There was certainly a final flourish for the new Lancashire Women’s champion Lauren Green, whose last act in winning the title for a second time was to chip in for eagle.
Manchester hosted what is always a keenly contented championship but the 21-year-old, who is a member at West Lancashire and Grange Park, was impressive throughout.
And even when her first round matchplay opponent Claudia Hastings (Royal Birkdale) remarkably won the first three holes with birdies, Lauren kept ‘staying in the moment’ to brilliant effect.
“I played really solidly all week,” said the Indiana State University student. “I played well in the strokeplay and was able to concentrate on staying focussed throughout.
“I drove the ball really well and I think I was able to put pressure on my opponents when I got in front and was able to tee off first.”
In a field that included the likes of experienced county player Bethany Garton (Royal Lytham), Lauren was six shots clear of the rest in the stroke play. Rounds of 72 and 73 left her three under par and helped nudge her handicap into plus territory for the first time. It also meant she won the Carr Gold Medal for the best morning round.
Claudia Hastings gains first county title after extraordinary start
Then came that remarkable start to the match with 16th seed Claudia, whose early lead did not last into the back nine and Lauren closed out the match on the 17th 3&1.
In round two she took on the highly-rated Nelson girl Lydia Cryer and it was very much in the balance until the 15th when the Nelson teenager put her the shot into trouble. Lauren claimed that hole to go two up and also won 16 to secure a 3&2 success.
In her last-four encounter with Emily James (Royal Lytham), the birdies flowed around the turn and, after a tight start, she quickly gained control, eventually surging to a 6&5 win.
Waiting in the final was Kirsty Field (Clitheroe) and Lauren made a quick start with a birdie at one to take a lead she never lost, rounding it off in style by holing a 20-yard chip at the par five 14th to claim the trophy she first got her hands on in 2018.
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Grace Gallagher claimed a remarkable victory in the Plate competition – for those who finished 17th-32nd in the strokeplay.
The Dean Wood member, who was the youngest competitor, was four down in the final against Vanessa Barrow (Fairhaven) but by winning the 17th hole she had clawed it back to A/S and completed the job at the last for a one-hole victory.