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ENGLISH PAR THREE TITLE FOR MARY

Gloucestershire golfer Mary Groves pulled off a clean sweep when she won the English women’s par three championship on the Severn View course at Thornbury Golf Club in her home county.

She not only won the championship – decided on the best net score - but was also in the winning team and she had the best gross score of the day.
“I’m stunned,” said Mary, who is a member at Shirehampton Park. “You don’t expect these things to come your way, but everything went well and I had my day in the sun.”

The 15-handicapper, who received eight shots, had a net score of four-under 50 and won by three strokes from Helen Kirby of Thornbury.  Sue Thomas of Shirehampton and Sarah Priestman of Harborne were a further shot behind.
Together with Anja De Burgh Williams and Babs Giles, Mary won the team prize for Shirehampton Park. She also returned the best gross score but the prize went to Sarah Priestman.
Mary started as she meant to go on with a birdie on the first hole, where the ball finished 6in from the hole. On the back nine she had eight consecutive threes until the last, where, she says “I got a little greedy, as we all do!”

This was Mary’s first outing on the par three layout at Thornbury and she commented: “It was a brilliant par three course and, considering the weather we’ve had, it was in very good condition.”

She was one of nine members of her club who entered the championship, attracted by the prospect of good competition and a sociable, garden-party atmosphere, thanks to the Pimm’s and cake which is part and parcel of the event.

Mary, who has played golf for almost 30 years, has always been a member at Shirehampton Park, where she has been ladies’ captain and a member of the board. She’s currently the ladies’ handicap secretary and county delegate. “It was a good day, a very nice relaxed atmosphere and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did all nine of us from Shirehampton Park,” she said.

Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
England Golf
pr@englandgolf.org
07825 752 193