Dobson steps in as McGinley slips up

May 13 2008 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

PAULINE Dobson won back-to-back titles when a calamitous last hole cost Rebecca McGinley the Durham Ladies Championship in an all-South Moor final at Bishop Auckland.

Dobson stamped her name on the cup for the fifth time, her previous victories arriving in 1991, 1994 and 1998.

For the second year running, the 38-year-old Dobson, a civil servant from Dipton, saw off a youngster talented enough to have been chosen for England age-group coaching, having beaten Blackwell Grange’s Ellie Givens – currently on a golf scholarship in the States – in last year’s final. In strokeplay qualifying for this year’s championship, McGinley broke the 18-year-old course record of 71 by one shot.

She lost the matchplay final one up, but had seemed in control when she stood three up after 10 holes and was out-driving her opponent by 20 yards.

Dobson charged back with wins at 12,14 and 16, where she whacked a mighty drive herself – 288 yards – to within six inches of the green at the short par four. Both golfers parred 17, so were all square on the 18th tee, where Dobson had the honour and promptly drove into trees. She escaped, but McGinley teed off into a fairway bunker and then found a greenside bunker, where she needed two to get out.

Dobson took the hole and the trophy with a bogey five and said: “It was a shame it ended like that. It was a terrific match and we returned joint scores of seven under. It was great final to play in and, I would have thought, to have watched. Rebecca is a very talented golfer and she played really well.”