County Championships 2024

Location: Liphook Golf Club

Date:       Wednesday 15th May - Sunday 19th May

Wednesday morning dawned bright and clear showing the Liphook course at its very best. The rhododendrons were blooming as Hampshire lady golfers arrived to play the qualifying rounds of the Challenge Salver and Challenge Bowl 2024.

The course was presented beautifully but also presented a demanding test for our 10 to 20 handicap ladies, of which there were 118 in total. Angelina Brewer from Lee-on-the-Solent produced an excellent score of nett 69 and went into the Salver match play draw as first seed.

Subsequently, this score was bettered by 3 as Debbie Burrell from Weybrook Park played superb golf to post a nett 66. Debbie was now first seed in the Challenge Bowl.

It meant a late finish as the Knockout draws were finalised and some fascinating matchups were in place for Friday. Now, a day off for these competitors.

Thursday saw the Division Two Championships held with another large field. 116 players were to play, not helped by a torrential downpour in the morning. Luckily, this was the only rain that fell during the whole week.

Stableford points of 40 from Anne Atherton of Hayling GC and 37 scored by Victoria Mackintosh of Alresford meant that they won their respective divisions. Great scores to win the Division Two candlesticks.

       Division Two winners 2024

We were blessed with blue skies again on Friday as the 38 Championship girls got underway and the match play began for the Salver and Challenge Bowl. 

In Championship qualification, home favourite Raffi Dyer played wonderfully to post the best score over 36 holes of a gross 149 and win the Corse Scott Cup. She was now number one seed but the entire draw was made up of great golfers and Saturday was sure to showcase the excellent talent that Hampshire golf possesses.

  Raffi Dyer (Hayling & Liphook GC) winner of the Corse Scott Cup

Sure enough, Saturday produced wonderful golf from all three divisions and by the evening we were left with the mouth watering prospect of Aimee Paterson (North Hants) playing Jenny Myers (Alresford) and Gemma Burgess (North Hants) facing Emma Higgins (Brokenhurst Manor). Notably Aimee knocked out defending champion Raffi Dyer and our two first-time juniors, Georgia Richardson (Stoneham) and Tia Brammer (Bramshaw) acquitted themselves very well indeed.

The Salver Final would be contested by Rachael Terry (North Hants) and Jenny Readman (Corhampton). The Challenge Bowl would be between Debbie Burrell (Weybrook Park) and Jennifer Neal (Petersfield).

Sunday morning brought yet more sunshine and plenty of great golf from all the competitors. Aimee and Gemma battled to win their semi-finals playing beautifully.

Rachael overcame Jenny after a close battle, finishing on the 17th aided by a stunning birdie 3 on 16, while Debbie beat Jennifer on the 16th. Many congratulations to both Rachael and Debbie for their great golf all week and for overcoming the strong opponents that they faced all the way through their campaigns.

Rachael Terry (North Hants) 2024 Challange                        Debbie Burrell (Weybrook Park) 2024 Challenge

Salver winner                                                                              Bowl winner

Now to Sunday afternoon and the Championship final which was to be between two North Hants girls. Aimee and Gemma were so closely matched that we knew that we would be in for a final to remember. Aimee took an early 1up lead but by 11 the match was all square with Gemma birdying the par 3 8th. Everything remained close until Aimee played a solid 15th hole to go 1up. Gemma missed an opportunity to level on 16 but took the match back to all square on 17 holing a tricky putt for par. This match could not be any closer! 

Two solid, long drives were played down the last but Aimee’s lie in the semi rough made the second shot slightly more awkward. Her approach finished in the back of the green side bunker while Gemma’s shot to green finished on the lower level of the putting surface. Aimee was faced with an extremely difficult bunker shot and alas her ball went through the green and beyond the out of bounds posts. It was a huge disappointment for Aimee and after one more attempt she conceded the hole to Gemma.

Hampshire have a new Ladies County Champion. Many congratulations to Gemma Burgess for her excellent play and for holding her nerve under extreme pressure.

The many spectators were treated to a wonderful final which was full of amazing golf shots and precise putting. Thank you to both Gemma and Aimee.

   2024 HLG County Champion - Gemma Burgess (North Hants GC)

It was a delight to see so many Hampshire Ladies enjoying the new veranda at Liphook GC, the sun shone and it was a real treat to look out over this stunning course.

Thank you to all at Liphook for allowing us to hold our Championship Week at your beautiful course and for assisting whenever we needed help. Starters, ball spotters and stunning floral displays helped to make the week one to remember, all coordinated by Lady Captain, Catherine Anderson. Cath was at the course from dawn to dusk and even managed 36 holes on two days running. Remarkable!

A huge thank you also goes to each and every helper from Hampshire Ladies Golf as well as the Liphook GC Team. The week was especially challenging after losing our event organiser, Noan, on the first day and it was heartening to see that everyone pulled together to run the week that Noan had planned for months beforehand. Get well soon Noan, we missed you!

It was the first time that County Championships have been held from Wednesday to Sunday and it certainly seems to have attracted a high number of participants. Just a fantastic event held under (mostly) sun drenched skies, we cannot wait for Blackmoor next year!

 Championship winners 2024