Cheshire’s Caroline Marron wins English senior championship
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Cheshire’s Caroline Marron (pictured) achieved her main goal of the season when she won a nailbiting final to become English senior champion at Littlestone, Kent.

She took the title when she holed a testing, downhill 10-foot putt to defeat Buckinghamshire’s Carole Weir on the 18th green. “I am absolutely over the moon. I’m going to cry!” she said.

Meanwhile, Surrey’s Debbie Richards won Flight Two with a 4/2 victory over local member Geraldine Bray. It was her first appearance in an England senior event and she said: “I am just so pleased – but it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Caroline Marron, the 2001 English strokeplay champion, took an early grip on the championship final as she demonstrated the superb short game which has been her trademark of the week.Carole struggled around the greens over the opening holes but, as she settled into the game, the players matched each other shot for shot and halved eight consecutive holes from the seventh.

However, Caroline extended her lead to three up when she got the better of the slippery 15th green. With just three holes left to play she seemed to have one hand on the trophy – but Carole had other ideas. Her husband-caddy told her: “If you finish four, three, four you can win this.” She almost did it, winning the 16th with a birdie four and the 17th with a great par three after her drive finished in a tricky spot to the right of the green.

On the par five 18th her second shot finished just right of the green, while Caroline was in a similar position for three. Carole chipped up safely, but her ball ran comfortably past the pin and she missed the birdie putt. Caroline putted up the slope to with 10ft of the pin and, when the time came, she demonstrated nerves of steel and rolled the crucial par putt into the hole.

“I’ve been struggling with my driver all week and when you’re under pressure that’s what goes – and it did on the last few holes,” said Caroline, who hit seven fairways in the final. Her boyfriend, Bromborough professional Geoff Berry, has been trying to solve the problem over the phone! Interestingly, both finalists have been working with psychologist Karl Morris through their county training and both paid tribute to his influence.

Caroline said: “I really, really wanted to win this and we’ve been working on goal setting with Karl Morris. This was my goal and I’ve been working on my putting to achieve it.” Carol, who is the Buckinghamshire first team captain, has been working with Karl Morris on her pre-shot routine.

Despite losing she was delighted with her performance: “I am just so proud of myself,” she said. In Flight Two Debbie Richards demonstrated fine ball striking and a neat short game. She was in charge throughout her final after taking the lead at the second hole.

Her opponent sank a number of clutch putts for halves but Debbie won the 15th to go three up and then finished with a flourish: with a birdie on the par five 16th for victory. Debbie, who was a Welsh girl international, is a member at Burhill and Rye, where she is ladies’ champion.

She’s also in the Surrey squad and plays for the second team. Her husband is English Women’s Golf Association non-executive director Bill Richards – who encouraged her to enter this event. Results

Championship flight

Semi-finals

Carole Weir (Beaconsfield) bt Felicity Christine (Banstead Downs) 1 hole.

Caroline Marron (Bromborough) bt Roz Adams (Addington Court Ladies’) 1 hole.

Final

Marron beat Weir 1 hole.

Flight 2

Semi-finals

Debbie Richards (Burhill) bt Pat Wrightson (Huddersfield) 3 and 1.

Geraldine Bray (Littlestone) bt Irene Brien (Wentworth) 6 and 5.

Final

Richards beat Bray 4 and 2.

Lyndsey Hewison

Press & PR Officer