England continued their monopoly of the senior women’s home internationals title at Royal Tara Golf Club, County Meath in Ireland.
They duly won the championship for a fifth year in a row by beating Ireland 5-2 in their final match today. No other country has won the title since the over-50s tournament was introduced in 2003.
Scotland drew 3 ½-3 ½ with Wales but pipped them by half-a-point for second place on a comparison of the individual games won records.
After sharing the foursomes 1-1, Pamela Williamson was Scotland’s only winner in the singles, giving the Baberton player three wins out of three, all achieved in singles’ play.
But the Scots who did not win gave gritty performances
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), Scotland’s top player with 4 1/2pt out of 6, had a titantic struggle with the Welsh ace, Vicky Thomas, which ended all square.
Lorna, pictured above, was two up after nine but then lost the 11th, 12th and 14th. She stopped the slide by squaring the match at the 16th and then halving the last two holes.
Fiona De Vries (St Rule) halved her match against Janet Doleman who won the 14th and 15th and then halved the last three.
Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) came from behind to get a square match with Jean O’Connor. Helen won the 15th to level matters and then the last three holes were halved.
Fiona Hunter (Baberton) went down by one hole to Denise Richards who gained the edge in a tight tie by winning the 17th and 18th.
Joint MVPs of the tournament were England’s Christine Quinn (5pt out of 6) and Christine Watson (5pt out of 5).
Day 3 details:
WALES 3 1/2, SCOTLAND 3 1/2
Foursomes: V Thomas & D Richards lost to L Bennett & F Hunter 2 and 1; A Lewis & J Doleman bt H Faulds & M Tough 2 and 1 (1-1).
Singles: Thomas halved with Bennett, Lewis lost to P Williamson 4 and 3, Doleman halved with F De Vries, J O’Connor halved with Faulds, Richards bt Hunter 1 hole (2 ½-2 ½ ).
ENGLAND 5, IRELAND 2
Foursomes: C Quinn & C Watson bt M Madden & C Cahill 2 and 1; C Caldwell & H Smyth bt M Henderson & S O’Brien-Kenney 5 and 4 (2-0).
Singles: Quinn lost to M McKenna 1 hole, Watson bt Madden 4 and 3, S Dye lost to O’Brien-Kenney 3 and 1, Smyth bt V Hassett 2 and 1, P Wrightson bt E MacMullen 3 and 2 (3-2).
Thanks go to Gillian Kirkwood for the report
Ladies Golf News in Scotland, the West of Scotland and Renfrewshire
