Gloucestershire’s Alison Kelly came from four shots off the pace to become the first winner of the England Senior Women’s County Champion of Champions’ title. 


Alison Kelly

 

Gloucestershire’s Alison Kelly came from four shots off the pace to become the first winner of the England Senior Women’s County Champion of Champions’ title. 

Kelly, a primary school teacher from Cirencester, finished the 36-hole event at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire, on 6-over par and won by two from Cheshire’s Barbara Jamieson (Heswall.)

Her win was made even more special because it was at Frilford Heath – where Kelly’s parents were members until recently – and because the trophy was presented by England Golf President-elect Jenny Clink, a stalwart of Gloucestershire women’s golf.

After the first round, Kelly was four behind Jamieson, who posted an opening score of level par 70 on the Green course.

But Kelly’s plan for the final round was simple: “I just went out to have a reasonable game, I wasn’t thinking of winning particularly, but of having a tidy round.” And she did exactly that, shooting a 2-over par 72 to overtake Jamieson, who finished on 8-over. Third place went to Dorset’s Jane Southcombe (Yeovil) who finished with a tournament score of 10-over (77, 73).

Kelly took up golf as a girl and has played in Kent, Oxfordshire – where she was runner-up five times in the county championship – and Gloucestershire. This is her third spell as senior county champion and she has also been a County Junior Organiser and a long-standing member of the women’s team.

She insists she has retired from county golf although she is planning to support the team at Women’s County Finals at Royal North Devon, later this month when Gloucestershire will be aiming to win back the title.

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Image credit: Leaderboard Photography

 

 

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