There was a birdie fest in the final of the Dorset Women’s Championship at Ferndown where Melissa McMahon claimed her sixth county championship.
The Lyme Regis player took on Parkstone’s Alice Webb hoping to keep her hands on the trophy she also won in 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2019. The event wasn’t played last year.
But after two holes she was two down as Alice birdied the first and second.
Melissa, who is Director of Operations at Long Sutton GC in Somerset, responded with four successive birdies, to reach the seventh tee two up and she maintained her excellent form to be five under par after 15 – she won 4&3.
Charlotte Brook wins 2022 Dorset Women’s Championship
“Everything went really well but my short game was the most impressive,” said the 29-year-old former South West Ladies champion and runner-up in 2017 World Final of the Audi quattro cup.
After qualifying from the strokeplay in second she saw off Lili Horn (Ferndown) in the quarter-final 4&2 and in the semi-final against Broadstone’s Chloe Haseler almost holed her approach shot at the 17th to seal a 3&1 win.
The competition had to be rejigged because of the terrible weather in the South of England on Friday. Instead of a 36-hole strokeplay qualifier it was reduced to 18 and instead of 16 making it through to the knockout it was decided the top eight would progress.
Broadstone’s Lauren Purchase finished top in qualifying with a level-par 72. She also won the Carter Bowl for the best nett (70)