PING tournament 2009

08 September 2009 - Gloucestershire pair win PING Tournament Grand Final

Gloucestershire golfers Sue Elliott and Rachael Thomas breezed round the Thonock Park course at Gainsborough in one-over par 73 to win the Grand Final of the 2009 PING Fourball Betterball Tournament of England.

The pair, from Henbury Golf Club, amassed 43 stableford points in strong winds and finished two clear of the field. “We are ecstatic,” said Rachael.

Sue added: “It’s brilliant, absolutely excellent – this is a great event for ladies’ golf and so well organised.”

They win a choice of PING clubs or PING Collection clothing to the value of £400. They also qualify for the UK final of the Volvo Masters Amateur Tour at Kingsbarns, Scotland, in October.

The runners-up were Cheryl Power and Priya Bhatia of Kent, who came in late in the day and pipped, on countback, the long-time leaders Fiona Hockin and Jayne O’Sullivan of Yorkshire.

The PING Tournament – which is run by the English Women’s Golf Association – had a new format this year and attracted over 16,000 competitors. The best 60 club winners qualified for today’s Grand Final, while the next 72 pairs went through to the new Plate Final, which took place yesterday.

Sue and Rachael won their club round – their first outing in a fourball event – with 43 points. They returned the same score in the Grand Final when they tamed the extremely windy conditions with solid golf. Between them, they parred 15 holes, bogeyed two and birdied the long 17th.

“We work well as a team – we’ve known each other for about 20 years and we are best mates,” said Sue, who was a professional on the Ladies European Tour for two decades.

Injury brought her career to an end and last year she regained her amateur status and a four handicap. Rachael, who sometimes caddied for her friend, is a 10-handicapper who is determined to get down to single figures - and is taught by Sue’s partner, Henbury teaching professional Ryan Crowley.

The final was contested by pairs from all over the country and of all ages - the youngest partnership was 14-year-old Emily Powell and Amy Ridley, 18, of Seascale, Cumbria. One competitor, Mandy Roberts of Overstone Park, Northamptonshire, was so keen to take part that she played on her own after her partner was forced to drop out – and returned a very creditable score.

All Grand Finalists received a PING golf bag, a PING Collection windshirt and a pair of ECCO shoes. They also had the opportunity to tour the PING factory, to try clubs in the PING fitting centre and to enter other competitions. Overall winner Sue Elliott was also successful in the putting competition and won a putter, while Jane Leigh from Humberstone Heights, Leicestershire, won the nearest the pin challenge and received a PING driver.

Leading scores

43 pts Sue Elliott & Rachael Thomas (Henbury)
41 Cheryl Power & Priya Bhatia (Langley Park); Fiona Hockin & Jayne O’Sullivan (Horsforth)
40 Carol Firth & Sally Dixon (Bingley St Ives), Linda Woods & Sharon Baxter (Royal Epping Forest); Helen Lowe & Debs Massey (Scraptoft)
39 Michele Moran & Pat Waldron (Hickleton)
38 Alison Baldwick & Amanda Leach (East Berkshire); Jane Leigh & Wendy Castle (Humberstone Heights); Shelagh Warren &Sue Hitchman (Stoke Rochford); Lesley Pascoe & Hilary Richards (Stover); Claire Fensome & Alisa Moore (Collingtree Park); Adele Haddon & Diane Burridge (College Pines).

08 September 2009 - Cambridgeshire golfers win PING Tournament Plate final 

Cambridgeshire golfers Lilias Adamson and Sue Pearson are the first winners of the new Plate Final of the 2009 PING Women’s Fourball Betterball Tournament of England.

The pair, from Ely City, set an early target of 43 points over the Thonock Park course at PING’s Gainsborough Golf Club – and it was never beaten.

They win a choice of PING clubs or PING Collection clothing to the value of £400. They also qualify for the UK final of the Volvo Masters Amateur Tour at Kingsbarns, Scotland, in October. 

“This is unbelievable, “ said Lilias. “We just came for a nice day out. We’ve had a wonderful day and to win is the icing on the cake.”
Their closest challengers on a warm, sunny day were two pairs who each scored 41 points. The runners-up, on countback, were Worcestershire’s Lynn Wilson and Naomi Austin, 18,  who pipped county colleagues Holli Ward, 17, and Emily Hyde, 14, by virtue of their better back nine.

The PING Tournament – which is run by the English Women’s Golf Association – has a new format this year. The best 60 club winners qualified for the Grand Final, which takes place tomorrow, while the next 72 pairs went through to today’s new Plate Final.
It was a change which met with approval from the winners. “I think it’s great,” said Lilias. She and Sue won their club qualifier with 42 points – just before Lilias injured her back and had to give golf a miss for three months.

“I think the club qualifier was my last full round before I hurt my back – and this is my first full round since I started playing again. I’ve just done a few nine holes on the par three course, with the grandchildren.”

There were no signs of rustiness, however. The two golfers cogged together extremely well on a course neither had seen before. “It’s a very nice course and the fairways are wide, compared with ours, which takes the pressure off,” said Sue.
Last week, both players were fitted for new PING clubs. “Now we’re really eager to get hold of them,” said Lilias.  
Scoring in the Plate Final was good all day. The first pair out, Chris Williamson and Natalie Crute of Hartlepool,  set an impressive target with 40 points. This was soon matched by Elizabeth Crow and Anne Wright from Northamptonshire – and then passed by the eventual winners and the two other prizewinners.

Among the players were Hampshire’s Jenny Readman who was one of the winners of last year’s Grand Final. This year she was partnered by England senior international Chris Stirling and the pair managed a very creditable 39 points. “It was lovely to have the chance to come back,” said Jenny. “And I love my PING clubs. I’ve cut three shots off my handicap, to nine, since I got them after last year’s competition.”
The day included the opportunity for competitors to tour the PING factory, to take advantage of the service at PING’s fitting centre and to enter other competitions. Linda Shapley of Chartham Park, Sussex, won a putter while Julia Gibson of Wirral Ladies, Cheshire, won the nearest the pin competition for a PING driver. 

Leading final scores

43 pts Lilias Adamson and Sue Pearson (Ely City)

41 Naomi Austin and Lyn Wilson (North Worcestershire); Emily Hyde and Holli Ward (Bewdley Pines).

40 Elizabeth Crow and Anne Wright (Delapre Park); Chris Williamson and Natalie Crute (Hartlepool).

39 Chris Hall and Julie Tsang (Harborne); Sandy Kinch and Gill O’Donnell (Easthamstead Ladies); Gillian Nutter and Dee Kay (Formby Ladies’); Julie Daniels and Wendy Bushell (Hennerton); Chris Stirling and Jenny Readman (Meon Valley).

25 June 2009 - The closing date for the tournament is tomorrow. Once all entries have been inputted into the system the leaderboards will be updated to show the final field. Club prizes will be sent out on Friday 3 July. Grand Final and Plate Final Competitors Packs will be sent out with the club winners prizes, addressed to the club, also on Friday 3 July. Please note late entries will not be accepted.

02 March 2009 - A perfect partnership - Volvo and the English Women’s Golf Association

There's a new format for the 2009 PING Women's Four Ball Better Ball Tournament of England and it means MORE prizes for more golfers. The new format brings:

PRIZES for the winning pair and the runners-up in each club qualifying round

A NEW system of qualifying for the Grand Final. The top 60 club winners will go straight through to the Grand Final on Tuesday 8 September.

A NEW Plate Final for the next best 72 pairs. This will be played on Monday 7 September.

Both finals will be held at PING's Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire and competitors will have the opportunity to visit the PING factory, to try clubs at the PING custom fitting centre, and to take part in other competitions throughout the day for more PING prizes.

We have introduced these changes following consultation with members of EWGA and we hope all competitors will enjoy the new format with the opportunity to win prizes at club level.

We are also offering members the chance to enter a prize draw on the day of their club qualifying round. Fill in your name and e-mail address on the player registration form and you could end up winning a weekend away at Marriott Breadsall Priory Hotel, Golf & Country Club. The draw will take place after the closing date.

For more information of the new format please click on the FORMAT tab above.

In association with EWGA