L-R :- Runner Up Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies), County Captain Eleanor Taylor MBE, Troon Ladies Golf Club Captain, Denise Johnstone, who presented the prizes and 2007 County Champion Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn)
Lesley Hendry of Routenburg Golf Club, Largs completed a hat-trick of title wins in the Ayrshire women’s county championship over the Troon Portland course today (Thursday).
Lesley, who qualified as the No 4 seed this year, beat the top qualifier, Audrey Thompson (Loudoun) by two holes in the morning semi-finals before winning the final by 6 and 5 over Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies), the No 10 seed, in the final.
In the final, Miss Hendry had a birdie at the sixth and an eagle 3 at the 11th. Morag’s putting was not good enough to put the defending champion under pressure.
In the semi-finals Morag beat the 14th qualifier Jennifer Linklater (Largs) by 3 and 2.
Lesley Hendry is the first player to win the Ayrshire county title three years in a row for many years. The nearest was former Scottish champion Alison Gemmill (Barassie) who won the Ayrshire title in three years out of four – 1994, 1996 and 1997.
AYRSHIRE WOMEN’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland
Semi-finals – L Hendry (Routenburn) bt A Thompson (Loudoun) 2 holes, M McPherson (Troon Ladies) bt J Linklater (Largs) 3 and 2.
Final – Hendry bt McPherson 6 and 5.