Sarah Smith and Katie Rule battled against the elements to shoot a bogey-free 67 to win the Vivian Saunders Fourball Award, the first event of the WPGA season.
Sarah Smith and Katie Rule battled against the elements to shoot a bogey-free 67 to win the Vivian Saunders Fourball Award, the first event of the WPGA season.
In the first year that the tournament format changed from foursomes to fourball, the pair hit the gas from the start at Copt Heath and firmly kept their feet on the pedal. Smith opened her round with two birdies and an eagle in the first seven holes, which Rule followed up with a further birdie at the 12th. Another birdie at the 15th saw the pair sign for a 6-under par 67 and the prestigious title.
Smith, from Saffron Walden Golf Club, and Rule, who soon takes over as head PGA Professional and Director of Golf at Tavistock Golf Club, finished one shot ahead of Sian James and Jamie Casling to claim the £300 first prize.
Wentworth's James and Cotswold Hills' Casling carded a birdie birdie finish to secure the second place spot. Just behind them at 3-under par were Ali Gray from Ormskirk Golf Club and Catherine Panton-Lewis of The Berkshire. They were one shot clear of Eugenie Knight from St Austell Golf Club and Frilford Heath's Harriet Matthews.
View the full tournament scores here.
