Bridget Jackson Bowl glory at Handsworth Golf Club for Hertfordshire teenager
A birdie-laden back nine carried Hertfordshire’s Sophia Fullbrook to Bridget Jackson Bowl glory at Handsworth Golf Club.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
The Melbourne Club junior had a mountain to climb after opening with a two-over-par 75 in the coveted Open event. She still looked a bit off the pace at one over par with nine to go.
But five birdies in seven holes saw her surge through the field and pip Welsh international Harriet Lockley (Burnham & Berrow) by one shot.
Her closing 67 (-6) was her best ever competition score, eclipsing the four under she managed during her victory in the Midlands U-16s Open last year. It also meant she finished second in the Frilford Bowl – it is combined with the Frilford Salver – behind Lockley.
The 16-year-old has been a picture of consistency this year – including being the top girl at last month’s England U-18s – so was disappointed with her opening 75 but regrouped brilliantly.
“Once I came off the course I went through the scorecard and cricled all the holes that were birdieable,” said the 16-year-old, making her debut in the 40th playing of the event.
“And it went to plan, especially on the back nine.”
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Fullbrook trailed Lockley by four shots at halfway and almost holed her approach shot at the first, the ball hitting the pin and settling within gimme range.
She dropped one at the third and did not get back under par for her round until the par five ninth where she lipped out for eagle.
However she hit top gear at 11 and 12, both times getting it in close with her second, and she also birdied 14 and 15, again her wedge play doing all the hard work.
“My putting was not amazing,” added Fullbrook. “It was more my wedge play that made the difference.”
Another stunning short iron at the par three 17th left her just just two feet away and she popped it in for her seventh birdie of the round before just failing to get up and down for number eight at the last.
Meanwhile, Julie Brown, who won the first two Bridget Jackson Bowls in 1982 and 83, this week caddied for her daughter Emily Coleman.