It’s been a quite a year for amateur golf in Great Britain and we asked some our leading players what were their stand-out moments and also asked them to look ahead to 2022
‘Accumulating seven in that single round was enough to edge me to victory! I couldn’t believe it!’
1) Your best round of the year and why?
That has to be shooting a 2 under par 70 with seven birdies. My lowest score around my home course is 6 under, but this 70 was very special. Every year I play in a national competition ran by Howdidido and Titleist called the Titleist Order of Merit. It’s free to enter and open to everyone. It runs throughout the season and the system calculates and gives you points for your best five nett rounds around your home course. The competition ended in September, and I had been leading for for entire year, right up until the final few weeks. I knew that to sneak ahead of the new leader, I needed to shoot a round of 69 with only one opportunity left to do so. I had five birdies on the front nine but started the turn 1 under par thanks to a lost ball and 2 bogeys. If I parred in I would be on for a 71 so knew I needed 2 birdies! A bogey on the par three 11th took me back to level par, and three shots back from where I needed to be. I was still level par with four holes to play and said to myself ‘I can birdie in’. Sure enough, I birdied the 15th, the 16th, and lipped out for a birdie on 17! Standing on the 18th tee I was now two under par and one birdie away from the 69 I needed to get me back on top. I had putted well all day, and left myself a 10 footer on the last for a three. My heart was racing and I knew I needed to give it a chance and get it there. The ladies I was playing with commented that this green seemed slower but I thought nothing of it. My family was watching from the clubhouse and when the pressure was on I left it short and in line with the centre of the cup – I couldn’t believe it! Slightly deflated I walked off with a two under par 70 and the feeling of being so close yet so far. The next day I refreshed the leaderboard on Howdidido, and I was absolutely ecstatic as I had moved up into first position! With points also awarded for birdies, accumulating seven in that single round was enough to edge me to victory! I couldn’t believe it!
2) Your best shot of the year and why?
My best shot of the year has to be some of the punch drivers I hit at Dumbarnie Links. I qualified to play here as the top lady in the Titleist Order of Merit. The course was absolutely magnificent but playing it in a 40mph wind was brutal! Before this competition I’d never tried a punch shot with my driver, but needs must, and off the tee I somehow managed to hit almost every fairway on a course I’d never seen before. Result!
3) The best shot you saw and why?
Hmmm…with reluctance I’d have to say it must be one of my boyfriend’s (Stewart Fell)! He plays off +3 and is very creative when it comes to shaping shots and hitting them through the smallest gaps possible. 250 yards to the green? Blocked out by trees? Sitting on a downslope? Need to hook it round to have any chance? No problem! You know he’s a good player when he’ll say can I keep an eye on it, and instinctually I just look at the flag expecting it to drop right beside the hole!
4) Your favourite moment of 2021 (this could be personal or something completely random but golf related)?
My favourite moment of 2021 has to be winning the Northumberland County Championships for the first time. I’d been the bridesmaid once before, but getting my hands on that Championship trophy was so special, especially after over 10 years of trying! Bamburgh Golf Club will always hold a special place in my heart.
5) Your hopes and ambitions for 2022?
Next season I’d like to defend my County Championship title. Come on… who wouldn’t!? I’ll be entering the Titleist Order of Merit again, so naturally I’d like to perform well and finish top of the leaderboard for the second year in a row. I didn’t play in any national competitions last year so I’m hoping to return with a flourish in 2022 and try and clinch my first top 10 finish. Closer to home, I hope to beat my course record and try to go bogey free for the first time since I started playing!
6) One thing you would change about about golf for next season?
I’m not sure if this is what you were after, but I’ll be changing my clubs that’s for sure! They’ve served me well, but who knows? Maybe a new set of irons is what I need to achieve all those goals I have in mind!