Honiton Golf Club were the excellent hosts for the Women's Senior Championships on 27th June 2024. Honiton member Ann Desmoulins acted as starter for 5 hours, negotiating the tricky tee positions between holes 1 and 4 and 4 onwards. DevonGolf's Lorna Brown was the referee and Wendy Stanbury, Women's Competition Manager, welcomed the players and did the administration and scoring for the day - all are volunteers which was much appreciated by the players.
There was an early good score from Sarah Hoff (Stover) with a gross 85, with Jo Fisher (Dainton Park) playing immediately behind her also posting a gross 85. The next group of 3 players - Amanda Burchell (Bigbury), Gilly Jarvis (Yelverton) and defending champion Vicky Holloway (Ilfracombe) - all posted gross 86. And those were the scores that held throughout the day with only Sarah Arnold (Stover) also posting a gross 86 to threaten the leaders.
It was a long wait for Jo Fisher and Sarah Hoff to see if there would be a play-off, knowing there were some good and experienced players near the end of the field. As the last cards were entered it became clear there would be a play-off and Sarah and Jo went to warm up again. Referee Lorna Brown accompanied the ladies to hole 1 and the play-off began. The par 4 hole produced a par from both. Hole 2, a par 3, again produced a par from both and it was onto the par 4 hole 3. Both ladies had a good drive and Sarah was just off the back of the green in 2 and she fluffed her chip back on, giving Jo the opportunity to par the hole to become the Women's Senior Champion 2024. A most exciting end to the championship, commiserations Sarah and congratulations Jo.
Jo has now qualified to play at Woodhall Spa in the national final in September.
Player | Club | Gross | |
1st | Jo Fisher | Dainton Park | 85 |
2nd | Sarah Hoff | Stover | 85 |
3rd | Amanda Burchell | Bigbury | 86 |
4th | Vicky Holloway | Ilfracombe | 86 |
5th | Gilly Jarvis | Yelverton | 86 |
For all scores click here
Alongside this was the competition for the Handicap Trophy. Jo Fisher (14) with a nett 72 was looking the winner for this for quite a while until Janet Hughes (Honiton, 23), playing near the end of the field, posted a nett 69 to take the trophy. To add to her delight Janet, along with Sue Stanbury (Okehampton), scored the only 2s of the day.
Player | Club | Course Handicap |
Gross | Nett | |
1st | Janet Hughes | Honiton | 23 | 92 | 69 |
2nd | Jo Fisher | Dainton Park | 14 | 85 | 72 |
3rd | Wendy George | Tavistock | 17 | 89 | 73 |
4th | Penny Deakin | Okehampton | 17 | 91 | 75 |
5th | Nina Hawkins | East Devon | 17 | 91 | 75 |
For all scores click here
DevonGolf is very grateful to Honiton Golf Club's staff and members for their support throughout this competition.