WOMEN'S INTER-CLUB FINALS DAY 2024

The Women’s Inter-Club Finals Day 2024 took place at Torquay Golf Club on 27th September. There was a small drama at the beginning of the day when it was realised that Okehampton, last year's Still Cup winners, had returned the base but not the magnificent trophy. A few calls were hastily made and, in the interim, a compromise was reached until the real trophy arrived.

Whilst the rain stayed away it was very windy with more than an autumnal chill in the air. There was a great sense of excitement and anticipation on the first tee for all 3 finals, with DevonGolf President Pam St Leger as starter sending each game off with words of encouragement.

Play began with the Still Cup Final, a scratch matchplay competition and the oldest of the inter-club competitions. Teignmouth and Okehampton had won through to the final and it was particularly special for both clubs, Teignmouth as it is their centenary year and Okehampton as the 2023 winners of the Still Cup.

In handicap terms Teignmouth were the favourites. They did prove the stronger team on the day with wins for Susie Carr, Hannah Reynolds, Lorna Elliott and Kendal Bradley to give the 4 games needed to take the overall match. As the match result was now decided, the other 3 games were called in with the game between Teignmouth’s Sally Tyler and Okehampton’s Marcia Collett being all square on the 19th at the time. 

Okehampton Golf Club took home the E. Young Bowl as runner up and Team Captain Frances Harbron received the trophy for her team. The 2024 Still Cup winner was Teignmouth Golf Club and the trophy was presented to their Team Captain Amanda Hall and Lady Captain Hannah Stephens.

The President’s Trophy Final was next between Okehampton and Tiverton, the last two remaining from the 25 teams who entered this year. This became a very exciting match – early on it looked like a straight victory for Tiverton with game wins for Tracy Banbury, Jing Li and Kathy Cooper and only 1 more game win needed. But the Okehampton ladies were starting to fight back with a win for Maggie Caws on the 18th and Sue Williams on the 19th, but then Tiverton’s Marion Ruffett won her game to secure the match win.

For the second time that day Okehampton Golf Club took home the runner up trophy with Lady Captain Di Johnson receiving the cup. The winner of the President’s Trophy for 2024 was Tiverton Golf Club and Team Captain Lynne Veen accepted the trophy.

The third final of the day was for the Sheelah Creasy Bowl. The format this year was 3 singles games followed by 2 Greensomes games in each match, a new format which seems to have worked well in encouraging new and higher handicap golfers to play for their clubs. 23 teams took part this year and it was Teignmouth and Saunton who won through to the final.

It was a particularly close and very exciting match. The first game win was for Kathryn Protheroe of Teignmouth, followed by a win for Sara Frankland of Saunton. The Teignmouth Greensomes pairing of Lorraine Gorman and Marie Mayne then won their game, followed by a singles win for Liz Fielder of Saunton. This meant 2 games a-piece and the match result was all on the last game, the second of the Greensomes. This was won in style by Charlotte Gough and Surya Patterson of Teignmouth with Surya sinking a 25-foot putt to close out the game and the match.

Taking home the Olwen Williams Salver as runner up was Saunton Golf Club and Team Captain Pauline Sparkes accepted the trophy. The Sheelah Creasy Bowl was presented to Teignmouth Golf Club and Lady Captain Hannah Stephens proudly accepted the club's second trophy of the day. 

I would like to thank Torquay’s Lady Captain Laura Colman for her warm welcome and for all her help with planning and on the day. Thanks to Torquay Golf Club for hosting us, to the ball-spotters who helped the day run so smoothly, to the Torquay ladies who ran the raffle and Sue Arnold for the lovely flower display. Thanks also to the greens staff who presented the course in such fine condition and Mike, Katy and the bar and kitchen staff who looked after us so well. Special thanks to our DevonGolf President Pam for starting all the matches and presenting the trophies and to our referees Lesley Pascoe, Lorna Brown and Jane MacDonald Smith. Thanks also to DevonGolf’s Wendy Stanbury for organising team photos and posting results. 

I want to congratulate all the teams, their players, caddies, team managers and supporters. It is a huge achievement to reach the finals after months of competition through the divisional and knockout stages and everyone involved should be rightly proud of themselves. Okehampton Golf Club and Teignmouth Golf Club had teams in two of the finals which is a great achievement for their women's sections. Okehampton were in the Still Cup and President’s Trophy finals for the second consecutive year and the Saunton Creasy team were also finalists last year, very well done to both clubs. 

That concludes the 2024 Women’s Inter-Club season and I look forward to seeing you all in 2025.

    Rosie Burnham
    Women’s Inter-Club Manager

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