PING qualifier at Marriott Meon Valley won by Hampshire golfers

Hampshire golfers Jean Capes and Anne Tate have won the last regional final of the PING Women s Four Ball Better Ball Tournament of England 2008.

The pair, from Romsey Golf Club, topped the leaderboard with 43 points at Marriott Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club in Hampshire.

They led seven pairs who qualified for the grand final of the competition which takes place at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, October 7. The tournament is run by the English Women s Golf Association.

The qualifiers, who all scored 39 points or better, all win a pair of ECCO shoes and a PING Collection sweater to wear at the final. Jean and Anne also each won a PING golf bag.

Altogether 42 pairs have qualified for the grand final from six regional events. The Meon Valley tournament was originally planned for early September but had to be re-arranged when torrential rain washed out play.

Jean remarked: The course was wonderful but the weather was atrocious when we first tried to play. It was much better this time and we have had a fantastic day.

Jean, who plays off 13, is the ladies vice-captain at Romsey while Anne is an eight handicapper and the Hampshire vets champion. They are regular golfing partners and have previously won through to another national final.

We do complement each other well but this is probably one of our best ever rounds together, added Jean. Both players had a gross birdie: Jean had a two on the short fourth while Ann clinched the win with a three on the last for three points.  

Among the other qualifiers were the relieved pairing of Cheryl Scott and Lin Morton from Bearwood in Berkshire.

When the previous event was called off they were sailing through the monsoon-like downpour and had notched up 33 points on the first 13 holes.

We were so in the zone we were oblivious to the fact it was raining and I found I difficult to think we could do it again. So, we are very pleased with our score, said Cheryl, who has been playing golf for two years and already has a handicap of nine. Lin is an eight-handicapper and has played for the Berkshire second team.

Qualifiers

43 pts Jean Capes & Anne Tate (Romsey)

42 Bridget Moore & Jenny Readman (Meon Valley)

41 Hazel Quarrington & Shirley Rees (Portsmouth); Kirstine Mayall & Rita Vienhues (Foxhills); Helen Gibbons-Maude & Ann Scambler (Betchworth Park)

40 Cheryl Scott & Lin Morton (Bearwood)

39 Karen Smith & Mel Sharp (Chobham)

Visit www.englishwomensgolf.org for more information.