Devon double top in South West championships

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Devon golfers Julia Norman and Jessica Bradley have scooped the top two South West championships of 2009.
Julia, a one-handicapper from Exeter, is the new EWGA South West regional champion. Jessica, 17, from Tiverton, is the winner of the South West girls’ championship.
Julia claimed her title with a stunning birdie-eagle finish in the final at High Post in Wiltshire. She was neck and neck with her opponent, England girl international Hayley Davis of Dorset, after 16 holes.
A two at the par-3 17th made Julia one up and then she holed an eagle putt on the par-5 18th to take the title.
The second flight winner was Jamie Lee Casling from Brickhampton Court in Gloucestershire, who beat Rosie Davies from Saunton in Devon in another close fought match.
Jamie Lee, who is 18, is also celebrating her first hole-in-one which she shot on the first day of the championship at the 139-yard 5th hole.
Another hole-in-one was achieved by 13-year-old Francesca Young from Ferndown on the 124-yard eighth hole.
Championship runner-up, Hayley Davis from Ferndown Golf Club, who plays off scratch, won the Katherine Cairns Trophy for the best gross score of 146 over 36 holes on the first day. The net trophy, the Fraser Evans Bowl, was won by Lizzie Stephens from Clevedon in Somerset with 137 – 9 under par.
Other winners included Gill Loughrey from Wrag Barn, Wiltshire, who won the Hawkins Senior Vase, and Jo Hodge from Knowle, Gloucestershire, who won the intermediate candlesticks for the age 18-30 category.
Meanwhile, Jessica Bradley became the South West girls’ champion at Bude & North Cornwall where she had rounds of 77, 75 in a testing breeze. Her total of 152 was two shots clear of the runner-up, 13-year-old Georgia Hall of Ferndown, Dorset.
Shelby Smart, 15, of Knowle, Gloucestershire, also shot 154 but lost out on second place on countback. However, she won the prize for the best U15 score. Kyra Horlock of Hamptworth, Wiltshire, was the U13 winner while Katie Rule of Merlin, Cornwall, claimed the Challenge Cup for the best first round with her score of 76.
The handicap salver was won by Ellena Farrow of Kingsdown, Wiltshire. Dorset, represented by Georgia Hall and Melissa McMahon, won the County Trophy.
Eleven higher-handicap girls, all aged under 15, competed in the 18 hole stableford for the Buchanan Cup, which was won by Beth Yeoman of Thurlestone, Devon. She also teamed up with Stephanie Finlan to win the County Shield for Devon.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer