Elaine Ratcliffe and Catherine Anderson both won their respective English senior championships on the 19th hole at Bedfordshire Golf Club, with Anderson claiming the Super Senior title on her first appearance at a national event.
Two finals, two extra holes, two champions. The English Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and English Super Senior Women’s Championship were both settled on the 19th at Bedfordshire Golf Club , in a day that produced more than its share of drama.
Ratcliffe holds off Smith’s comeback
Elaine Ratcliffe (Essendon) is the 2026 English Senior Women’s Amateur champion after coming from 4-up at the turn to level on 18, then holing a 15-footer for birdie on the 19th to deny Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) a remarkable comeback.
Smith won the 14th and 15th to claw back into the match, then produced an exceptional bunker save from a downslope at the back of 17 to take it to the last. A par at 18 squared the match, and a shot to five feet on the first extra hole put Smith in position to win. But Ratcliffe made the birdie putt, and Smith missed the short putt that would have continued the match.
“I can’t really believe it,” said Ratcliffe. “I came to play this week just to see what it’s like. To win the Ladies in 1998 and now this — it’s really special to me. On 17 I thought I might have it but Kerry hit a phenomenal bunker shot — it was worldly.”
Anderson wins Super Senior title at first attempt
If Ratcliffe’s win was a study in resilience, Catherine Anderson’s was something else entirely. The Liphook member, who turned 60 in December, won the English Super Senior Women’s Championship on her first appearance at a national event, coming from 2-down with five to play to beat Caroline Berry (Royal Liverpool) on the 19th.
Anderson levelled at the 15th and 16th, the pair matched each other through 17 and 18, and on the first extra hole Berry’s birdie putt from 12 feet grazed the hole. Anderson rolled in a four-footer to lift the Ann Howard Trophy.
“It feels fabulous,” said Anderson. “I thought I was in for it as Caroline played beautifully and I just kept dragging her back. It is 100% my biggest win to date and I’ll remember it forever.”
Anderson only returned to golf nine years ago after a long absence. She learned the game with her father at St George’s Hill in Surrey before stepping away for decades. It was a friend’s encouragement that brought her back to Liphook, and a nudge from club members after her captaincy that prompted her to enter this week.
“A few friends said to me after my captaincy to enter the national event, so I thought I’d give it a go,” she said. “I’m delighted I did.”
Picture Credit: Leaderboard
