Cambridge win 13th Ladies’ Varsity Golf Match

NEWS RELEASE
Early on the beautiful morning of the 16th of March the ladies of the Oxford and Cambridge golf teams gathered on the first tee at the splendid Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. The event that brought them together was the 13th Ladies’ Varsity Golf match, the year’s instalment of the annual game between the rival Universities.
The event has been taking place since the inaugural Ladies’ Varsity match was held at Walton Heath in 1998. After a strong showing by Oxford in the early years of the fixture, Cambridge has enjoyed several recent successes. However, never before has the game been held at Royal Porthcawl, despite the course’s popularity as a venue for the men’s Varsity match.
The course is a classic links, providing golfers with many challenges with its strategically placed bunkers, fairway contouring, lightening fast greens and strong Atlantic gales. In addition, golfers are routinely mesmerised by the spectacular views to Somerset and Exmoor in the South and across Swansea Bay to the Gower Peninsula.
The format of the match has three pairs from each University playing foursomes, and the reserves playing singles in the morning, and six individual matches taking place in the afternoon.
First out in the morning were Cambridge captain Louisa Tarn and her partner Michaela Bacon who took on Jane Han and Min-Yee Tseu of Oxford. Despite putting up a gallant fight the Oxford team lost out to a more experienced opposition on the 14th with Tarn holing a stunning chip for birdie.
The third match saw four times Varsity veteran Katie Taylor and partner Livia McBride play consistent strong golf against an Oxford pair who were punished by some poor ball positioning on the tough links course. Cambridge clinched their match against Jen Hauschild and Amy Bilderbeck on the 13th.
The second match however was fought to a competitive finish on the 17th. Despite an early lead for Oxford captain Gillian Kinnear and her partner Alex Walvis, Leanne Mullen and Hiliary Crowe fought back with a strong showing on the second nine.
However, Oxford’s lead proved too much for the Cambridge pair to claw back and a holed putt on the 17th brought Oxford their first point of the day.
Also in the morning, the reserve match was fought to a tight finish. Both Lucy Webb-Wilson of Oxford and Lucy Ackrill of Cambridge played stunning golf with the former Lucy closing the game with a win for Oxford on the 18th.
With a 2-1 lead as the teams went in for lunch, Cambridge needed three points in the afternoon to guarantee their win. Louisa Tarn brought the first of these home in her game against Jane Han. The Cambridge captain’s wealth of experience and talent was too much for her opponent who played great golf but, as a much more recent convert to the game, proved no match for Tarn who closed the game on the 10th hole.
However, the tide was soon to turn with Gillian Kinnear and Min Yee Tseu of Oxford taking early victories against their opponents Hiliary Crowe and Cambridge ex-captain Leanne Mullen respectively.
Kinnear brought home an 8 and 6 win in an amiable match against her old friend while Tseu, Oxford’s most recent addition, dazzled crowds with huge hitting to win on the 14th against a strong opponent.
With Alex Walvis of Oxford looking likely to bring in a win, having achieved a four-hole lead through nine holes against her opponent Livia McBride, the Dark Blue side were hopeful. However, the tide was to turn once again as McBride’s accurate and consistent golf and level head allowed her to fight back to achieve a spectacular half on the 18th.
All eyes were now on the final two games in the field. Each team was praying for a final 1½pt to secure their victory. Jen Hauschild fought back from four down against Cambridge’s Katie Taylor to be one down as the pair walked down the stunning 18th hole.
However, Hauschild was unable to achieve the necessary win on the last hole against the solid, unfaltering golf of Taylor and with a further win Cambridge clocked their tally up to 4½ points. The final game was to prove as nail-bitingly close as Oxford’s ex-captain Amy Bilderbeck fought against a strong Michaela Bacon. The result was decided on the 17th where Bacon went dormie one up to ensure at least half a point. Nonetheless, both continued fighting on the last hole and Bacon held on to achieve Cambridge’s final point of the day.
With a final score of 5½ Cambridge, 3½ Oxford, the stronger Light Blue side brought the trophy back to Cambridge for the fourth year in a row. The nail-biting game was enjoyed by a great many spectators who were as pleased as the players with the perfect conditions.
The course spent the day bathed in sunlight and the clear skies allowed all to indulge in the fabulous views. Most importantly, everyone gathered at Royal Porthcawl was treated to some excellent golf, with both teams putting out some of the best performances ever seen in the Ladies’ Varsity match and all competitors exhibiting excellent sportsmanship.
The narrow line between competition and fun was trodden expertly by all the ladies who entered the game in the perfect spirits. All in all, the day was a resounding success and we all look forward to next year!
Scores (Cambridge names first)
Foursomes:
Louisa Tarn & Michaela Bacon bt Min Yee Tseu & Jane Han 5 and 3.
Leanne Mullen & Hiliary Crowe lost to Gillian Kinnear & Alex Walvis 2 and 1.
Katie Taylor & Livia McBride bt Jen Hauschild & Amy Bilderbeck 6 and 5.
Singles:
Tarn bt Han 9 and 8.
Mullen lost to Tseu 5 and 4.
McBride halved with Walvis
Crowe lost to Kinnear 8 and 6.
Taylor bt Hauschild 1 hole.
Bacon bt Bilderbeck 2 holes.

Reserve Match:
Lucy Ackrill lost to Lucy Webb-Wilson 2 holes.