Warwickshire’s Elizabeth Mallett wins English girls’ championship
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Warwickshire’s Elizabeth Mallett (pictured) turned a six-shot deficit into a one-stroke victory with a superb display of sub-par golf in the English girls’ championship at Seacroft, Lincolnshire. The event was sponsored by the sports scholarship consultancy, firstpointusa.com
At the start of the last day’s play, the 16-year-old from Sutton Coldfield Ladies was on level par and six shots behind the halfway leaders, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) and Lauren Taylor (Woburn).
Over the next 36 holes Elizabeth, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had one eagle and 10 birdies – five of them in a row – as she compiled rounds of 70 and 69 to finish the championship on seven-under par.
It proved to be an unbeatable target. Heidi got to seven-under after 12 holes but dropped three shots on the way home. Lauren had birdie chances to get to seven-under – including one on the 18th to force a play-off – but the putts refused to drop and she finished runner-up.
Elizabeth completed her round a couple of holes ahead of her rivals and headed straight for the putting green. “Everyone was jumping around but I told them all to go away, I just wanted to calm down.” She stayed there until the final pair completed their round and the possibility of a play-off had disappeared.
When she finally learned she had won she said: “I can’t believe it, it feels amazing.”
Elizabeth, who was the 2009 English U15 champion, came to Seacroft determined to win. She prepared well, with 10 practice rounds, including one with a club member. “Since my exams finished on May 21 I’ve had time to work on my game and I’ve done a lot of practice and I’m swinging it the best ever,” she said.
She was also undeterred when Lauren and Heidi established their six-shot halfway lead. “Six shots is nothing,” she said. “If they make two bogeys and I make two birdies it’s all different.”
However, she had no idea how the others were scoring as she played her final round. “I just had the attitude that I would need to birdie the last to get into a play-off. I tried to stay as relaxed as I could and not to push it. I just let it happen.”
Last year, as well as winning the U15 title, Elizabeth was runner-up in the British girls’ championship. “That was the best week ever, but now this has topped it,” she said.
Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters played her way into third place with two sub-par rounds on the final day. She shot 71, 70 to finish on four-under par and just pipped Heidi Baek on countback.
Lancashire’s Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham and St. Annes) was fifth on three-over par while Brogan Townend (Pleasington) shot a final round of two-under 71 to take sixth place.
Click here for full scores
Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer
EWGA
Warwickshire’s Elizabeth Mallett (pictured) turned a six-shot deficit into a one-stroke victory with a superb display of sub-par golf in the English girls’ championship at Seacroft, Lincolnshire. The event was sponsored by the sports scholarship consultancy, firstpointusa.com
At the start of the last day’s play, the 16-year-old from Sutton Coldfield Ladies was on level par and six shots behind the halfway leaders, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) and Lauren Taylor (Woburn).
Over the next 36 holes Elizabeth, pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had one eagle and 10 birdies – five of them in a row – as she compiled rounds of 70 and 69 to finish the championship on seven-under par.
It proved to be an unbeatable target. Heidi got to seven-under after 12 holes but dropped three shots on the way home. Lauren had birdie chances to get to seven-under – including one on the 18th to force a play-off – but the putts refused to drop and she finished runner-up.
Elizabeth completed her round a couple of holes ahead of her rivals and headed straight for the putting green. “Everyone was jumping around but I told them all to go away, I just wanted to calm down.” She stayed there until the final pair completed their round and the possibility of a play-off had disappeared.
When she finally learned she had won she said: “I can’t believe it, it feels amazing.”
Elizabeth, who was the 2009 English U15 champion, came to Seacroft determined to win. She prepared well, with 10 practice rounds, including one with a club member. “Since my exams finished on May 21 I’ve had time to work on my game and I’ve done a lot of practice and I’m swinging it the best ever,” she said.
She was also undeterred when Lauren and Heidi established their six-shot halfway lead. “Six shots is nothing,” she said. “If they make two bogeys and I make two birdies it’s all different.”
However, she had no idea how the others were scoring as she played her final round. “I just had the attitude that I would need to birdie the last to get into a play-off. I tried to stay as relaxed as I could and not to push it. I just let it happen.”
Last year, as well as winning the U15 title, Elizabeth was runner-up in the British girls’ championship. “That was the best week ever, but now this has topped it,” she said.
Nottinghamshire’s Alex Peters played her way into third place with two sub-par rounds on the final day. She shot 71, 70 to finish on four-under par and just pipped Heidi Baek on countback.
Lancashire’s Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham and St. Annes) was fifth on three-over par while Brogan Townend (Pleasington) shot a final round of two-under 71 to take sixth place.
Click here for full scores
Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer
EWGA
Labels: Girls
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 10:31:00 pm
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