Hacienda del Alamo Women¨s Winter Festival
MARTINA AND RHIAN ARE
OPEN PROFESSIONAL & AMATEUR CHAMPIONS
Martina followed up her opening round of two-over-par 74 with a 77 for a seven-over-par total of 151 to win by four shots from Welsh rookie pro Natasha Morgan, who lives near Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor.
"This is a very long course and when the wind is in your face, as it seems to be at the longish par-4s, it is almost impossible to get up in two," said Martina.
"You cannot fly the bunkers in the landing areas when the wind is in your face and I would rate it just about the most difficult course I've come across yet, given the wind we've had over the past two days.
"There was even rain as well today so you just had to soldier on. It's nice to win whatever the tournament, whatever the country and let's hope it's the first of a few victories in 2008."
Martina, a former Curtis Cup player and past Irish amateur champion, collected the 500 Euros first prize donated by
Natasha Morgan has spent the past four years at
Natasha had creditable rounds of 76 and 79 for 155. But for double bogeys at the first and seventh – two of the long par-4s referred to by Martina Gillen (who had double bogeys herself at the sixth and short 15th) – for an outward 41, Miss Morgan might have put playing partner Martina under pressure over the tough closing holes.
As it was, Natasha was delighted to earn 200 Euros – her first pay check as a professional.
Claire Coughlan from
Marion Riordan retired after a few holes of the second round, having hurt her back on the opening day. She has cut short her trip to fly home for physiotherapy treatment.
There was a 1-2 success for
Clubmate Anna Carling was runner-up with 85 and 75 for 160. To improve by 10 shots in even more difficult conditions on the second day left Anna rueing her first day effort.
Twelve-year-old Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) won the amateur women's handicap title with a net two-round total of 146 off a handicap of 18. The stockily built youngster had two battling rounds of gross 91 to win this section by 12 shots from
As little Amber could not win two prizes, Kirsten MacCallum, 14-year-old junior member at McDonald Golf Club, Ellon in Aberdeenshire, finished the leading girl with net total of 158 off 20 of a handicap.
Azmina Desmond (
The Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival is the brainchild of two Scots – the resort's director of golf Billy Sim and golf writer Colin Farquharson. There are six events in all over the two-week programme, open to both lady professionals and amateurs with a maximum handicap of 20.
The next competition is an 18-hole Stableford on Thursday.
MURCIA LADIES OPEN
FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
PROFESSIONALS
155 N Morgan (Wal) 76 79 (200 Euros).
161 C Coughlan (Ire) 82 79 (100 Euros).
163 L Diggle (Wal) 84 79.
164 L Willems (Bel) 81 83.
167 J Wilson (Sco) 83 84.
171 M Martin (Spa) 88 83.
Retired: M Riordan (Ire) 90 - .
AMATEURS
Scratch
153 R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 78.
160 A Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) 85 75.
167 S Carty (The Island,
176 V Smith (Hacienda del Alamo) 94 82.
182 A Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) 91 91.
184 C Murphy (Grange,
197 A Desmond (
198 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 96 102.
206 G
219 E Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) 105 114
223 M Rooney (Navan) 114 109.
229 P Sheeran (Navan) 114 115.
244 M McAree (Navan) 122 122
Handicap
146 A Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) (18) 73 73.
149 R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) (2) 73 76.
152 A Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) (4) 81 71.
158 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (20) 76 82, M Geoghegan (Navan) (13) 79 79.
159 S Carty (The Island,
166 V Smith (Hacienda del Alamo) (5) 89
175 A Desmond (
182 G
183 M Rooney (Navan) (20) 94 89.
189 P Sheeran (Navan) (20) 94 95.
193 E Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) (13) 92 101.
204 M McAree (Navan) (20) 102 102.
Leading senior (handicap)
175 A Desmond (
Leading girl (handicap)
158 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (20) 76 82.
Labels: HDA FESTIVAL
<< Home