Hot Shots!

Sep 4 2008 The Journal

The ladies at Gosforth Golf Club are having a great season and four of them have had reason to celebrate - they have all achieved an elusive ace. Katherine Proudlock, Samantha Fletcher and Ros Anderson all had holes in one whilst playing in club competitions at Gosforth and Jan Langan had hers on a visit to Glenrothes Golf Club.

Katherine's came at the 145-yard 11th hole, Samantha found the bottom of the cup at the 131-yard 5th and Ros aced the 166-yard 16th.

This is an indication of the quality of golf now being played by the Gosforth's ladies and how much the section has improved. There are now seven players with single figure handicaps and an average of 50 ladies regularly taking part in club competitions.

And for the first time in 32 years, their top team has won the NLCGA 1st Division Shield.

Secretary Jill Ogden said: "We have had a wonderful season so far and winning this title is the icing on the cake. We have strength in depth at Gosforth and the top lady players have a lot of experience - three of them are in the county team and another is a travelling reserve. Even our second team is doing well and within 12 months it has got near to the top of the 4th division."

This season, Gosforth's ladies have also performed well in a number of events.

In the County Spring Categories 1-5 held on their home soil, Nikki Hunter won both the Vi Thatcher (best nett) and Norah Baker (best gross) trophies and also the Nancy Walton Salver (team shield) along with Karen Griffiths, Linda Wilson and Melanie Garland.

Four of the club's ladies finished in the top ten at the Northumberland County Championships held at Matfen Hall - Nikki finished 3rd, Sarah Phillips 6th, Karen Griffiths 8th and Lynne Liddle 10th.

At the Journal/Callers Northumberland Final played at Westerhope Golf Club, Samantha Fletcher won her section and has qualified for the next knockout stage of the Callers Trophy and in the Jubilee Trophies at Bedlingtonshire Golf Club, Lisa Hamlin and Linda Wilson finished second to a Matfen Hall team, missing out by only one point.

But it's not just their performances in competition that are worthy of note. Jill said: "Nikki didn't play in our own club championship having been invited to work for the R&A at the British Junior Open held at Hesketh Golf Club in Cheshire. She had a great time and meeting Ian Poulter and assisting leading boy and girl golfers from all over the world was a fantastic experience."

And although the season is nearly over, there is still time for the Gosforth ladies to add to their trophy cabinet!