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SAMANTHA Round got more than she bargained for after winning the Oxfordshire Ladies County Golf Championship at The Oxfordshire Golf Club.
The 22-year-old was stunned when told she would next be competing against the top professionals in the Ladies European Tour event at the Oxfordshire from Friday, July 4.
The surprise was sprung on the 1 handicapper, who plays for the Tadmarton Heath Golf Club, by Martin Harris, general manager of The Oxfordshire. At the trophy presentation he said: “As hosts and sponsors of the LET event in July we have been given one place to allocate to a player of our choice. We would like to give that place to Sam.”
Round, studying marketing management at the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham and whose previous best had been to captain the English Universities golf team, looked bemused for many minutes before it began to sink in that she had been thrust into the big time.
“I’m going to have to start playing better,” was her first comment.
“I was absolutely stunned when I heard the news. But it is beginning to sink in now. I am delighted to have been given such a huge opportunity.
“I am finishing University in May and had told my dad that as I had not already taken a gap year I wanted to take some time off to play some golf. This could not have come at a better time.
“It is a very daunting thought that I will next be playing alongside the biggest names in European golf but I’m looking forward to the challenge. It is going to be a very good experience for me.”
Round earned the chance of a lifetime by beating her county foursomes partner and very good friend, 21-year-old Tilly Holder (2, handicapper from Oxford Ladies) 3&2 in a close-fought final. Both girls played excellent golf, the defining moment coming on the par 3 13th hole when Round sank a 24-birdie putt to go two up.
Both finalists had looked to be in trouble in the semi-finals. Round recovered from three down after nine holes to beat Lauren Jupp (5 hcp from Studley Wood) 2&1 while Holder let a five hole advantage after 10 holes slip against Laura Watkins (5 hcp from Bicester) before eventually winning by one hole.
There were some early shocks with reigning champion Katherine O’Connor (1hcp from Tadmarton Heath) knocked out by clubmate Sarah Amos (6 hcp) in the first round. Also making an early exit was fancied Jane Binning (2 hcp from Frilford Heath), at the hands of Laura Watkins (5 hcp from Bicester) .
© The Oxfordshire have placed all their facilities at the disposal of Round in the run-up to the European Ladies Tour event.
Colin Gunney
Press Officer
BB&O Golf Partnership
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