Yorkshire golf: Jane Shiels wins Fulford Rose Bowl despite lack of experience
But she now has her name on York Union’s prestigious Fulford Rose Bowl after success at Easingwold GC on Sunday.
She carded a net 74 off her 28 handicap and her name has been etched on the trophy alongside the likes of three-time Curtis Cup player Emma Brown, former York champion Louise Secker and professional Charlotte Austwick.
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Hide AdShiels edged out the Malton & Norton GC pair of Pat Ruddock and Pat Hague on a back nine count back before receiving the trophy from York Union president Neil Bellamy.
“I started playing golf in 2010 – I was a horse person prior to that and I used to do carriage driving, so this is a change,” she said.
“I’ve won a few little club things and one major at Thirsk & Northallerton, where I was a member before, but this is the first big thing.”
Heavy downpours the previous day had made the going tough at Easingwold for the field of 45.
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Hide Ad“It was a bit wet and I am not really very experienced,” added Shiels.
“My ball just died a bit (on the green) and I got a few sixes. I just carried on playing.
“My mind is ‘play the course and I’ve got to beat the grass’.
“I am speechless. I really can’t believe it. It’s a very nice trophy and lots of people talk about it so I am over the moon.
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Hide Ad“It’s not really the winning. It’s going out there and playing because I can and trying very hard. I always try and beat my last score – and that’s my attitude.”
New county champion Megan Garland, of Selby GC, is among a strong line-up named by the Yorkshire Ladies County Golf Association for next month’s Northern Counties Match Week at Penrith GC.
Also in the side are Huddersfield GC’s Megan Lockett, last year’s White Rose county title-holder; the 2014 champion and Curtis Cup player Rochelle Morris (Woodsome Hall GC); Scottish women’s Open stroke play champion Olivia Winning (Rotherham GC); last year’s Yorkshire junior champion Megan Clarke (Cleckheaton & District GC); Pleasington Putter runner-up Holly Morgan (Hallamshire GC); recent Yorkshire championship quarter-finalist Hannah Holden (Lightcliffe GC), and Alison Knowles (Hickleton GC), who finished in the top 12 in the British ladies’ open amateur stroke play championship last year.
Reserves for captain Dawn Clegg’s side will be Kirsty Beckwith (Alwoodley GC), Olivia Hamilton (Cleckheaton) and Melissa Wood (Woodsome Hall).
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Hide AdShipley GC’s Will Whiteoak and The Oaks GC’s James Walker tied ninth behind winner Barry J Hume (Haggs Castle GC) in the Welsh Open stroke play championship at Royal St David’s GC.
Whiteoak (75 68 66 65) and Walker (73 67 65 69) finished six shots behind Hume (67 66 66 69).