Alison Daniel claimed the Ladies Scratch title after a superb 36-hole match against Georgina Ormond, with the contest going all the way to the 18th before a brilliant 20-foot putt sealed the win. Blustery winds and bursts of showers set the tone for Finals Day, with waterproofs on and layers piled high, but the weather did little to deter either player.
Georgina started strongly, going four up after 13 holes, before Alison battled back to reduce the deficit. After the opening 18 holes, Georgina held a two-up lead, setting up a fascinating second round. Following a 40-minute break, the players returned to the first tee, and Alison immediately began to turn the match around. Whether a Heineken during the interval played any part is still up for debate, but she won the first two holes to bring the match level after 20.
By the fifth hole Alison had moved two up, before Georgina responded by winning the seventh to reduce the deficit to one. The following six holes were halved, with some excellent golf from both players. A superb second shot into the 14th green put Alison two up once again, but Georgina refused to let the match get away from her. A birdie at the 15th followed by a par at the 16th brought the match back to all square. Both players then hit excellent shots into the 17th and headed to the final hole still level.
Georgina was unfortunate with her drive on the 18th and was forced to lay up for her third shot. Alison went for the green with an excellent second, while Georgina recovered well to get close in three. It came down to the putter, with Alison holing a superb 20-foot putt to seal the match and bring a fantastic contest to an end.
A huge thank you to Alison and Georgina for such an entertaining final, and to all the finalists, winners and runners-up who made Finals Day such a success.
Thanks also to everyone who supported the day both on the course and around the club, to our greenkeeping and clubhouse teams for all their hard work, and a special thank you to Mick Seal for keeping everything running smoothly.