-3.

Yorkshire’s match was tighter than the result suggests, with seven games going to the 18th. Of those, the defending champions won four while Sussex claimed one - in spectacular fashion. Their county champion, Hannah Ralph, eagled the last to beat the birdie of Naomi Edwards (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved) and win the point. The other two games were halved.

Yorkshire training officer Joy Hunter commented: “The scoreline makes it look comfortable, but it was tough. Overall, though, it was a good result and a good start to the week. Everyone did well and they all kept their heads up.”

Sussex captain Sheila Williams was delighted with her team’s efforts. “Seven of the matches went to the I8th and hopefully we gave Yorkshire a bit of a fright. I am thrilled to bits with my team, I’m really, really proud of them.”

Hertfordshire also fought hard to win their match against Warwickshire. They held a 2-1 advantage after the morning foursomes but they were trailing at the halfway stage of the singles. Team captain Jaki White said: “I was really pleased with they way they all rallied round. They dug deep and played really well, especially on the back nine.”

Leicestershire got off to a quick start. They won all three of their morning foursomes and in the singles their top two players had comfortable wins to secure the point. Team captain Tracy Bourn remarked: “It was brilliant. It’s just really good to get off to a winning start. You can’t win it on the first day – but you can lose it. Now it’s all still in our hands.”

Her team is in birthday mood: county champion Jamie Leigh-Voss celebrated her 15th birthday on practice day while Helen Lowe enjoyed her 45th birthday today.

Results:

YORKSHIRE 6, SUSSEX 3

(Yorkshire names first)

Foursomes:

Naomi Edwards & Emma Brown bt Hannah Ralph & Karen Sykes 3 and 2.

Sara Garbutt & Helen Searle bt Aileen Greenfield & Chloe Court 1 hole.

Kim Crooks & Laura Harvey bt Clarissa Bushell & Jo Galway 1 hole.

Singles:

Edwards lost to Ralph 1 hole.

Brown bt Emma Field 1 hole.

Garbutt halved with Sykes.

Searle halved with Court.

Ellie Robinson lost to Greenfield 3 and 1.

Nikki Dunn bt Katherine Russell 1 hole.

LEICESTERSHIRE 6, DORSET 3

(Leicestershire names first)

Foursomes:

Kym Larratt & Helen Lowe bt Hayley Davis & Georgia Hall 5 and 3.

Chloe Dexter & Jamie-Leigh Voss bt Marketa Mann & Chantal Scott 3 and 1.

Tracy Bourne & Jo Morris bt Carly Cummins & Harriet Legg 6 and 4.

Singles:

Voss bt Melissa McMahon 4 and 2.

Dexter bt Hall 5 and 3.

Larratt lost to Davis 2 and 1.

Morris bt Mann 5 and 4.

Bourne lost to Legg 2 and 1.

Lowe lost to Cummins 5 and 4.

HERTFORDSHIRE 6, WARWICKSHIRE 3

(Hertfordshire names first)

Foursomes:

Lucy Williams & Charlotte Field lost to Abbey Gittings & Lauren Taylor 5 and 4.

Tina Jeary & Jackie Foster bt Claire Howells & Charlotte Dalton 5 and 3.

Alison Franklin & Harriet Key bt Lisa Barton & Elizabeth Mallett 4 and 3.

Singles:

Williams lost to Gittings 5 and 3.

Franklin lost to Taylor 1 hole.

Key bt Elizabeth Haycock 1 hole.

Jeary bt Elizabeth Mallett 3 and 2.

Foster bt Dalton 1 hole.

Charlie Douglass bt Barton 4 and 2.

Tuesday’s order of play:

Leicestershire v Hertfordshire

Sussex v Dorset

Warwickshire v Yorkshire

Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer