Lincolnshire women collected their second Midlands North title in three years with a dominant display at Holme Hall.
FORMAT: Six-team round-robin playing 2 foursomes & 3 singles
The home county won all five matches, dropping just three game points into the process. It was a dream start for new captain Sophie Beardsall, who has been a stalwart of the county side for more than 20 years.
“We have had some good teams but I can’t remember winning so many matches and games,” said the 2021 Lincolnshire champion.
“I was able to pick plus handicap golfers in the foursomes and, when you can do that, it makes a huge difference.
“When you look at the talent coming through now, junior organisers deserve a lot of credit. These young players are so good now.”
Lincolnshire squad:
Sophie Beardsall (Capt, Greetham Valley)
Ellise Rymer (Lincoln)
Helen McDougall (Lincoln)
India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa)
Courtney Martland (Lincoln)
Izzy Haughton (Greetham Valley)
Ellie Haughton (Greetham Valley)
Tilly Garfoot (Spalding)
Meg Thornber (Abbeydale)
Lincolnshire have one of the best youngsters in the country. England international Ellise Rymer (Lincoln), who was part of the mixed team that won the Seve Ballesteros Trophy against Spain in May, was five from five and was one of a quintet of Lincolnshire players who won all their matches.
One of those was Woodhall Spa’s India Clyburn, a recent returnee to the amateur ranks. She was able to play on the opening day as they started with a 4-1 victory over Leicestershire & Rutland and posted the same score in seeing off defending champions Nottinghamshire.
Meg Thornber won all five of foursomes matches and set the tone on day two as the title was secured with 5-0 victories over Staffordshire and runners-up Shropshire, who made their own bit of history by finishing higher than fourth for the first time in their history. Captain Hilary Fowles was able to collect the county’s first bit of silverware in their centenary year.
The champions’ final match against Derbyshire was academic but Lincoln’s Courtney Martland, who was four from four, and Greetham Valley’s Ellie Haughton both birdied the last to secure a 4-1 victory and maintain a remarkable record…Lincolnshire won every tie that went to the last hole.
Beardsall added: “Everything fell into place on the week and even when things weren’t going so well, especially in the opening match against Leicestershire and Rutland, we came through so well in the end.”
Lincolnshire now bid to win the national finals for only the second time in their history in the autumn but will have to do it without two of their mainstays. Rymer starts college in America in August while Spalding’s Tilly Garfoot will be returning for her second year. King’s Lynn GC hosts on September 22-24 where the champions of the North, Midlands North, Midlands South, The East, South and South West meet.
Beardsall said: “It will give us a chance to unleash a couple of our juniors. Lincolnshire has always pushed the idea of playing with freedom and fun and I am looking forward to doing it all again in September.”