SW Girls' Inter Counties Tournament Winners!

DAY 3 - WE WON!!!

SW Inter Counties Junior Champions!

Captain Alex Giles holding the Winners Shield (2nd Row, L-R: Kate Thurlow and Lorna Evans, 3rd Row L-R: Caley McGinty, Megan Bartlett, Vice-Captain Isabel Ovens, Back Row L-R: Ebonie Lewis and Charlie Hiatt)

Celebrating on the 18th!

DAY 3 – PM - GLOUCESTERSHIRE v SOMERSET

The finale and we wanted to win!  With that in mind, we decided to put out our strongest team with the 6 lowest handicapped players – we knew we would have to give shots but having rested Ebz and Charlie in the morning session, they were really up for taking their matches to their Somerset counterparts. 

Overall it was a really tough match – Ebz had to give 6 shots and although she battled hard against Bella, every time she pegged her back Bella had a shot so their match ended on the 17^th with Bella winning 2&1.  At this point we heard that Devon had lost which meant that we had won the tournament, but we wanted to win our final match and be crowned the SW Junior Champs with a WIN!  Caley was also battling hard against Amelia and their match ended on the 18^th with both girls holing great putts for a friendly half – this was followed by Gilo birdying the last to win her match 1UP after a real tussle having given 5 shots.  Charlie was never down and even though her opponent kept fighting back, Charlie won on the 17^th.  Megan had an up and down ride – with her opponent fighting every step of the way, but Megan also sealed her win on the 17th.  Kate playing in her first Inter Counties Tournament was solid bringing up the rear and won 3&2 – so Team Glos had succeeded and beat Somerset 4½ to 1½.  What an incredible afternoon’s golf – Somerset didn’t make it easy and all the matches were valiantly fought but in the end Team Glos were triumphant and we retained the title of SW Girls’ Inter Counties Champions – how good does that sound!

Congratulations to Team Glos – it was a pleasure spending time with you all – you were excellent ambassadors for the County and I’m proud to be your CJO.  Thank you to Alex, our Match Manager, who kept me calm and supported all the Team and to parents and supporters who gave up their time to come along to Exeter – it was great to see so many familiar faces.  Thank you to GLCGA and the membership – without your support we wouldn’t be able to participate in the tournament and we hope we have done you all proud.

DAY 3 – AM - WILTSHIRE v GLOUCESTERSHIRE

After a relaxing evening in Exmouth, Team Glos were up for the final push to try and win their final two matches.  Wiltshire were the challengers in the morning and they too were desperate to get some points on the board and they pushed us all the way.  With trolley problems for Lorna on the 5^th, this didn’t seem to faze her and she marched on with a replacement trolley to win her match 5&4.  Kate had already won her match by this time by a massive 7&5 and it was down to the front runners to turn their matches around.  With Caley and Alex having to give 5 shots each and Megan 6 shots it was always going to be a battle.  They all ended up going down the 18^th and were really putting up a fight to get their points – we only needed 1½ from our first three players and we got 2, so we had won the match and it was only Issy left on the course and when she walked down the 18^th she was A/S and that’s how it ended, so Team Glos won 4½ to 1½ - another great win! 

DAY 2 – AM - Gloucestershire v Cornwall

Walking onto the first tee on Monday morning, the girls were met with strong gusting winds, and whilst it was sunny, conditions were tough.  Leading the team was the experienced Ebonie who enjoyed a ‘birdie-fest’ and beat her opponent 5&3.  Following behind was Caley who had a tighter match going all the way to the 18^th.  Caley was 1up playing the hole, but an excellent hole out from 87 yards ensured a win of both her match and ‘Shot of the Morning’.  

The ever-steady Alex Giles achieved the third point for Team Glos playing some solid golf.  Charlie had the tightest match of the day, also going down the 18^th hole, but unfortunately her opponent got the better of her and Cornwall won the point.  Megan was up against a formidable opponent in Olivia Trewhella and fought hard but the point eventually went to Cornwall.  

Bringing up the rear, and on her debut, was Kate Thurlow of Cotswold Hills.  With both players off the same handicap, it was destined to be a close match.  Kate played some excellent golf, too good for her opponent to handle, finishing her game on the 14^th hole, conserving her energy for the afternoon match.  The final score was 4-2 to Gloucestershire and the girls went to lunch buzzing for the next match.

DAY 2 – PM – Dorset v Gloucestershire

After a swift turn around between the morning and the afternoon matches, Team Glos and their amazing supporters were out in force on the first tee.  The wind had dropped slightly and the sun was shining bright.  Ebonie carried on her form from the morning, adding an eagle to her mix of birdies and pars, resulting in the very impressive winning score of 8&7.  

Caley once again had a close match, and whist there weren’t any more hole outs from the fairway, Caley was too good for her opponent, eventually winning on the 17^th hole.  Out third was a determined Charlie, never down in her match, she won on the 14^th hole.  

Kate was next out, also maintaining her form from the morning match.  Excitement in her match came at the par 3 4^th hole, after both missing the green, her opponent holed out from the bunker for a birdie 2.  The pressure was on Kate and, keeping a cool head, she chipped in for the half and the ‘Shot of the Afternoon’ prize.  The eventual score in her match was a win on the 15^th.  

Lorna Evans had a close match and, wanting another crack at the hole, she found herself playing down 18, although this time 1up.  After her opponent went in the water, Lorna played a fantastic shot over the water and onto the green, good enough for her opponent to concede the hole and the match halfway down the fairway.  Out in anchor position was Vice-Captain Isabel Ovens, who faced an in-form Molly from Dorset.  Issy fought valiantly but unfortunately lost on the 13^th.  The final score was an impressive 5-1 win for Gloucestershire and a very happy team of girls. 

With such lovely weather and time on our hands, we went for a trip to the beach in the evening.  CJO Janice and myself (Alex) went to the wrong car park and ended on the wrong side of Exmouth and, with no beach in sight, the girls settled for rounders in the park.  The Dorset team joined us and got their own back, beating us in the rounders, and then we all went for ice cream by the actual beach! 

Credit: Alex Saunders (Match Manager)

DAY 1 - Gloucestershire v Devon

With the weather forecast being changeable, after a torrential downpour whilst we were waiting on the first tee, the afternoon did brighten up towards the end of our rounds - the umbrella’s were up and down and the wet weather clothes were on and off.

With the junior girls’ tournament, they play six single matches off full handicap and with the first 5 of our 6 team members, all giving shots to their opponents it was destined to be a closely fought match.

With 5 matches complete and the result being 2 ½ : 2 ½ , it was down to Lorna Evans, who was playing in her first Inter Counties tournament to keep a steady head as she headed down the 18^th A/S.

Her opponents shot into the tight green over water was always going to be difficult and it fell short and ‘plopped’ into the water.  Lorna then took her shot and being the friendly girl that she is promptly followed her opponent!  They both took drop and put their shots over the back of the green and had to chip back on.  Both putted out meaning that their match was halved and the overall match result was halved.

Well done Little Spots, you showed perseverance and didn’t give up – a good first match result!

Return to News Page

Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.