THE women golfers at Ponteland have come out on top in two divisions of the county leagues.
The first division Shield is coming back to Ponteland after an impressive season when the first team had convincing wins over clubs around Northumberland and Tyneside.
They have beaten teams from the City, Gosforth, Bridlepath, Hexham, Bamburgh and Alnmouth.
Their top player, 21-year-old Ami Storey, is playing off plus one and has already returned to Kansas, where she is halfway through her four-year golf and education course.
On vacation this summer, she played in a number of national events and her best finish was seventh in the English Amateur championships at Whittingham Heath in Staffordshire out of a field of 120 players.
Her coach, John Harrison at Matfen, still helps Ami and is in constant e-mail contact to help her improve her consistency. Ami is obviously very happy in Kansas.
"I have made many friends at college and they have invited me to their homes in many different parts of the States," she said.
"I love the golf and I am aiming to be an automatic pick for the college team this year."
The youngest player on the team is 15-year-old Rachel Bruce, who plays off a five handicap.
She is the County Junior Matchplay champion and produced a memorable round this year in a club competition. She carded a round of 72 which is three shots below the par for the course of 75.
Rachel says she is thinking about a golf scholarship in America but is also keen on studying engineering.
Lesley Marsh and Val Crute are veteran team players in both senses. They have played on the Ponteland team for more than 30 years and also play for the county Vets.
Lesley won the Vets championship this year. The other team members have single figure handicaps and they have all contributed to a winning season.
The Ladies' third team won their division six and will be promoted.
It was a nail-biting finish for them when they played Prudhoe Ladies at home last week.
They needed at least four points from their last match and were waiting for the last game to come in before Helen Woodhouse won the crucial point by beating her opponent.
Ponteland Golf Club Lady Captain Margaret Cobb poured the champagne for the third team and their opponents and said: "This is fantastic to win two divisions and to get the Shield back to Ponteland. Well done everyone."
They have beaten teams from the City, Gosforth, Bridlepath, Hexham, Bamburgh and Alnmouth.
Their top player, 21-year-old Ami Storey, is playing off plus one and has already returned to Kansas, where she is halfway through her four-year golf and education course.
On vacation this summer, she played in a number of national events and her best finish was seventh in the English Amateur championships at Whittingham Heath in Staffordshire out of a field of 120 players.
Her coach, John Harrison at Matfen, still helps Ami and is in constant e-mail contact to help her improve her consistency. Ami is obviously very happy in Kansas.
"I have made many friends at college and they have invited me to their homes in many different parts of the States," she said.
"I love the golf and I am aiming to be an automatic pick for the college team this year."
The youngest player on the team is 15-year-old Rachel Bruce, who plays off a five handicap.
She is the County Junior Matchplay champion and produced a memorable round this year in a club competition. She carded a round of 72 which is three shots below the par for the course of 75.
Rachel says she is thinking about a golf scholarship in America but is also keen on studying engineering.
Lesley Marsh and Val Crute are veteran team players in both senses. They have played on the Ponteland team for more than 30 years and also play for the county Vets.
Lesley won the Vets championship this year. The other team members have single figure handicaps and they have all contributed to a winning season.
The Ladies' third team won their division six and will be promoted.
It was a nail-biting finish for them when they played Prudhoe Ladies at home last week.
They needed at least four points from their last match and were waiting for the last game to come in before Helen Woodhouse won the crucial point by beating her opponent.
Ponteland Golf Club Lady Captain Margaret Cobb poured the champagne for the third team and their opponents and said: "This is fantastic to win two divisions and to get the Shield back to Ponteland. Well done everyone."
By Muriel Sobo
Source: Morpeth herald
