Home     2011   2010   2009

COUNTY II

2012

COUNTY II FINALS DAY

MONDAY 13^th AUGUST 2012  - EATON GOLF CLUB NORFOLK

County II Finals Team Eaton Golf Club -13th August Eppie Zandvoort, Jane Sheppard, Sally Benton, Harriet Carr Juliet Fenton, Jessica Dixon, Sharon Black, Debbie Ogaard-Nielsen

“OH SO CLOSE – NAIL BITING FINISH”                       

In Norfolk Ladies Golf Centenary year it was Norfolk’s turn to host the East Region Finals Day for the County Second Teams and this was held at Eaton Golf Club on Monday 13^th August.

This year Finals Day saw three counties Norfolk, Essex and Suffolk all in with a chance to win the competition overall. Convincing wins earlier in the year against Bedfordshire and the combined Cambs & Hunts team meant that Norfolk needed to win both their matches against Suffolk, to reverse the 4-5 defeat earlier in the year, and win one of the two matches against Essex to win overall.

At last the weather stayed dry, the course at Eaton was in excellent condition and the staff and members gave a warm welcome to the forty players. With play starting off two tees there was plenty of action and those that went along to support the teams were duly rewarded with some excellent golf.

Norfolk made an excellent start with both Jane Sheppard and Juliet Fenton recording convincing 5/4 wins over their Suffolk opponents Kath Munday and Vicki Hunt. Meanwhile Jessica Dixon battled well against the experienced Dawn French from Bedfordshire before losing 4/3. Eaton players Sally Benton, Debbie Ogaard-Neilsen and Eppie Zandvoort showed that they knew their own course well all securing further wins over Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire opposition.

Thus the scene was set, with Norfolk having boosted their total number of matches won and Suffolk having halved with Essex Norfolk now needed a half in one of their two matches against Essex to win overall.

Harriet Carr played an excellent opening nine holes to be all square against Georgia Gilling of Essex at the turn. Meanwhile Sharon Black who had started her match earlier was two down after nine. Sharon battled well and going down the 16th the match was all square. A birdie putt by Teresa Kennedy of Essex gave her the lead and Sharon was unlucky to miss out on a similar opportunity on the 17^th. Teresa was then able to go on to secure a win for Essex on the 18th.

The result now rested on the final match out on the course and in what was described by Essex as a “nail biting finish” Georgia managed to play some superb golf to secure a fourth successive win for them by virtue of half a point.

Nevertheless Norfolk proved that they have excellent team spirit and promising youngsters who can compete well with their experienced counterparts at this next level of golf. All bodes well for the future.

Final result:  1st Essex, 2nd Norfolk, 3rd Suffolk, 4th Bedfordshire, 5th Cambs & Hunts

COUNTY II COLOURS PRESENTED AFTER MATCH TO JANE SHEPPARD AND JULIET FENTON

COUNTY MATCH II v CAMBS & HUNTS 

MONDAY 6^th AUGUST 2012  - PIDLEY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE        

Following their successful trip to Bedfordshire Norfolk travelled with the same six players to Cambridgeshire for their final east region match. This time the team performed even better despite tough opposition, winning 7.5 matches to 1.5. Four of the team had travelled down the day before and attempted to play the course but were thwarted on the back nine by thunderstorms and rain (a feature when playing this year’s matches).

Fortunately the weather improved for the match and Norfolk again held the advantage after the morning foursomes with Sharon Black and Eppie Zandvoort winning 3/1 whilst Jane Sheppard and Juliet Fenton again combined well to finish 2 up on the final hole.

The draw for the afternoon singles provided some interesting and potentially close ties on paper with youth vying against experience in three of the matches.

Jessica Dixon went one better than her singles debut to record a half against the experienced Cindy McIntyre whilst Juliet Fenton played excellent golf to overcome Edi Douglas 8/6. Eppie Zanvoort overcame the long hitting and fine chipping of youngster Bethany Peckham to win 1 up whilst Sally Benton, Jane Sheppard and Sharon Black all won 3 and 2, justifying the visual inspection of the par three 16^th hole in the rain the day before.

Norfolk go into the Finals day at Eaton on Monday 13^th August knowing that they already have a winning points margin over Bedfordshire and Cambs & Hunts.  Norfolk need to win both the matches against Suffolk to reverse the 4-5 defeat earlier in the year and win one of the two matches against Essex to win overall. Monday will certainly provide some very close golf competition.

COUNTY II v BEDFORDSHIRE

MONDAY 23 ^TH JULY 2012  - WYBOSTON LAKES

The County II Team travelled to Bedfordshire and at last found some sunshine for their third inter county match. Despite the warm weather the course played long and greens in particular provided a difficult test as they were extremely soft due to the recent wet weather and high water table given that the course ran between the lakes and river.

Yet again the Foursomes proved crucial and at the mid point Norfolk held the advantage. Whilst the opening pair of Sally Benton and debutant Jessica Dixon struggled early on with the greens, the pairings of Jane Sheppard with Juliet Fenton and Sharon Black with Eppie Zandvoort proved very successful with both recording convincing wins.

Further excellent wins in the afternoon singles by Sally Benton 5/4, Juliet Fenton 6/5 and Sharon Black 6/4 gave Norfolk victory. Jessica Dixon performed well in her first singles match but was unlucky to find Bedfordshires young debutant in excellent form particularly on the front nine par threes. Jane Sheppard and Eppie Zandvoort played all the course with Jane getting a well fought half against Bedfordshire match day captain Dawn French and Eppie gaining a further win to put the result of this match beyond doubt 6 1/2 to 2 1/2, even with two rubbers still to play on Finals Day.

Norfolk travel to Pidley in Cambridgeshire for their final match on August 6th before completing the event at Eaton on 13 August where two singles matches are played against each county. 

County II v Suffolk

Western Park - Sunday 24th June

This match proved to have contrasts in weather and results. The morning was played in wet conditions with a half hour break around the turn whilst thunder and lightning preceded a very heavy downpour. Once the ninth green had drained play resumed and Norfolk were unlucky to be 2/1 down rather than all square. Sally Benton and Louise Patrick combined well to overcome Vicki Hunt and Kath Munday whilst Sharon Black and Juliet Fenton were unlucky to lose on the 18^th.

The afternoon saw a complete change in weather and a spirited performance by the Norfolk players. Unfortunately Jane Sheppard was unable to utilize her local course knowledge to overcome the excellent play of Liz Laflin. Good wins by Louise Patrick and Juliet Fenton however put Norfolk back in contention. Eppie Zandvoort was unable to repeat a previous performance fighting comeback but when Sharon Black beat Suffolk Junior Captain Emily Rothwell the match was level. The result rested on the match between long term college friends Sally Benton and Kath Munday. In a game where every putt counted it was the visitor who came out on top thus providing Suffolk with a 5/4 win.

The fixture is however still live as two rubbers remain to be played when Norfolk host the Finals Day at Eaton on Monday 13^th August.

County II v Essex

Costessey Park - Friday 8th June

Debbie & Jane bt Siobahn & Katie 2up
Sally & Alex lost to Teresa and Toni 2 down
Sharon & Juliet bt Amanda & Joan 2/1
so at half time 2/1 up
 after the 7th things were not looking good, down in all bar Sally...but there were enough holes still to play....particularly for Eppie 5 down and myself 3 down
 So.....
Jane lost to Siobahn 5/3
Debbie lost to Teresa 6/5
Eppie WON 1 up...what a comeback...excellent chipping and putting, psychology spin
Juliet lost to Katie 2/1  a game of birdies!!!!!
Sally WON 5/4
Sharon....sunk the putt on 18 to WIN 1up

Norfolk beat Essex 5/4
 

 

Brister Salver

Hunstanton Golf Club

15^th April 2012

Name	Club	Gross	Nett
Sharon Black	Dunstan Hall	87	80
Sally Benton	Eaton	92	83
Eppie Zandvoort	Eaton	94	87
Trish McManus	Ryston Park	101	90
Ann Fletcher	Ryston Park	102	93
Chrissie Owens	Sprowston	112	98
Sarah Steventon	Cromer	No Return

The Brister Salver, a medal competition for county second team players, proved to be a golf endurance test at Hunstanton at the weekend. Those participating battled with strong on shore winds, a mixture of sun and sharp showers including some stinging hail before the players had even made the turn to head back to the warm calm of the clubhouse.

Inevitably the weather caused some interesting scores by all players at some point with the plateaued green on the 6^th proving tricky for everyone.

 County President Nickie Clarke and Past Presidents Jill Brister and Val Munro were there to see the players come in.

Jill presented the Brister Salver to Sharon Black, (Dunston Hall), whose round contained four birdies. Sharon also received a Centenary Plate which winners of all Norfolk Ladies Golf events will receive in 2012 to mark the Associations 100 years. Sally Benton, (Eaton), took the scratch prize.

All those participating deserved a medal for doing battle with the elements although suffice to say there were a number of members also out on the course who were clearly used to the conditions.

County II    V   Lincolnshire II

Hunstanton Golf Club – Friday 13^th April 2012

Friday 13^th proved unlucky for the County Ladies Second Team as they lost by the narrowest of margins 5 and 4 to Lincolnshire. A damp start at Hunstanton saw the team trail after the morning foursomes despite an excellent win by Sally Benton and Juliet Fenton 5 / 4 .

As the weather improved so did Norfolk’s golf.  Juliet continued her excellent county form with a 2/1 win over Jayne in the afternoon singles and Sharon Black played some steady golf to win her singles 6/5.

Charlotte Presland and Eppie Zandvoort faced opponents who were on top of their game and so the match was hinged upon the result of Norfolk debutants Louise Patrick and Harriet Carr. 

On home territory Louise made an excellent start but Lincolnshire stalwart Cindy Ireland came back strongly and birdie opportunities proved decisive before honours were shared on the 18^th.

The latter part of  Harriet’s match proved a good test of stamina with few holes halved until again honours were shared on the 18^th.