Sussex go close at Junior County Week

The Sussex Girls golf team have just returned from a fantastic few days competing in Junior County Match Week against Surrey, Hampshire, Kent and Middlesex at Effingham Golf Club in Surrey (10-12 August). Having prepared throughout the winter with practice rounds and coaching from Ryan Fenwick, the team were keen to go one better than their 2nd place last year.

Led by the Sussex Junior Captain Lizzie Price (Nevill), the team of nine players included three rookies, with the lowest handicap player, Penny Brown (handicap 2, Worthing) and the youngest Chloe Burdon (Nevill) making her second appearance aged just 13. Playing seven singles matches against each county, on Day 1 the team narrowly lost to Hampshire 4-3 despite some very brave efforts to turn matches around. The team knew that Day 2 was going to be tough against Surrey, last year’s winners. It was nail bitingly close, and with the match score poised at 3-3, Fenella Buss (East Brighton) played some awesome golf watched by team mates and spectators, showing rock solid nerves to close out her match on the 17th securing a hard fought 4-3 victory for Sussex. That afternoon, with confidence high, the team went on to beat Middlesex with a resounding 5-2 win.

The final day dawned with the outcome of the week hanging in the balance. Sussex needed to win their last match against Kent, but equally important, they needed Surrey, last year’s winners, to beat Hampshire. The Sussex girls did what they could, closing out many of their matches with emphatic wins, securing a 6-1 victory against Kent.

They could do no more, and as the Surrey vs Hampshire match was played nails were nibbled and blood pressure soared as the Sussex team and their supporters could only watch. Sadly, they saw their hopes slip away as the Hampshire team secured the victory over Surrey, to land the title as this year’s winners of Junior County Match Week. Sussex Girls were pipped again into second place by just half a point, despite having won more matches during the week than any other team.

Pat Johns, County Junior Organiser said ‘this was such an enjoyable tournament due the players’ commitment to their County, their maturity, sportsmanship, sense of fun and positive attitude. They are a credit to Sussex and deserved to win – but there is always next year…..!’

The team was:

• Captain - Lizzie Price (Nevill) Aged 17 this year, handicap 5

• Penny Brown (Worthing) Age 17, handicap 2

• Brandy Rook (Royal Eastbourne) Age 17, handicap 5

• Chloe Burdon (Nevill) Age 13, handicap 5

• Zhane Mayo (Royal Eastbourne) Age 18, handicap 5

• Fenella Buss (East Brighton) Age 17, handicap 6

• Megan Edwards (Worthing) Age 16, handicap 8 - 2015 Rookie

• Sasha Gardiner (Holtye/Chartham Park) Age 15, handicap 10 - 2015 Rookie

• Anya Olsen (Worthing) Age 15, Handicap 10 - 2015 Rookie

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