YORKSHIRE TAKE LEAD AT ENGLISH WOMEN'S COUNTY FINALS

Yorkshire have taken a narrow lead at Women’s County Finals at Wilmslow, Cheshire, after beating a battling Warwickshire side 5-4 on a topsy turvy day. They now have two wins from their two matches so far, while Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire – who halved today – have 1½ points apiece. Hertfordshire are just behind them, having beaten Kent 5½-3½ to get their first point. The playing order for the day was reversed when the weather forecast predicted atrocious weather, with the six singles taking place in the morning, followed by foursomes in the afternoon. Although the threatened downpour failed to materialise, the players faced another dreary day of intermittent rain. But, once again, they ignored the conditions and got locked into a series of tight matches. Yorkshire looked to be firmly in the driving seat after they won four of the six singles and needed to take just one more game to secure their point. But Warwickshire put up a terrific fight and at the halfway stage of the afternoon were up in two and all square in the third. “I’ve got a great team and they never give up,” said Warwickshire captain Bobbi Waugh. All three matches went to the last hole, but Warwickshire’s challenge ended when first, Yorkshire’s Ellie Goodall rammed home a long putt for a birdie to win the 18th, halve her game and halve the overall match. Ellie (left) is pictured with foursomes partner Megan Lockett (image © Leaderboard Photography) Then, Charlotte Austwick and Holly Morgan completed Yorkshire’s victory when they came from two down with five to play to win the 14th and 17th and secure a half point.   “It was a testing afternoon,” said Yorkshire captain Carole Waights. “But everyone played very well and this was a very good win.”   The Gloucestershire/Lincolnshire clash was incredibly close all day and both captains declared the final, halved scoreline as a fair result. They shared the single points with three wins apiece, before each side claimed  one of the foursomes. The decider came down to the final match, with Shelby Smart and South West champion Bethan Popel representing Gloucestershire and Emma Tipping and Jess Wilcox playing for Lincolnshire – and they kept the spectators’ hearts in their mouths as they played out the final holes. Emma put Lincolnshire one ahead when she slotted home a 10-footer on the 16th  and the pairing looked odds on to win the short 17th, when Gloucestershire’s tee shot missed the green. But the South West pair saved par – and halved the hole - with a great up and down.   Gloucestershire also managed a solid par five to win the 18th and halve both their game and the overall result. “It was a fantastic match,” said Lincolnshire captain Cindy Ireland, while Gloucestershire captain Jan Pickersgill said: “At the end of the day a half was a fair result.” In the final match Hertfordshire established a one-point lead over Kent after the singles and went on to win two of the three foursomes. Charlie Field was a key figure in the victory, winning both her singles and her foursomes on the 13th. Meanwhile, Steph McEvoy and Ella Ofstedahl fought back to win their foursomes on the 18th and give their team an outright victory. County captain Cathy Shand commented: “We’ve had a super win today, a very good day – and Charlie was fantastic.” Tomorrow, Warwickshire play Hertfordshire, Kent play Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire play Yorkshire. Today’s results Gloucestershire 4½ Lincolnshire 4½ Foursomes Jemima Gregson and Lucy Padley bt Helen Hewlett and Emilee Taylor 3 and 2. Alexandra Saunders and Sue Elliott lost to India Clyburn and Emily Slater Woodhall 5 and 3 Shelby Smart and Bethan Popel halved with Jessica Wilcox and Emma Tipping Singles Popel bt Hewlett 4 and 2 Padley lost to Taylor 4 and 3   Gregson lost to Wilcox 3 and 2. Saunders bt Sophie Beardsall 1 hole Alison Kelly lost to Clyburn 3 and 1. Smart bt Slater 5 and 3 Yorkshire 5 Warwickshire 4 Foursomes Megan Lockett and Ellie Goodall halved with Abbey Gittings and Melissa Nicol Charlotte Austwick & Holly Morgan halved with Katrina Gani and Rachel Rusted   Kirsty Beckwith and Rochelle Morris lost to Lisa Barton and Claire Howells 1 hole Singles Emma Brown bt Gittings 1 hole Becca Wood lost to Nicol 2 holes Austwick bt Charlotte Dalton 2 holes Morgan lost to Gani 4 and 3. Beckwith bt Rusted 2 and 1. Morris bt Lisa Barton 6 and 4. Hertfordshire 5½ Kent 3½   Foursomes Alison Franklin and Charlie Field bt Marnie Barber and Fiona McCann 6 and 5. Steph McEvoy and Ella Ofstedahl bt Jerri Sewell and Mollie Lawrence 1 hole Nicola Callander and Lucy Goddard lost to Emily Royer and Cloe Frankish 5 and 4. Singles Franklin lost to Royer 3/2 Callander lost to Jerri Sewell 3/2 McEvoy halved with Tita McCart Ofstedahl beat Frankish 5/4 Field beat Ainee O'Connor 7/5 Goddard beat Sandy Catford 5/3

Web: www.englandgolf.org