YORKSHIRE BEAT LINCOLNSHIRE IN WOMEN'S COUNTY FINAL

Yorkshire are England’s champion women’s county. After an absence of two years they made a triumphant return to County Finals, beating Lincolnshire 5-4 in today’s title showdown. In the day’s other matches Hertfordshire beat Gloucestershire 6½-2½ to finish third overall. Kent claimed their first win of the week, defeating Warwickshire 5½-3½ and finishing in fifth place.  Yorkshire’s win is their 12th in the championship and their first since 2008 (team image © Leaderboard Photography). “I am over the moon with my fantastic team,” said Yorkshire captain Carole Waights, after a tense afternoon of close singles. “Lincolnshire played beautifully this afternoon. They were going straight for the pins and they gave me a fright!” she added. Yorkshire had raced ahead this morning, winning all three foursomes. But Lincolnshire charged out in the afternoon singles.   Helen Hewlett and Emilee Taylor both played excellent golf to beat Emma Brown and Becca Wood respectively in the top two singles. Behind them, their battling colleagues were edging ahead - but in the end Yorkshire grit won through and they secured the two points they needed. Charlotte Austwick won the 16th to get back to all square and then, typically for the team this week, finished strongly by winning the 18th. Behind her, Holly Morgan came to the 17th tee one up and, with a solid par, won the hole and clinched the title for Yorkshire. It was the signal for cheers and whoops of delight which echoed around the course. In the second match Hertfordshire were on winning form all day, taking 2½ points in the foursomes and four in the singles. Their winners included 13-year-old Hannah Screen who played extremely well on her debut appearance and won 4 and 2 in the singles. Their performance put them in third place and their captain, Cathy Shand, said: “We are so chuffed. The team have played their socks off for us this week and they are an absolute credit to Hertfordshire.” In the final match Kent overcame Warwickshire to win their first point of the week. In the foursomes the two teams shared the points with one half and one big win apiece – Kent’s top pair were an estimated eight-under when they won 6 and 5 and  Warwickshire’s second pair also won on the 13th. Kent pushed ahead in the singles, winning three matches and halving two.   Final placings: 1 Yorkshire, representing the North, 5pts 2 Lincolnshire, representing Midlands North, 3½pts   3 Hertfordshire representing the East, 3pts 4 Gloucestershire, representing the South West, 2½pts 5 Kent, representing the South, 1pt 6 Warwickshire, representing Midlands South, 0pt   Lincolnshire 4 Yorkshire 5 Foursomes India Clyburn and Emily Slater lost to Emma Brown & Becca Wood 3/2 Sophie Beardsall and Emilee Taylor lost to Charlotte Austwick and Holly Morgan 2 holes Jess Wilcox and Emma Tipping lost to Megan Lockett and Ellie Goodall 4 and 3 Singles Helen Hewlett bt Brown 3 and 1 Taylor bt Wood 3 and 2. Wilcox lost to Austwick 1 hole Slater lost to Morgan 2 and 1. Clyburn bt Kirsty Beckwith 3 and 2. Tipping bt Lockett 2 and 1 Hertfordshire 6½ Gloucestershire 2½   Foursomes Lucy Goddard and Nicola Callander bt Shelby Smart and Bethan Popel 2 holes. Steph McEvoy and Esther Strous halved with Charlotte Heeps and Victoria Wakeley-Jones Charlie Field and Jackie Foster bt Alexandra Saunders and Alison Kelly 5 and 3. Singles Goddard bt Jemima Gregson 4 and 2. McEvoy bt Padley 6 and 5. Ella Ofstedahl bt Saunders 5 and 3. Hannah Screen bt Grace McLaughlin 4 and 2 Foster lost to Sue Elliott 8 and 6 Callander lost to Popel 5 and 3 Warwickshire 3½ Kent 5½ Foursomes Melissa Nicol and Rachel Rusted lost to Emily Royer and Cloe Frankish 6 and 5. Hannah Coles and Yen Pham beat Sandy Catford and Ainee O'Connor 7 and 5. Lisa Barton and Charlotte Priddle halved with Tita McCart and Jerri Sewell Singles Abbey Gittings halved with Emily Royer Charlotte Dalton lost to Cloe Frankish 4 and 2. Claire Howells lost to Jerri Sewell 7 and 5. Katrina Gani halved with Mollie Lawrence Hannah Coles lost to Marnie Barber 1 hole Melissa Nicol bt McCart 5 and 4 For images and more information visit www.englandgolf.org/womenscountyfinals Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193