Lancashire are England’s champion county

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Lancashire won a superb title showdown at Pleasington to become the 2009 English Champion County. They beat Gloucestershire 5½-3½ in the deciding match on the last day of the County Finals.
The winning point was scored by Sarah Walton, who will turn professional next week. She signed off from her amateur career with a round of five-under par – and her win on the 18th prompted scenes of jubilation among the Lancashire supporters, who cascaded on to the green to congratulate the player.
The team’s enthusiastic fans had followed them round day after day bearing placards of support and carrying their giant teddy bear mascot, dressed in county colours. Gloucestershire commanded equally passionate support and their players came out meaning business, with warpaint on their faces – streaks of county colours painted across their cheeks.
Lancashire needed a halved match overall to take the title, while Gloucestershire had to win. The players from both teams responded to the challenge with excellent golf and a close-fought match in which six of the day’s games finished on the 18th green.
But it was Lancashire who emerged triumphant and won this championship for the first time since 2002. They were well on the way after the morning foursomes when they won 2½ points, helped by some impressive putting on the 18th green.
In the afternoon, Catherine Roberts quickly provided one of the necessary two singles points and before long Sarah Walton sealed the victory. Later, Nikki Foster added another point.
Lancashire captain Linda Wilson was ecstatic. “This is absolutely wonderful – but it’s been hard because the standard of golf this week has been superb. My team are amazing and they have dug deeper than deep.”
Gloucestershire captain Susan Reeve remarked:“Of course we are disappointed but my girls have been great. They are a terrific team and we have a mix of really solid troupers and young blood which will help us get stronger for the future.”
Meanwhile, Hertfordshire swept to an impressive 8-1 win over Surrey to take second place in the table. They didn’t lose a point all day but won seven matches and halved the other two. In the day’s other match Lincolnshire defeated Warwickshire 5½-3½ and moved into third place on countback over Gloucestershire, who had come so close to winning overall.
Final placings:
1 Lancashire 4½pts
2 Hertfordshire 3½
3 Lincolnshire 3, Gloucestershire 3
5 Surrey 1
6 Warwickshire 0

RESULTS
Hertfordshire 8 Surrey 1
(Hertfordshire names first)
Foursomes
Alison Franklin & Harriet Key halved with Katie Laud and Niamh O’Connor.
Charlotte Field & Lucy Williams bt Julia Brook & Jo Stocks 1 hole.
Charlie Douglass & Steph McEvoy bt Lisa McGowan & Janine Snodgrass 3 and 1.
Singles
Douglass bt McGowan 1 hole.
Franklin bt Katie Sheppard 3 and 1.
Field bt Nicola Taylor 1 hole.
Lucinda Mileham halved with O’Connor.
Tina Jeary bt Laud 5 and 4.
Key bt Stocks 8 and 7.

Lancashire 5½, Gloucestershire 3½
(Lancashire names first)
Foursomes
Cori Lee & Brogan Townend halved with Hannah Barwood & Charlotte Ellis
Catherine Roberts & Sarah Walton bt Linda Carruthers & Alison Kelly 3 and 2.
Nikki Foster & Nicola Rawlinson bt Jo Hodge & Sian James 1 hole.
Singles
Lee lost to Barwood 1 hole.
Walton bt Hodge 1 hole.
Roberts bt Kelly 5 and 4.
Townend lost to Carruthers 1 hole.
Rawlinson lost to James 3 and 2.
Foster bt Ellis 1 hole.

Warwickshire 3½, Lincolnshire 5½
(Warwickshire names first)
Foursomes
Rachel Rusted & Liz Galland halved with Helen Hewlett & Holly Clyburn.
Hannah McLoughlin & Ashley Cramond lost to Sophie Beardsall & Emilee Taylor 5 and 3.
Claire Howells & Charlotte Dalton lost to Jessica Wilcox & Jessica Schiele 1 hole.
Singles
Dalton bt Clyburn 1 hole.
Lisa Barton halved with Schiele.
McLoughlin halved with Megan Illingworth.
Howells lost to Beardsall 3 and 2.
Cramond halved with Wilcox.
Galland halved with Taylor