It was definitely worth the wait for Ipswich’s Abbie Symonds as she finally came out on top in the Suffolk Ladies County Championship at Stowmarket on Sunday.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play / 3 rounds of matchplay
Standing in her way was the formidable figure of Alice Barlow, who was bidding for seven county titles in a row. The Bury St Edmunds golfer (pictured below) is one of the most consistent performers in the country. Last year she won the Welsh Open Stroke Play and Critchley Salver.
But this time Barlow was pipped at the post by Symonds. Having never reached the county final before, the 26-year-old was one down after 16 holes but won 17 and 18.
“Alice is such a good golfer,” said Symonds. “I have played her many times and never beaten her in the county championship.
“And knowing the form she was in… that’s what makes it extra special to me.”
The duo enjoyed a great battle all day and there was never more than one shot in it.
Barlow went ahead on 15 as her opponent clipped the trees twice before her bold attempt at a par putt hit the back of the hole and popped out.
After halving 16, Symonds hit her “best shot of the day” into 17 to leave herself a six-footer for birdie but she did not have to putt out as Barlow put her long birdie attempt eight feet past and then missed the one coming back.
On 18 both were just off the green in two, the six-time champion chipping from the front edge to 10 feet past the pin. Symonds was pin high but her birdie attempt from 20 feet stayed on the low side and she had five feet left.
With Barlow missing, Symonds had to navigate a slight left-to-righter and in it went… right in the middle.
“When it dropped I was speechless,” added the Ipswich player.
“You can see I put my hands to my face (see video above) and I keep rewatching the video because I still can’t quite believe it.”
Her excellent form at the end was in contrast to her opening matchplay encounter with Sophie Kubitzek. The Bury St Edmunds player was four up after five.
“I was a bit scrappy for the first five or six holes,” added the new champion.
“However I am very persistent in matchplay and I gradually pegged her back.”
Symonds won that tie by 2 holes but was much quicker out of the blocks in her semi-final with Woodbridge’s Juliette Coffey. After halving the first she won the next three and eventually secured her first ever final spot with a 5&3 victory.