This is one of the Major competitions of the ladies’ calendar and since its inception twelve years ago, is kindly sponsored by Paul and Liz Thomas. No competitor can win more than one prize so not only is there a handsome trophy to be won, but there are prizes for “Best Round of the Day” on both days (not including the overall winners), “Nearest the Pin” and the two spot birdie prizes.

Holidays and various illnesses had prevented many of the regular participants from playing in the Thomas Cup this year, so the field was smaller than usual. However, the competitors put on a fine display of golf and the weather was kind, being sunny and warm on both days. Most of the field scored points in the mid- thirties on day one but there were two outstanding rounds from Rosi Brown and Angela Hudd, who scored 40 points each. Angela had four pars and scored consistently throughout her round. Rosi started off with no score on the first hole but quickly recovered with a birdie at the par 4 fourth hole and seven pars to equal Angela’s score. Sue Skyrme was third with 34 points and Mandy Hobbs had the only two-spot birdie of the day at the par 3 fifth. Scoring was just as good on day two; the field went out in reverse order with the leaders being the last to tee off. Early scores looked good: Jane Richardson playing in the Thomas Cup for the first time, scored 35 points. Thirty-four points was a popular score and there were two two-spot birdies at the fifth by Mandy Hobbs for the second day running and Hayley Bullock, whose tee shot was nearly a hole-in-one.

At the end of a long day’s competition, the ladies gathered on the clubhouse patio to hear the results from Paul and Liz Thomas. Rosi had scored 34 points on Day 2 and her aggregate score of 74 secured third place. Jackie Willcox had the round of day two with a great score of 44 points, which added to her Day 1 score of 31, pushed her right through the field into second place. However, Angela Hudd built on her good day one score with a day one score of 36 points giving her an aggregate score of 76 to lift the Thomas Cup by just one point ahead of the field.

Thomas Cup winner: Angela Hudd 40+36=76, runner-up: Jackie Willcox 31+44=75, day one winner: Rosi Brown 40, runner-up: Sue Skryme 34, day two winner: Jane Richardson 35, runner-up: Pauline Brixey 34.