Samantha Round from Tadmarton Heath was crowned County Champion 2008 at The Oxfordshire and along with the title went a very special invitation to play in the English Ladies’ Open which takes place at The Oxfordshire 4-6th July.

This is the second time Sam has captured the title the previous time was at Carswell in 2006. Sam, aged 23 years, who is at Gloucester University studying marketing is currently sitting her finals as she completes her degree course in May.

To reach the final last week Sam had a convincing win over Lydia Fox from Studley Wood in the match play first knock round and then went on to play Caroline Johnson (Chipping Norton) in the quarter finals whom she beat 3/2. In the semi final she met another Studley player Lauren Jupp who put up a strong fight but eventually lost out on the 17th hole giving Sam a 2/1 victory to play against Oxford Ladies’ Tilly Holder in the final.

Tilly played against Gemma Clements from Studley in the first match play round beating her by the narrowest of margins 1-up. In the quarter finals Tilly met Frilford’s Annie Gowing and managed another 1-up victory. Bicester’s Laura Watkins was her opponent in the semi’s and once again Tilly claimed the match by one hole!

THE FINAL MATCH
The final was a closely contended match with Sam and Tilly only exchanging four holes on the outward 9. two of which were birdies. At the par 4 10th Tilly’s shot to the green skipped over whilst Sam was on in regulation and two putted whereas Tilly chipped on to the green and missed her putt to go one down. They matched shot for shot over the next two holes but on the par 3 13th Sam slotted in a long putt for birdie which changed the balance of power, going 2 up. They pared the next two holes, and on the final match hole, the 16th Tilly’s shot to the green went into a greenside bunker where as Sam was on the green for 2 and finished in regulation leaving Tilly with a long putt to continue the match, unfortunately Tilly finished with a bogey 5. Match result Sam won 3/2.