Mothers and Daughters Tournament

Tracey and Amelia Williamson bidding for title 

hat-trick at Royal Mid Surrey GC on Saturday

By JO THESIGER

An exciting line up of mothers and daughters will be making their annual pilgrimage to Royal Mid Surrey Golf club in Richmond on Saturday, to contest this special and coveted title of the amateur game. 

Many illustrious past winners of the Mothers and Daughters are returning this year, aiming to put their names back on the honours board which is dedicated to the late Angela Uzielli, who won an astonishing twenty-two times with her mother Peggy Carrick and once with her daughter, Caroline. 

Most notably the holders, Tracey and Amelia Williamson (pictured) from Royal Cromer are on course for a hat-trick, after back-to-back wins in 2014 and 15.  Fifteen-year-old Amelia, a plus-one handicap, who topped the Norfolk order of Merit in 2015, and her mother Tracey, eight times Norfolk champion, appear an unstoppable combination, with plenty of years ahead of them to continue their winning run.

However, medal foursomes over 27-holes  is a fiendishly punishing format, with no room for error - as the 2016 Masters so cruelly illustrated, there are no certainties in this game!  The Williamsons will have hungry pack on their tails waiting to take advantage of any false moves.

Former professional, Christine and Charlotte Griffith from Walton Heath, winners in 2012 always present a threat, while their fellow club members Alison and Nicola Taylor, runners-up in 2011 and 2014 still carry ambitions to claim the title. 

Glenna and Harriet Beasley could also be in the running, seeking to repeat their victory together in 2013.  Indeed, Glenna has a wealth of experience having played in the event for forty years, winning with her mother, Lady Angela Bonallack in 1979 and 2000.

The tournament sees the welcome return of former Curtis Cup Captain, Liz Boatman and her daughter Alex Howe after a four year absence.  The form of the four-time winners, who won three in a row from 2005-2007, is a little unknown but they still possess a combined handicap of 5.5 and the Mothers and Daughters is in their blood – their eyes will be firmly on the trophy. 

It is testament to the immense popularity of this unique event that other international golfers will be on the fairways of Royal Mid Surrey on Saturday including Middlesex player, Tara Watters, off plus-one.   

Although she may not have her sights on the title, as her mother, Mona, is a higher handicap, they look extremely strong contenders for the net prize, which they won convincingly in 2012 when they also came 5^th in the scratch event.

This year’s event has all the ingredients to be an intriguing contest.