GLENMUIR WOMEN'S PRO CHAMPIONSHIP AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Suzanne Dickens at Blairgowrie Golf Club today after her success in the Glenmuir Women's PGA professional championship.

SKY-DIVER SUZANNE ON CLOUD NINE 

AFTER WINNING WPGA TITLE

FROM THE WPGA WEBSITE
Sky-diving fan Suzanne Dickens was on cloud nine after she added the 2014 Glenmuir Women’s PGA Professional Championship title at Blairgowrie today  to her Order of Merit triumph.
The 42-year-old Thorpe Wood, Peterborough professional, who has a 13,000ft jump lined up having achieved her aims for the year, eased to a seven-shot victory over Ormskirk’s Alison Gray in the premier women’s event on the PGA schedule over the testing, par-73 Lansdowne course at Blairgowrie Golf Club, Perthshire.
Victory makes amends for her attempt last year when the Peterborough-based former Ladies European Tour player saw her bid hit by food poisoning.
But there were no such problems this year as she breezed to the title after carding a second round five-under-par 68 - covering the last six holes in five under par - to lift the title and a cheque for £1,000 by seven strokes.
Alison Gray, with a pair of 74s, was runner-up on 148 and earned £800.
Dickens admitted she was almost overcome by emotion after sinking an eagle on the par five 17^th that ensured she could go down the last and take in the moment.
“I can’t believe I’ve won as it is something I have wanted to win and it has been one of my goals for the year,” said Dickens, who heaped plaudits on her caddie, and former pupil, for providing morale support.
“It means a lot as I’ve got a lump in my throat. When I was on the 18^th green I had to get hold of my thoughts and concentrate on what I was doing as I could quite easily have burst into tears as I was that happy.
“It’s a really big tournament and everyone wants to win it. I’m just happy that I can get my name on the trophy.”
Dickens, who posted a first round level par 73, admitted the final round head-to-head with Gray was pivotal to her success.
“I had a great playing partner today as we spurred each other on,” she added.
“Ali had an awesome start going birdie, birdie and I was just like just keep doing your job and hitting your targets, pick up a few birdies as they’re going to come and luckily they did.
“Ali had a great back nine and got to within one shot and it was time to make a move. I had birdiesa at the 12th, 15th and 16th, then an eagle on 17 and that gave me a lot of breathing space coming up 18 so I could enjoy the atmosphere.”
Having achieved her main aims for the year, Dickens is now plotting her next adrenaline rush – jumping out of a plane at 13,000ft!
“I’ve just got to get Forest Pines out the way next week and I can go and do my next sky dive which I’ve not been able to do as I didn’t want to risk injuring myself.
“I did a couple last year and really enjoyed it. My fiancé bought it for my birthday but said I couldn’t do it until after getting my golf tournaments out the way.”
Cathy Panton-Lewis's hopes of a last-day surge where nipped in the bud by a double bogey at the 12th and a bogey at the 16th after she had birdied the ninth 11th. She finished with scores of 76-75 for a share of third place with Claire Duffy (Test Valley) (80-71) on 151
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 146 (2x73)
141 Suzanne Dickens (Thorpe Wood) 73 68 (£1,000).
148 Alison Gray (Ormskirk) 74 74 (£800)
151 Claire Duffy (Test Valley) 80 71, Cathy Panton-Lewis (The Berkshire) 76 71 (£625 each).
153 Tracy Loveys (Bigbury) 77 76 (£525)
156 Laura Harvey (Cleveland) 79 77, Anna Smith (London) 77 79 (£487 each)
158 Sarah Walton (Kingston) 81 77 (£450).