Scots WPGA pros miss out in Suffolk

Scottish WPGA professionals Gillian Stewart from Inverness, Sunningdale-based Cathy Panton-Lewis and Frances Finney from Hertfordshire missed out on the three-figure cash prizes available in the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA One-Day Series event at Stoke-by Nayland Golf Club, Suffolk.
Gillian returned a three-over-par 77 (38-39) in the one-round competition to share sixth place and earn £12.50.
Out of the money were Cathy, 15th with an 82 (42-40) with a double bogey at the short third, and Frances, 18th with an 86.
Marie Allen (Brookmans Park) won the £350 top prize with a two-under-par 72 which included five birdies in the first 10 holes. She had a shot to spare over joint runners-up Joanne Oliver (Knebworth), Laura Eastwood (Teign Valley) and Alexandra Keighley (Huddersfield) who each earned £175.
SCOREBOARD
Par 74
72 Marie Allen (Brookmans Park) 35-37 (£350).
73 Joanne Oliver (Knebworth) 34-39, Laura Eastwood (Teign Valley) 36-37, Alexandra Keighley (Huddersfield) 37-36 (£175 each).
75 Rachel Bailey (Branston) (£75).
77 Hannah Dargan (Pannal), Clare Brown (Morecambe), Sarah Bennett (Three Rivers), Gillian Stewart 38-39 (£12.50 each).
78 Lucy Clarke (Chelmsford), Maria Tulley (West Cornwall).
79 Emma Prentice (Gog Magog), Jodie Dartford (Upminster).
80 Susan Moon (Denham).
82 Cathy Panton-Lewis (The Berkshire) (42-40).
84 Rachel Adby (North Foreland).
85 Rebecca Davies (Bondhay).
86 Frances Finney (Great Hadham).
87 Katja Maria Chaszczewski (Mid Sussex).
88 Joanne Lee (J L Golf).
89 Sarah Graves (Stoke by Nayland).

NEWS RELEASE FROM PGA: WINNER MARIE EARNS

AN INVITATION TO L E T EVENT AT HARLECH

Marie Allen has booked herself a temporary return to the Ladies European Tour after winning the second event of the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA One-Day Series.
The Brookmans Park-based professional carded a two-under-par 72 over Stoke by Nayland’s Gainsborough Course to hold off a trio of challengers by one shot.
The victory, which moved Allen to joint top of the Order of Merit, earned her an invite to the S4C Wales Ladies Championship at Royal St David’s in August.
“I wanted to qualify for the LET event as I was on the tour for a couple of years and have a lot of friends there I’m looking forward to seeing,” said the 29-year-old.
“I phoned a few of them when I’d won to tell them and that I’d be down there for the week. It’ll be nice to spend the week with them. I’ve just got to get organised now and arrange the week off.”
Allen revealed that a coaching session with the club’s head professional Paul Hetherington proved decisive in her victory, which has given her season a new approach.
“I saw Paul on the weekend and he gave me quite a lot of help, which obviously paid off,” she said.
“He’s been very good and is keen to push me forward on the playing side. Winning this event has certainly helped my confidence, especially with two more one-day events in the next couple of weeks.
“The Order of Merit is also a target now on the back of this.”
The next in the WPGA One-Day Series is at Cardiff on Wednesday, June 3.
The leading four professionals in each of the seven one-day series events have won points towards the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 WPGA Order of Merit which has prize money of £1,000.
The placings are:
1 Marie Allen (Brookmans Park) 10.00.
1 Heather MacRae (Gullane) 10.00
3 Laura Eastwood (Teign Valley) 9.33.

4 Alexandra Keighley (Huddersfield) 5.33.

5 Joanne Oliver (Knebworth) 3.33.

6 Hannah Dargan (Pannal) 2.00