Nottinghamshire’s Elizabeth Wilson is continuing to make great strides in the game, ably demonstrated by her two-shot success in the English Schools National Championship at The Kendleshire.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
The 15-year-old from Norwood Park finished a creditable 20th in the R&A U-16s at Enville in April and last year was placed third in the England U-14s.
And she was too good for a strong field on the Hollows-Ruffet course in Gloucestershire yesterday. In blustry conditions she opened with a one-under 71 and followed that up with a 74. Fast-finishing Tala Clarke (Knebworth) claimed second on countback as she recorded the lowest round of the day (68) to edge out Yorkshire’s Cherry Marley.
“I am really happy,” said Wilson, who last year won the England Schools U-16s at Chesterfield.
“And I am really glad to have made the top five and qualify for the England Schools match against Wales.
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“But to win it after two consistent rounds was really satisfying. It was really windy.”
Wilson coped admirably in the difficult conditions and her opening 71 left her one clear of Marley at halfway. Having started on the 10th she got her round going with a two-putt birdie on the 12th before getting up down at the par-five 14th, where she chipped to 12 inches.
She kept things going well on her back nine, especially on the short holes. At the second (her 11th) she drained a 30-footer having gone long with her tee shot and then knocked it to ten feet at the sixth (her 15th) and sunk the putt.
After lunch she played the course the normal way around and surged clear with birdies at the first – she converted from 40 feet – the ninth, 11th and 14th.
However there was a little wobble towards the end. She bogeyed 15 and then got unlucky on 16, her approach shot hitting a marker post by the pond in front of the green and rolling back into the water. From there she pitched on and two-putted for a double but, unbeknownst to her, Wilson had more than enough in reserve and would close on one over overall.