Yorkshire swept past Gloucestershire 7-2 today to keep a firm grip on their lead at Women’s County Finals at Wilmslow, Cheshire.

But Lincolnshire are holding on tight to their coat tails and maintained their unbeaten record today by defeating Kent 6½-2½. Meanwhile, Hertfordshire moved into third place when they beat Warwickshire 5-4 in a cliffhanger.

The third day unfolded in the best weather conditions of the week so far, but the players still had to contend with squally showers and a cold, blustery wind.  

 It certainly didn’t seem to affect Yorkshire, whose players steamrollered through the morning foursomes, winning the first game on the 13th, courtesy of Emma Brown and Becca Wood (image © Leaderboard Photography), while Charlotte Austwick and Holly Morgan claimed their win on the 11th, and Megan Lockett and Ellie Goodall triumphed on the last.

 They continued to dominate in the singles and at the halfway stage they were up in five of the six games. They went on to win four, denied a clean sweep by Gloucestershire’s Jemima Gregson and Victoria Wakeley-Jones, who won the last hole for her point.

 Yorkshire captain Carole Waights said: “My girls have played excellent golf, they’ve played out of their skins. I feel as though I’m in a dream – and I don’t want to wake up until Saturday!”

Earlier, Hertfordshire emerged successful from a tight tussle with Warwickshire. They had won two of the three foursomes but, with five of the six singles completed the honours were even between the two teams.

 The decider went to the par five 18th, where Hertfordshire’s Nicola Callander was just short in three and Warwickshire’s Lisa Barton was in a greenside bunker in the same score. Lisa, faced with a green which ran downhill to a river, was conservative with her shot out and failed to hole her putt. Nicola, meanwhile, played an excellent uphill pitch and holed out for the win.

 County captain Cathy Shand said afterwards: “It’s been a very nerve wracking experience! We had a good result this morning, then we seemed to be coasting for a while this afternoon, then it got incredibly tense.

“They all played very, very well – and Nicola has been in that position for us many times before. We often put her out last because she’s a strong character and she never gives up.”

 Lincolnshire ended the day with a comfortable scoreline but county captain Cindy Ireland insisted: “It flatters us. It didn’t feel comfortable, especially not after nine holes!”

They held a 2-1 advantage after the foursomes and had one singles point conceded when Kent’s Emily Royer suffered a bad nose bleed on the course and was unable to continue.

Elsewhere, though, they were up in only one singles match at the turn. However, Jess Wilcox turned her match around when she had four birdies in a row from the 10th. Emilee Taylor, who had been ahead at the turn, chipped in on the 17th to win the hole and her match. Sophie Beardsall also chipped in on 17 to win the hole, en route to a halved game. Emily Slater moved ahead in her game to claim her point.

After three matches Yorkshire have three points, Lincolnshire 2½, Hertfordshire 2, Gloucestershire 1½, while Warwickshire and Kent have yet to win.

Tomorrow, Kent play Gloucestershire, Yorkshire play Hertfordshire and Lincolnshire play Warwickshire.

Results

Warwickshire 4 Hertfordshire 5
Foursomes
Melissa Nicol and Lisa Barton bt Alison Franklin and Lucy Goddard 2 and 1  
Susan Jones and Yen Pham lost to Charlie Field & Jackie Foster 3 and 2
Claire Howells and Charlotte Priddle lost to Steph McEvoy and Ella Ofstedahl 6 and 5

Singles
Nicol lost to Goddard 3 and 1
Abbey Gittings bt Ofstedahl 2 and 1
Katrina Gani lost to Field 3 and 2.
Howells bt Lucinda Mileham 4 and 2
Hannah Coles bt Foster 1 hole
Lisa Barton lost to Nicola Callander 1 hole

Kent 2½ Lincolnshire 6½
Foursomes
Emily Royer and Cloe Frankish bt India Clyburn and Emily Slater 2 holes
Sandy Catford and Ainee O'Connor lost to Sophie Beardsall and Emilee Taylor 5 and 3
Tita McCart and Mollie Lawrence lost to Jess Wilcox and Emma Tipping 4 and 2

Singles
Jerri Sewell lost to Taylor 3 and 1
Marnie Barber lost to Wilcox 4 and 2.
Royer conceded to Helen Hewlett
Frankish halved with Beardsall
McCart bt Tipping 4 and 3.
Lawrence lost to Slater 3 and 2

Gloucestershire 2 Yorkshire 7
Foursomes
Jemima Gregson and Lucy Padley lost to Emma Brown and Becca Wood 6 and 5.
Alison Kelly and Sue Elliott lost to Charlotte Austwick and  Holly Morgan 8 and 7.
Bethan Popel and Shelby Smart lost to Megan Lockett and Ellie Goodall 2 holes

Singles
Popel lost to Brown 3 and 1.
Smart lost to Wood 3 and 1. 
Gregson bt Rochelle Morris 5 and 4.
Padley lost to Kirsty Beckwith 5 and 3.
Elliott lost to Goodall 6 and 4.
Victoria Wakeley-Jones bt Lockett 1 hole.

Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
England Golf
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