Southerndown's Alaitz Zubikarai is looking forward to giving birth in a couple of months, just after helping to deliver the Welsh Ladies Team Championship for her club on the 19th hole!

A Welsh golfer is looking forward to giving birth in a couple of months, just after helping to deliver the Welsh Ladies Team Championship for her club.

Southerndown's Alaitz Zubikarai was 29 weeks pregnant when she won the deciding match on the nineteenth hole at centenary-celebrating Whitchurch golf club. The club are planning a champagne reception next month to celebrate the achievement by the team.

Zubikarai played every round leading up to the final against a strong Newport team, with two of the final matches going down to the 19th hole and both being won by Southerndown.

“It was a really exciting match, with both clubs being very well supported in the final which led to quite some scenes at the end,” said Golf Union of Wales championships manager Rhys James.

“Hopefully hosting such a prestigious national championship was a key part in their centenary celebrations.

“The standard of play was exceptionally high with Wales internationals in the teams. There were three holes in one scored, Chloe Williams, Wrexham GC at the seventh, Harri Llewellyn, The Vale Resort at the firstand Helen Calvert, Southerndown at the thirteenth.”

Southerndown captain Norma Barber was delighted with the win. “It was thrilling, we were not expected to win because Newport have such a strong team with three Wales internationals. We were losing and I could not see any way back.

“Rachel Lewis had an eagle to win her match, Georgia Lewis was three down at one point but got a birdie on the 19th to win – and then it all came down to Alaitz.

“She was 29 weeks pregnant and had played in the morning, though an easy win then had helped. She missed a putt on 17 to win and then went in the water on the 18th because she was so tired by then.

“She was worn out but had to go up the 19th but won it then. She played so well but was so tired by the end. Everybody was so ecstatic and ran to her all crying, we could not believe what had happened.

“Whitchurch was a wonderful course for the event, it was in beautiful condition, and we could go out and celebrate in Cardiff afterwards – though Alaitz went home because she was so tired.”

Picture caption: L-R, Norma Barber, Amy Watkins, Helen Calvert, Alaitz Zubikarai, Rachel Lewis, Amy Rees, Georgia Lewis.