The Farrington Park Ladies Club Championship took place during one of the hottest heatwaves of this summer.

The temperature was in the high 80s for both days and the relentless heat pushed all the competitors to their limits as they tried to keep cool and concentrate on the task in hand.

Not surprisingly, given the punishing temperatures, combined with playing conditions of dry fairways and fast greens, the scoring was relatively high from the majority of the field, but Farrington Park’s young stars showed the way. A birdie at the 12th hole and six pars helped Lilianna Marshall score a gross 85 on day one, five shots behind Libbie Dezis who scored gross 80 with ten pars and a birdie at the par 5 9th hole.

Leading the way was the current Ladies Champion, Frankie Dezis, with a gross 75. Her round included two birdies at the par 3 15th and par 5 18th holes and 12 pars.

The temperature on day two seemed even hotter than day one, with the field wilting in the heat, only

Liz Thomas and Frankie Dezis improved on their day one scores.

No player can win more than one prize, so although the Gross Champion winner was set in stone almost from the start, there was plenty to play for in the ‘Best of the Day’ competitions.

‘Best of the Day One’ was Liliana Marshall, with gross 85 and Jane Ball with nett 77.

‘Best of the Day Two’ was Liz Thomas, with gross 97 and Jackie Willcox with nett 79.

The overall Nett Champion was Libbie Dezis with a combined nett score of 145.

Frankie Dezis had a stunning second round, which included six birdies and her final round score was a 2 under par 71, equalling the low round made by past champion, Michaela

Chivers, in June 2012.

Frankie retained her well-deserved title of

Ladies’ Club Champion with an overall score of gross 146.

The Senior Ladies’ Club Trophy took place on the following Thursday and the field of 41 played on a lovely sunny day although there was a gusting strong wind and the greens seemed even quicker than they had been the previous weekend for the Club Championships. Carol King scored her first hole in one at the par 3 10th hole.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t see my ball disappear into the hole,” said Carol: “But my

playing partners did, so I knew where to find it!”

Scoring was higher than the competitors would have liked, but the combined strong wind and very quick greens were the downfall for many. Mastering the conditions best in the Nett Competition was Sue Skyrme, who shot a one over par nett 72 to take the Nett Champion Trophy. Nett 76 was a popular score for seven ladies, so second and third places were

decided on countback with Jane Ball, having recovered from the heat of the

previous weekend, taking second place ahead of Fiona Hassard. The gross competition was a close affair, three shots separated the winners. Maureen Charlton was third with gross 94, one shot better was Lena Warren with gross 93, but the winner of the Senior Ladies’ Trophy with a round including six pars and a score of gross 91 was Pauline Young.

Jane Ball