This trophy is open to lady members with handicaps from 21 to 36, but, as the name suggests, is played with no handicap allowance. The final is played over 18 holes and this year was between Sarah Waring and Angela Gottwaltz.

It was an 11 am tee-off but, as with other morning finals, the match commenced in rain, with competitors and supporters holding umbrellas and wearing waterproofs in an attempt to stay dry. Thankfully, after a few holes the rain eased, the temperature rose and the layers were shed!

Both players started well. Holes four and five, however, caused problems for both ladies and then it remained close again until the ninth when Angie got into bother in the fairway bunker, which resulted in Sarah being two up at the halfway point.

Sarah extended her lead on the 10th and the 11th was halved. The 12th tee shot provided problems for Angie and Sarah won to go four up. Angie pulled one back by winning the 13th, but Sarah then replied by winning the 14th to go ‘over the line’ dormie four up.

Angie battled away and won the testing 15th and 16th holes in style to bring the score back to two down. On a tense 17th tee, Angie played her ball short of the green with her tee shot and Sarah ended up just right of the green, but closer to the hole. Angie finished the hole with a four, but Sarah managed to hold her nerve and win the match with a very nice par three.

It was a magnificent contest and all the supporters agreed that it had been an absorbingly close match. Congratulations to Sarah and also well played to Angie.

P. C.