It's New experience for Bev but an old

winning feeling for past English champ

FROM THE LGU WEBSITE

with additional words by Colin Farquharson

Bev New from Lansdown, Somerset, is the new Senior British ladies’ open amateur champion.

Making her debut in the tournament after reaching the eligibility age of 50, the former Ladies European Tour player who won the English title and Curtis Cup honours as an amateur, shot the low round of the championship today to come through to snatch victory from joint fifth overnight, four shots off the pace.

Bev had rounds of 78, 84 and 73 for 19 over par 235 – scores that reflect how bad the conditions were for much of the three days of the championship.

The over-20mph wind of the first day returned, increasing in intensity from noon.

New, who had been joint first-round leader on 78 with Maureen Richmond (Royal Liverpool, packed four birdies into her brilliant, wind-cheating final round.

She got a 3 at the par-4 sixth,a 2 at the short ninth, a 3 at the 11^th and a vital 3 at the last which, in the final analysis, avoided a play-off with another championship debutante, Irish runner-up Pat Doran (Donabate).

“I managed to make up ground on the leaders with 37 to the turn, despite having a double bogey 6 at the eighth where I was plugged in the rough,” said Bev.

“I holed a good putt for a birdie at the shot ninth and then drove the green downwind at the 11^th (256yd). I was putting for an eagle 2 there and just missed it!”

Buffeted by the wind, New limited the “damage” on the inward half to a bogey at the short 12^th and another bogey at the long 17^th – “ The was a brutal hole today” – and then played a great approach shot to within 3ft of the flagstick, to set up a birdie 3 at the last.

“I have a coffee shop at Burnham on Sea and that occupies most of my time, so I don’t play a lot of golf these days.” said Bev who is a former captain of the England women’s team.

"I came to Scotland for my first British senior championship with no great expectations so it is a fantastic feeling to have won the tournament. It was the last round that did it. Everything just fell into place and that's how I was able to cope with the wind was just as strong as it had been on the first day.

"But my driving was good, my approach shots on the mark and I putted pretty well into the bargain.

"Will I play more golf now? Probably not. My coffee shop business keeps me pretty busy but maybe this will encourage me to get out and play more. I will certainly defend the title in Northern Ireland next year."

Pat Doran, 51, had scores of 81, 81 and 74 for 236 – one shot away from forcing a play-off with Bev New.

“I waited just a second or two for the wind to blow my ball into the hole at the 15^th, which would have given me a birdie, but it stayed above ground and I had to settle for a par 5,” said Pat who covered the last five holes in two under par with birdie 3s at the 14^th and 16^th.

She had also started well with birdies at the first and third. She reached the turn in 37 (one overe par) and came home in 37 for a 74, which was the joint second best score of the championship. Felicity Christine (Banstead Downs) also had a 74 today for 242.

FOR THE AGE GROUP PRIZEWINNERS, SCROLL DOWN THROUGH THE FINAL TOTALS.

Leading prizewinners at the conclusion of the 2010 Senior British women's open amateur championship at West Kilbride. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on it to enlarge.