Critchley Salver victory follows on from Welsh Open Stroke Play and Suffolk Ladies
There was a blanket finish at the Critchley Salver at Sunningdale where in-form Alice Barlow eagled the last to snatch victory on countback.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
Just two shots separated the top eight in the final reckoning and around a dozen players were still in with a shout as the coveted 36-hole open entered the closing stages. The field even had to cope with a hailstorm on a day of high drama on Tuesday.
Barlow’s stunning three at the 18th also meant she claimed her third title in a row after winning the Welsh Open Stroke Play at the start of the month and then Suffolk County Championship last weekend.
However she wasn’t especially happy with her performance and felt “lots of shots had been left out there”.
“There is still more to give,” said the 23-year-old, who won her sixth consecutive county title at Rookery Park.
“I don’t feel like I am playing to my potential and didn’t hit it great on Tuesday. It was a good job I pulled a good drive out of the bag on 18 because it hadn’t been very good until that point.”
Barlow has no idea than an eagle was required to give her a chance of winning when she found the middle of the fairway on her final hole. Next up she fired a six iron from 160 yards out and then sunk the putt from 25 feet.
Her three under par total left her level with Stoke Park’s Thalia Kirby and reigning champion Lottie Woad, who is a reserve for next month’s Curtis Cup. Fortunately for Barlow her second round 70 (-4) would prove sufficient.
The Suffolk champion started the second round trailing by seven. Surrey youngster Matildi Santilli (Foxhills) had blazed a trail in the morning, finishing birdie, eagle, par, par, eagle to post a six-under-par 69 on the New course.
Unfortunately for the U-16s player, she could not maintain her excellent form over the final few holes on the Old course and eventually finished two back.
In contrast reigning champion Woad finished like a train and was five under on her back nine. Kirby also racked up the birdies in the latter stages but both had struggled on the front nine.
Meanwhile Barlow made her move around the turn, birdieing eight, nine, ten and 12 to get into the mix before finishing with a flourish at the last.
She added: “I did play a lot better in the afternoon and putted really well. A lot of my putts just grazed the hole but critically I gave myself a lot more chances because I struck the ball a lot better.”
The competition also forms one half of the WAGR-ranked Critchley Astor Salver. The Astor Salver takes place at The Berkshire on Wednesday, June 1. Last year the event was won by Buckinghamshire star Kirby, who is due to defend her title.