CHESHIRE’S Caroline Berry was queen of the greens as she claimed her second win in the English Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Staffordshire’s Enville Golf Club.
After holing a 25-footer for birdie on the 15th to beat Sussex’s Paula Carver 4&3 in the final, Berry said: “To say I am thrilled is the understatement of the world.
The Bromborough GC member added: “It gets harder and harder and these youngsters are getting better and better.
“But sometimes you have the feeling that it’s your year and I felt good coming in to this, good about my game and good about my putting.”
Berry’s game was in all-round great shape in the final, but her putting was outstanding and she holed a number of clutch putts to keep or extend her lead.
In one rare aberration on the 11th, she misjudged a putt from off the green, sending it about 20ft past the pin, but she simply rolled in the return to win the hole with a par.
“My putting has been the strongest part of my game,” said Berry. “Usually it’s my driving but I struggled little bit at the start of the week.
“But I felt I hit the ball better and better as the week went on.”
She last won this championship at Littlestone in 2010, but counts the latest winning of the Wendy Taylor Salver as the sweeter victory.
Caroline Berry added: “That’s not to take anything away from the girls I played then, it was a really good win.
“But the standard this week! I had to beat three people who played for England last year to get to the final.”
There was special praise for her husband and caddy, Geoff, who is the Bromborough club professional.
“Geoff is a star,” she said. “I do think two heads are better than one.”
Berry clinched her place in the final after winning a tight match against Bishop Stortford’s senior international Jackie Foster on the 18th.
In earlier matches, she defeated internationals Karen Jobling, from Yorkshire’s Richmond GC, and Whittington Heath’s Sue Spencer after beating Mill Ride’s Jane Sly, from Hertfordshire, in the first round.
Meanwhile Carver, from Worthing, defeated West Sussex’s Clarissa Bushell 3&2 in an all-Sussex semi-final clash.
Earlier, she beat Saltford’s Amanda Mayne, Jan Harrison, from Launceston, and Appleby’s Janette McWhirter.
This was only Carver’s second appearance in the championship and she said after the final: “I just didn’t get enough pars, but that takes nothing away from Caroline. She played very solidly.”
•For results in the Wendy Taylor Salver click here.
Carol’s just Wild after over 60s win
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE’S Carol Wild successfully defended her title winning the over 60s Ann Howard Trophy.
She beat Camberley Heath’s Sheree Dove-Wilde by one hole.
“I am ecstatic, I can’t believe it,” said Wild, who is the captain of Notts Ladies Golf Club.
“I thought it would be tough and I felt the pressure coming into this, even though I’m playing well and my handicap has come down.”
•For results in the Ann Howard Trophy click here.
