FORMAT: Six-team round-robin playing 2 foursomes & 3 singles
After narrowly missing out last year, it was Essex’s turn to enjoy the sweet taste of a nail-biting victory in the East Region Women’s County qualifier at Harpenden today.
Twelve months ago a 3-2 defeat on the final day to Hertfordshire denied them a place in the County Finals but this year they will take their place at Stoneham GC (Sept 16-18) alongside Buckinghamshire, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire and Kent. The South West final takes place at Clevedon GC next week (July 4-6).
This morning Essex started the day level with Cambs & Hunts, who lost to a Suffolk side who weren’t able to call upon their six-time county champion Alice Barlow (Bury St Edmunds).
And Essex took full advantage as wins for Charley Hatley (Colchester) and both foursomes pairs helped them to a 3.5-1.5 success and their first Eastern counties title for seven years.
Although, as team manager Amanda Colgate-Herbert explained, it was not looking good for a while.
She said: “On the front nine we were getting worried because we were down in four of our games but thankfully, as the last foursomes pair were playing the last hole, we got the news that Cambs & Hunts had lost.
“It meant a half was going to be enough but the girls won the hole anyway. It was a nerve-wracking final day and I am pretty exhausted!”
Essex’s title-winning squad:
• Danielle Anderson (Rochford Hundred)
• Ashley Chalmers (Thorndon Park)
• Ashley Croft (Stoke-by-Nayland)
• Charley Hatley (Colchester)
• Megan Henry (Chigwell)
• Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford)
• Alex Sparrow (Stoke by Nayland)
• Sophie Wheeler (Thorndon Park)
• Katy Yates (Clacton)
Three of the today’s games against Bedfordshire went to the 18th. Hatley won the final hole to beat Chanel Fontaine-Geary 1 up, Sophie Wheeler of Thorndon Park and Ixie Akpan (Cainhoe Wood) finished A/S after halving the last while Ashley Chalmers (Thorndon Park) and Danielle Anderson (Rochford Hundred) won the 18th to round things off in the final foursomes clash.
Essex’s title-winning victory reflected just how competitive the overall contest was. Out of the 15 matches 11 finished 3-2, including Suffolk’s surprise win over Cambs & Hunts.
For Essex, Sophie Wheeler (Thorndon Park) remained undefeated across all three days while 14-year-old debutant Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford) got her first point in the 3-2 defeat to Norfolk playing alongside Alexandra Sparrow (Stoke by Nayland).