LESLEY Dowling and Jane Collins celebrated after landing their first golf majors at Stamford.
There was a remarkable seven shot runaway victory for Lesley in Lady Captain’s Day while Jane’s success came in Lady President’s.
Lesley, 59, from Mossley, shot her best-ever round, a remarkable eight-under-par nett 62 in her success.
She was playing off a handicap of 29 – it has since been slashed to 24 – for gross 91.
Lesley, who is retired from her job working for Oldham Social Services, had a birdie three gross at the par-four third hole.
“That was the highlight because when I joined Stamford and put a card in for my handicap, I remember recording a 12 on that hole,” she said.
“It was by far my best-ever round and staying out of trouble for the majority of holes and hitting it straight.”
Lesley added she was surprised how low a score she posted.
She continued: “I didn’t realise how low a score it was until we totted up our cards at the end.
“My two playing partners kept quiet, probably realising how low it was and not wanting to put pressure on me, but at the end said I had scored really well.”
Lesley joined Stamford in 2020 as part of the ‘Get into Golf’ programme in which women are given free membership for the first 12 months.
She said: “I would walk past the golf club during Covid and always fancied playing the game.
“Covid made me look at things and I thought the time was right to take it up after all the years I had lived just across the valley.”
Previously Lesley had always enjoyed racquet sports, tennis, badminton and squash.”
Lesley (91-29-62) finished well clear of runner-up Jacqueline Froggatt (105-36-69). Third was Alison Croll (103-33-70) on the card from Joanne Akers (81-11-70).
Jane, 57, from Carrbrook, described it as a “very nice surprise” after she triumphed in the 18-hole medal.
“It was a lovely achievement and a great boost to my confidence to win a major, and one of the highly recognised ones,” she explained.
Jane has only been a member at Stamford for three years after signing up to the women’s ‘Get into Golf’ initiative.
New players were enticed by the offer of free lessons followed by free membership for the first year.
“Of the group who joined at that time, four of us are still playing regularly,” Jane explained.
As for the winning round of 101-32-69, Jane described it as a steady one as her handicap has now been reduced to 29.
Runner-up was Judith Whitehead (99-29-70) while third place went to Lesley Dowling (102-30-72).
- Lady Vice-President’s, which is not a board competition, was won by Lesley Dowling with 41 points in the 18-hole Stableford.
Second was Gail Trow (38pts) while third place went to Fiona Ibberson (33).
- The July monthly medal saw Fiona Ibberson (92-29-63) record a landslide victory over Joanne O’Neill (105-36-69) and Jane Collins (102-31-71).
Lady captain Heather McNeill (104-37-67) took the honours in division two on the card from Jacqueline Froggatt (105-38-67). Third was Susan Taylor (125-53-72).