Success for Worthing Ladies

Congratulations to the Worthing ladies who have qualified for the semi-finals at Montecastillo, Spain in March 2024. After a long season of matches, Worthing beat a team of ladies from Abridge golf club, Essex.

The Kyocera (formerly Annodata) competition is singles matchplay, off handicap, in a team of 5 players. It is played following the method of the Ryder and Solheim cups, with the captains setting their team order prior to the match. Unlike the pro competitions, this can result in the challenge of several shots being given or received. With the slope indexes of courses coming in to play, it is certainly a challenge to get the winning team formula.

Having received a bye in the first round, Worthing were fortunate with a home draw against Cuckfield GC. Despite giving shots, 4 matches were won with one being called in. Round 3 found Chichester B team at Worthing, resulting in a 4-1 win.  The next round saw the team face Chichester A team, however this time away on Chichester’s Cathedral course. The shots really came into play, resulting in very close matches, some of which went to the 18th green. It was a close win for Worthing by 3-2. On to round 5, when again it was a home draw for  against The Dyke. A very close match ensued but again Worthing won 3-2.

This meant progression to out of county and the next round involved a long trip to Canterbury, Kent, to a ‘sister’ course designed originally by Harry Colt. With the slope of the course at 135, much higher than the Worthing Colt course, the team knew they had a challenge. The first 3 matches to finish were fortunately all wins, enabling the final 2 to walk in, to huge relief. The hospitality from Canterbury ladies was wonderful, despite their disappointment.

So with 8 clubs left in the draw, located from Gleneagles in Scotland to Perranporth in Cornwall, there was the prospect of possibly travelling further for round 7. Fortunately aother home draw with opponents coming from West Essex. They enjoyed a weekend in Worthing with a practice round on the day prior to the match. Worthing ladies won the first 4 matches, with the
final pair called in.

Now the preparation starts for the trip to Montecasillo, near Cadiz for the team that has played the last 2 rounds: Lynne Stoner, Kathy Minchell, Sarah Cooper-Olsen, Denise Moore and Deirdre Thorpe (captain). The squad, over the 6 matches played previously, included Clare Stammeijer, Lynne Thomson, Sarah Clapp, Lesley Mann, Clare Weller, Corrinne Howell, Emma Bullock and Lisa Allen.

Huge congratulations to all the squad players who participated. Its a shame that the finals cannot include all, although all supporters are welcome. The Worthing ladies team are immensely proud to be representing the club and Sussex in the finals of a competition including the whole of Great Britain.

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