Elaine's brave challenge falters

Jun 19 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

ELAINE Elliott’s brave charge at a national title faltered in the slipstream of a Hampshire golfer, Chris Quinn, who has been the scourge of Northumberland this season.

At the end of April, Quinn beat Lucy Newton 2&1 in the final of the English Seniors Championship at Hunstanton, ending a remarkable debut run in the tournament by the Matfen Hall golfer.

Yesterday, Quinn doubled up with the strokeplay title in finishing four strokes clear of the field on 233 after three rounds at Royal Ashdown Forest in Sussex.

Elliott, from the Whitley Bay club, had started the last round as one of three players sharing the lead.

But while Quinn stormed home with a one-over 74, the low score of the week, Elliott was totting up 84 to finish eighth and nine shots back on 242 after earlier rounds of 80 and 78. “I could not quite get my approach shots going this time,” said Elliott. “I missed a few greens but it was more that I landed on the wrong parts of too many of them.”

Bearing in mind the struggles of the younger Northumberland players in the northern Ladies County Match Week in recent seasons, it was heartening to see three players from the county finish in the top 25 of a national event.

Alnmouth’s Ally Hansen scored 79 87 86 to take 16th position on 252 and Ponteland’s Lesley Marsh, who won the over-65 trophy, was 23rd on 255, shooting an 87 after earlier rounds of 82 and 86.

Scores in the first two rounds counted for the new County Team Trophy and the efforts of Elliott and Hansen enabled Northumberland to come third behind winners Surrey on 321 and Nottinghamshire, beaten into second place by one shot.