Smith swings her way into Daily Telegraph championship

Royston Golf Club's Paul Hughes, who is the son of the late Eddie Hughes, presenting the Eddie Hughes Plate to Sarah Buckerfield (Image: Archant)

This comes after a sterling morning round as she claimed her first ever Cambs & Hunts Junior Girls’ Championship.

The Abbottsley course was in excellent condition but with cold and wet conditions throughout the 36-hole competition it proved to be a severe test for the youngsters, with anyone straying off the fairway being punished by the lush rough.

Emily posted a morning round of 84 to share the lead with defending champion Megan Taylor (Brampton Park).

With both players scoring 89 in the afternoon for 36 hole totals of 173, Emily clinched victory on countback on the back nine.

In the Royston Eddie Hughes Plate, the three pairs all scored 39 points, but the winners on countback were Sarah Buckerfield and Stewart Hart followed by second place pairing Bridget Long and Paul Hughes and in third place were Joan and Barry Buckerfield.

The Philips Cup ladies trophy was won by Mary Wilson with Kim Bradfield in second place. Carolyn Devaney was third followed by Marjory Humphreys in fourth and Kath Caunce close behind in fifth.

In the Midweek Golfers meeting, the Hopkins brothers once again were in the prizes. With the members played a three-man team event, the team of Roy Wilson, George Hopkins and Bob Lee scored well in wet conditions to win with 76 points.

In second place was the team of Rod Kennedy, Jim Hopkins and Mike Thrower with 73 points.

The Saturday stableford was won by Steve DeFraine with 43 points off his 10 handicap.

The next four players all scored 37 points, but after the countback rule, Ray Sammonds was second, Mick Freeman third, Pete Rutter fourth and Matthew Barrett fifth.

A large field entered Sunday’s Men’s Medal and Centenary Qualifier. In Division one, Keith Jest took first place with net 67 off 6 handicap, followed by Wayne Young and Pete Rutter in second and third places on net 68.

The Division two prize went to Jim Geraghty, also with net 67 off his 13 handicap (now 12) ahead of Tony Baker in second place with net 68 off 14 (now 13). Third was Dave Rowell with net 69 off 15 handicap.