CHESHIRE PAIR'S HISTORIC WIN IN AUSTRALIAN SPOONS

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Australian Spoons winners score a first for their county





Australian Spoons winners Janet Ions and Jean Halligan, with England Golf joint president Sue Johnson (centre), watched by the other finalists (back row). Image © Leaderboard Photography


Women golfers Janet Ions and Jean Halligan are England’s Australian Spoons champions – and the first partnership from Cheshire to capture the trophy.
The pair, from Tytherington Golf Club, won a tight tussle for the Spoons at the national final at East Devon Golf Club.
“It was very close,” said Janet. “Our playing partners were ahead of us all the way and we pipped them on the last hole, where we got three points and they got one.”
This is their biggest win in golf and, as Jean said: “It’s lovely.” Janet added: “It’s great and a big shock, a real surprise!”
The stableford foursomes competition is contested by players with handicaps of 21 and over and the national finalists – who each represented one of England Golf’s women’s regions – had come through club and regional qualifying rounds.
Janet, who has been playing golf only four years, has a handicap of 26 – and had been cut by two in the run-up to the final - while Jean is a 29 handicapper.
The pair, who represented the North region, closely examined the trophy to discover they were the first winners from Cheshire.
 They scored 31 points on the scenic and challenging clifftop course which features some very demanding greens. They were followed by:
Sheelah Ayliffe and Jill MacLeod from Bovey Tracey Golf Club, Devon, representing the South West
Maggie Jowett and Elizabeth Reddick from Breedon Priory Golf Club, Leicestershire & Rutland, representing Midlands North.
Victoria Westgarth and Pauline Gibbs from Windlesham Golf Club, Surrey, representing the South.
Nicky Phillips and Jenny Thompson from Droitwich Golf Club, Worcestershire & Herefordshire, representing Midlands South.
Barbara Marriott and Victoria Walley of Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands Golf Club, Bedfordshire, representing the East.


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