Women's 2nd team v Wocestershire & Herefordshire  

Squad left to right - Andy Billson, Olivia Holyoak-Church – Northants County, Gracie Murray - Kettering, Ellie Horsted– Peterborough Milton, Katie Amos – Northants County, Lottie Heaver – Northants County and Anna Heaver – Northants County

On a warm but windy day the ladies played their home match against H&W at Delapre Golf Complex

The course was presented very well and was enjoyed by both teams. Visiting Delepre is always a good test of golf and brings back lots of memories of where I learned to play

Northamptonshire had to field a stronger team than I wanted too because the majority of the younger players were competing in a major stroke-play event in the south.

Nevertheless, that gave us the opportunity to give a couple of players returning from college in the USA a run out and we still gave a debut to Ellie-Mae Horsted

We also had to resolve an eleventh-hour team change, so thanks to Anna Heaver for stepping in late (which meant we had a mother and daughter in the team as Lottie was already playing).

The morning foursome matches ended in a lead of 2.5 – 0.5. We won two matches 5/4 with Lottie and Ellie proving to be an excellent pairing. Katie Amos partnered Anna and they played steadily to win as well. The top match with Gracie Murray and Olivia Holyoak-Church looked to have won on the last until a 40’ putt salvaged a deserved half for H&W.

The highlight of the afternoon singles was a hole in one on the 7th for Lottie. Turns out this was the second time in two matches this season that has happened against H&W! Lottie was in good form and comfortably won 7/6 against her struggling opponent – you can only beat what’s in front of you and it is very easy to switch off with a healthy lead early on, but Lottie didn’t do that and closed the match without drama.

The first 4 matches all shared a theme, in that we started strongly, got pegged back, recovered momentum and hung around. Gracie birdied the 18th, but so did her opponent to win 1up. Olivia and Ellie played steadily to win 3/2 and 2/1 respectively. Katie was pegged back from 3 up but held on to win 1up. Anna lost the last 2 holes to lose 1down.

So that meant we won the singles 4 – 2 with the overall result been a victory by 6.5 points to 2.5. With the strength of team we had played, this was about par for what I was expecting.

The match was played in great spirits and we were wonderfully looked after by all involved at Delepre Golf Complex.

We go now to the 2nd team finals in Berkshire where we will face Buckinghamshire in the final. I expect to bring the younger players back in for that match, in line with our policy of nurturing talent through the 2nd team to be match experienced when they graduate to the 1st team.

Andy Billson – NGL 1st & 2nd Ladies Team Captain.