Cameron crowned 2018 Ladies Champion

The championship is played over two rounds of stroke play in one day, and competition was fierce between fellow single handicappers and Still Cup team members Eilidh, Helen Chivers, Evie Stone and Emily Morey.

Eilidh was three shots clear after the morning round, playing three under her handicap (and three over gross) as she recorded gross 77. Evie was three shots back on gross 80, followed by Emily on 82 and Helen on 83.

The second round was similarly close, leading to a nail-biting finish. Emily and Evie swapped morning round scores to finish level pegging on gross 162, while behind them on the course, Eilidh and Helen (last year’s champion) were going head to head for the title.

Helen had closed the gap on Eilidh after the first nine holes in the afternoon, scoring 41 against Eilidh’s 43, so there were four shots separating the pair going into the back nine.

Helen pulled level with Eilidh on the 16th hole and they both pared the 17th meaning it was all to play for on the 18th.

A visit to the greenside bunker by Helen gave the advantage to Eilidh who was on the green in regulation and two putted for a par.

Helen had a putt to keep the scores level, but watched as the ball agonizingly lipped round the hole and stayed above ground.

Eilidh’s combined score of gross 160 (77 in the morning and 83 in the afternoon) saw her take the championship and the Thelma Philp trophy by one shot from Helen, whose afternoon score of 78 was three under her handicap. Evie and Emily were a shot further back on 162.

Eilidh and Helen also featured in the top places in the nett competition.

Eilidh’s nett 144 was the best of the day but, as she had already claimed in the gross prize, the Hilary Rolls trophy went to second placed Leslie Dawson.

Leslie scored a fantastic six under par nett 68 in the afternoon to give her a total of nett 146, one shot clear of Helen in third on nett 147. Last year’s nett winner, Nicola Lowe, was fourth on 148.