49 golfers participated in this year’s County Championships at the The Wychwood Golf Course over a gloriously sunny weekend. 17 women participated in the County Championship category (HC:< 20.4), 12 in the mid-silver (HC: 12.5-20.4) and 20 in the bronze category (HC; 20.5-35.6). 5 participants were in the Junior Category and 7 in the Senior Category. The Course was immaculate, the management team welcoming, and the members courteous throughout.

As last year this was the stroke play day, with the Scratch County Championships consisting of 36 holes, and the Mid-silver and Bronze Championships competing across a single 18 hole round. The first players went out shortly after 8am and the last players in completed their round after 8pm that evening. A long day for players and organisers alike.

With a one over gross 75 in her afternoon round, Caroline Johnson (Tadmarton Heath) put in the lowest gross for the stoke play rounds with a 155 total. She was joined in the quarter finals by Vicky Turner (Oxford Ladies), Phoebe Simons (Tadmarton Heath), Kate Evans (Frilford Heath), Tracy Roberts (Frilford Heath), Mandy Nall (Huntercombe), Megan Bishop (The Wychwood) and Lara Murphy (Frilford Heath). They would all return on Saturday morning for the quarter finals, with the semi-finals scheduled for the same afternoon.

Helen Holmes (The Wychwood) and Sandra Fathers (Feldon Valley) won mid-silver and bronze divisions respectively. Whilst it is the gross scores that count, both played under their handicaps, as did a number of other competitors across the board. It is fantastic to see the challenge of competitive golf spurring our women on to better things!

In these divisions players moved straight to semi-finals on Saturday afternoon. We had players from a large cross-section of clubs progress. In the mid-silver event Annie Hooper (Tadmarton Heath), Shelley Yates (Burford), and Sybil Ruscoe (The Wychwood) joined Helen Holmes. The bronze top 4, with Sandra Fathers, were Vanessa Taylor (Frilford Heath), Susie Hogben (Drayton Park) and Marianne Hawke (Studley Wood).

The morning rounds in the Scratch Championship saw some exceptional, and exceptionally close play. Two of the matches were not completed until the 20th hole (with one closed out with an eagle), whilst the other two finished on the closing holes of the course. The day was hotting up and was matched by the play on the course. Winning those tightly contested matches were Caroline Johnson, Tracy Roberts, Megan Bishop and Phoebe Simons. All would return to the course for the semi-finals after a short pit-stop.

The Scratch Championship players led the way, followed by mid-silver and bronze semi-finalists. As the afternoon heated up, tiredness was creeping in, but there was nonetheless some strong play across the two matches. Johnson holed two consecutive monster putts at a crucial time and killed off any fighting spirit Roberts had left; Johnson (a classy and talented player) closed out her match with relative ease. Simons pushed Bishop further but surrendered on the 16th hole after playing some superb golf across the two days.

In the Mid-silver event, Holmes continued her strong play from the day before and beat club mate Ruscoe, whilst Hooper had a much closer match versus Yates coming out 1 up victor. Fathers and Taylor prevailed in the bronze semi-finals with 2 up, and 3&2, victories against Hawke and Hogben.

After a morning’s rest all players returned for their afternoon showdowns. Most chose supporting caddies for these important events. I can honestly say the quality of golf played in the main Championship was phenomenal, and the physical and mental resilience on show was impressive. Both players made crucial swings, chips and putts at key moments to stay in a match that see-sawed gently. It was another game that needed more than 18 holes to conclude, with Bishop playing cool golf on 17 to birdie and tie the match, Johnson lipping out for birdie to win on 18 after driving the green, and accurate play by Bishop putting her on the green in two on the 19th hole, where she won the match and Championship. Both players were physically and mentally drained and the emotion of the three days, and that match in particular, was on show from each at the end.

The mid-silver match concluded sooner, with Hooper playing some of the best golf her long-time friend and caddy Amanda Glanvill (Feldon Valley) had ever seen. The Bronze final, however, also went to the 18th green. One down on the last hole, another cruel lip-out on that green, this time from Taylor meant her attempt to extend the match to the 19th was over. It was another truly exciting match which see-sawed one way and then the other. A delighted, and exhausted Fathers, who had told few friends and clubmates of her exploits to that point, was equally emotional at the end of the match.

What a great few days, what exciting and closely fought matches, what camaraderie and sporting behaviour on show, and what worthy winners all around.

County Championship (HC:< 20.4)
Championship Trophy: Megan Bishop (The Wychwood)
Runner-Up: Caroline Johnson (Tadmarton Heath)
Lucy Davis Trophy for best net over 36 holes on day 1: Phoebe Simons (Tadmarton Heath)
Best Gross score over 36 holes on day 1: Caroline Johnson (Tadmarton Heath)
Seniors Trophy for best gross score over 18 holes Day 1 AM: Kate Evans (Frilford Heath)

Junior Trophy for best net score over 18 holes on Day 1: Phoebe Simons
Junior Trophy for best gross score over 18 holes on Day 1: Lara Murphy

Mid-Silver (HC: 12.5-20.4)
Mid-Silver Trophy: Annie Hooper (Tadmarton Heath)
Runner-Up: Helen Holmes (The Wychwood)
Silver medal for best net over 18 holes Day 1: Helen Holmes (The Wychwood)
Best gross over 18 holes Day 1: Annie Hooper (Tadmarton Heath)

Bronze Trophy: Sandra Fathers (Feldon Valley)
Runner-Up: Vanessa Taylor (Frilford Heath)
Bronze medal for best net over 18 holes Day 1: Liz Ellis (Hinksey Heights)
Best gross over 18 holes Day 1: Sandra Fathers (Feldon Valley)

HUGE thanks to the Greenkeeping, Pro shop and Catering team at The Wychwood for providing us with a course that was in tiptop condition and for their professional, helpful and friendly assistance over three days.  

Report by Denise Santilli, County Competitions Secretary and Tracy Roberts, County Captain