NORTH EAST player Lucy Newton put on a great display at the English Senior Women's Championship.

The Matfen Hall member went all the way to the final before eventually losing out by the slender margin of 2&1 to Hampshire's Chris Quinn at Hunstanton Golf Club in Norfolk.

It was Quinn's third win in the event after her previous successes in 2004 and 2005 while she was British champion in 2006.

Newton, a newcomer to senior ranks, played fantastic golf all week and following her three wins on the way to the final she said: "I am really enjoying myself; I just don't want it to end. It's just so good to be the young kid on the block!" The final was played in strong winds and both players coped well with the tough conditions, but Chris had the advantage of much greater length, regularly hitting 250-yards or further.

She took the lead on the 3rd and went two up on the tricky 6th hole where the upturned green and the difficult winds combined to frustrate Lucy's approach shot.

However, the Northumberland player fought back and was on level terms at the turn. Chris pulled ahead again, winning the 10th - helped by one of her trademark long drives - and went two up with a birdie on the par five 11th.

Lucy hit back by winning at the 14th, a short par four, where Chris tangled first with rough and then with a bunker.

The players halved the next two holes before Chris sealed the title by holing a testing putt on the 17th.

Lucy, last year's Northumberland ladies county captain, beat Sheree Dove-Wilde (Chobham) 5&3 in the first round, Christine Stirling (Meon Valley) 2&1 in the quarter-finals and Denise Parker (Woodhall Spa) 2 up in semis.