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
‘I saw the line clearly, which gave me the confidence to positively put it in the back of the hole.’
1) Your best round of the year and why?
The final of the Suffolk Ladies County Matchplay Championships at Felixstowe Ferry GC. This was always going to be a hard match, playing my county captain and fellow team-mate Amanda Norman at her home club – and with all the Felixstowe Ferry members flocking the fairways to support her. All I remember was that I started well, going 3up after five holes; then somehow I was walking down the 18th one down. I won the 18th to force play-off holes and won on the second extra hole to win the matchplay title for the fifth time in a row. It was a great final.
2) Your best shot of the year and why?
The 18th hole of the final of the County Matchplay Championships (see above). I was 1 down on the tee, slightly overshot the green with my approach leaving me having to get up and down to win the hole and force play-off holes. My chip didn’t go as planned, leaving me a six footer to continue the match. I saw the line clearly, which gave me the confidence to positively put it in the back of the hole.
3) The best shot you saw and why?
One of the ladies who plays off an eight handicap hit a perfect shot to two feet from 200 yards with her 3 wood on the 18th hole at Bury St Edmunds.
4) Your favourite moment of 2021 (this could be personal or something completely random but golf related)?
Retaining the East Region Ladies Championships title at Gorleston GC with rounds of 72(-1) & 73(L). This was my second tournament back to golf after having a month completely out after injuring my back and having to pull out of all of my scheduled events from the mid July. It was a great feeling, especially as we thought that I may not be able to play the remainder of the 2021 season out.
5) Your hopes and ambitions for 2022?
Top of the list is to obviously to have an injury-free season after what happened this year. I would love to be up there in national events next year, as this year most of them I had to pull out of due to injury. Short game and putting is mostly where the difference is, so I will be working hard and focusing on those areas over the next 12 months.
6) One thing you would change about about golf for next season?
It would nice to see more ladies golf on terrestrial television, as juniors and young people are the future of the game and it should be encouraged.