Devon Ladies' Golf League Results 2006

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE

LADIES' DEVON LEAGUE 2006

OKEHAMPTON GOLF CLUB

The Team - L-R

Chris Stevens, Rachel Spry, Kath Mansell, Lyn Hazleton, Kay King (League Captain), Trish Vick, Jane Warren,

Lin Atkinson and Mary Keir

Finals Day was at Hele Park Golf Centre and the weather was threatening. For the morning's semi-finals Okehampton were drawn against last year's Ladies Devon League winners, Portmore, and Wrangaton were playing Downes Crediton. Okehampton's Rachel Spry hit the first ball of the day but her opponent, Leah Webber of Portmore posted the first win of the day. The Okehampton-Portmore battle raged right down to the last match when the reserve team of Jane Warren for Okehampton beat Jackie Rashley of Portmore. With the match finishing at 1.50pm and the finals beginning at 2pm there was little time for lunch as the ladies gathered again on the first tee.

The second semi-final between Wrangaton and Downes Crediton was over more quickly as Wrangaton posted 4 wins in their first four matches, although Downes Crediton took two of the matches to the 18th green, giving Wrangaton more time to consider possible team changes and have some lunch!

The finalists teed off with the weather beginning to close in. Again Rachel Spry was the first to tee off against Ruth Bickle from Wrangaton. In the last match to tee off, Okehampton's Jane Warren had to give 9 shots to Wrangaton's Glenys Phillips but the weather and pressure proved too much for Glenys and they were the first ones to post a score - in Okehampton's favour. 1-0 to Okehampton. With either team needing 4 matches to win, Wrangaton posted the next 3 winning scores and all the pressure was back on the Okehampton team. Match 5, Kath Mansell (OKH) and Wrangaton's Team Captain Mary Shepherd was the next to be posted in Okehampton's favour and the pressure - and rain - was mounting. Mary Keir (OKH) played an amazing chip onto the 18th green to hit the flag stick and drop a foot or so from the hole. A brave and accurate chip from Celia Ralph for Wrangaton placed her about 2 feet from the pin. Celia conceded Mary's putt and with a large crowd watching narrowly missed her own putt for Okehampton to post their third win. All now hung on match 6, Chris Stevens for Okehampton and Sally Wing for Wrangaton. On the 16th green there was an opening for Wrangaton as Chris put her ball out of bounds and her second ball in the greenside bunker for 3 and the hole went to Wrangaton. But the 17th hole was the deciding hole and Chris was able to seal the deal for Okehampton to be the Ladies' Devon League winners for 2006.