2024 Spring Meet

The Buckinghamshire County Ladies Golf Association Spring Meeting held over three days at Gerrards Cross Golf Club, incorporated the County Championship, Intermediate Championship, the Handicap County Championship and an 18-hole Handicap Competition and introduced, from this year, a Club Team Competition. For the first time the ladies could play for World Amateur Golf Ranking points. The 36-hole qualifying rounds and the 18-hole Competition were held on Thursday, 9th May (results below) with the top 8 Scratch players and Net players moving forward to matchplay on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May.

On the 9th May, the ladies tee’d off in handicap order with the 18-hole ladies following the first 18 of the 36-hole players. The first scorecard returned was Ella Butteriss’ with a score of 70, two under par.

The 18-hole Competition was won by Shetal Patel (Gerrards Cross GC) with a net 72. The 18-hole ladies enjoyed their lunch and prize presentation as the 36-hole ladies set off on their next 18 holes. Ella Butteriss (Beaconsfield GC) won the best 36-hole gross score with 140 (4 under par) and Eloise Feely (Woburn GC) came in with a net score of 141 (3 under par). Our Intermediate Champion was Ella Butteriss.

Our inaugural Team Competition, based on the lowest net scores for 3 members of the same Club over the first 18 holes, resulted in a tie between Beaconsfield GC (Ella Butteriss, Amelie Jones and Thilanya Rajapaksa) and Woburn GC (Eloise Feely, Annabel Denyer and Susanna Mitterer) with a net score of 224.

Shetal Patel was the only player from the 18-hole Competition to step-up to the challenge of the match play. She won through to the semi-final but was beaten on the 19th hole when Demi Maxey (Abbey Hill GC), who met the challenge of giving 26 holes, won with a birdie.

Our Finals Day on Sunday brought yet another beautiful sunny Spring Day.

With our Scratch Finalists Ella Butteriss (Beaconsfield GC) playing off plus 4 and Lulu Leetham (Buckingham GC) off plus 1, in her first Final, we were in for a something special.

Our Scratch Final Referee Rosemary de Lacy’s recollections of the match follow:

Ella and Lulu started the match halving both the 1st and 2nd holes with birdies. Lulu drove the green on the first hole whilst Ella went through the back of the green on the 2nd with her drive.

Lulu then went on to birdie the 3rd to win the hole and go 1-up.

On the 4th hole, Ella was in trouble off the tee, her ball landed in thick grass! Nevertheless, she carried out a great rescue shot and halved the hole.

The match drew all square again when Ella birdied the 5th hole.

Lulu then went on to win 4 of the next 6 holes to go 4up. They continued to half the next few holes, but Lulu won on the 15th with an eagle 3 to win the match 5&3.

In total the ladies had 8 birdies and 1 eagle between them.

Our President Maura Spencer, who walked with the Handicap Final, has provided the following narrative:

Demi had to give Ajuni 14 shots. Ajuni took full advantage on the first hole by chipping in for a birdie from the back of the green out of quite long rough, a fabulous shot that rolled all the way down and into the hole. Demi won the 2nd hole with a birdie, 3rd hole halved, 4th hole went to Demi - Demi 1 up.

The short par 4 6th was won by Ajuni, some excellent putting to secure a par. Hole 7 was won by Ajuni with a net birdie.

Ajuni was 2 up thru 10 holes. Hole 11 - Demi's drive left her with a tricky approach shot to the green with trees in the way. Not deterred she produced what I thought the 'shot of the day' using an 8 iron that sent the ball up over the trees to land it pin high onto the green. Unfortunately, for Demi her put to secure the hole for a half lipped out which resulted in a win for Ajuni and 3up. Holes 12 & 13 were halved, and Ajuni won the 14th hole with a net par, 4 up for Ajuni with 4 to play. Hole 15 Demi needed to win to keep the match alive but a par for Ajuni was all that was needed to win the match 4&3.

Both Dad's acted as caddies - Ajuni's Dad joined her on the 3rd hole.

A very close match, tough for Demi as she had to give 14 shots, Ajuni was so steady, and her short game was excellent.

A great 3 days with some outstanding golf.

Many thanks to Gerrards Cross Club for their generous and meticulous hosting throughout the Competition. Over the 3 days, the Course was presented in exceptional condition considering all the Winter and Spring rain. Our thanks therefore go to all Gerrards Cross staff and Members for their unstinting support.

Finally, congratulations go to Lulu Leetham from Buckingham GC, our 2024 County Champion, and to all the ladies who competed over the three days. See more photographs below.

Jackie Maher

Competitions Secretary

18 Hole Competition - Winner - Shetal Patel, Co President - Maura Spencer
36 Hole Qualifier Scratch Winner & Intermediate Champion - Ella Butteriss with Co President Maura Spencer
36 Hole Qualifier Net Winner -Eloise Feely with Co President Maura Spencer
Team Club Winners- Beaconsfield - Amelie Jones, Co President - Maura Spencer & Ella Butteriss
Team Club Winners - Beaconsfield - Thilanya Rajapaksa, Co Captain - Susanna Mitterer
Team Club Winners - Woburn - Annabel Denyer, Susanna Mitterer, Eloise Feely
County Champion - Lulu Leetham, Co President - Maura Spencer, RU - Ella Butteriss
Co President - Maura Spencer & Co Captain - Susanna Mitterer present Co Champion - Lulu Leetham with the trophy
County Champion - Lulu Leetham with Co President - Maura Spencer
Handicap Championship Finalists - Former Co President Lynda Hilton presents her trophy to Ajuni Bains, Co President - Maura Spencer & Demi Maxey
Former Co President Lynda Hilton presents her trophy to Handicap Champion - Ajuni Bains, Co President - Maura Spencer
County Vice-Captain - Helen Pettifer, Referee - Rosemary de Lacy, County President - Maura Spencer, Retired County President - Lynda Hilton, Ella Butteriss, Handicap Champion - Ajuni Bains, County Captain - Susanna Mitterer, County Champion - Lulu Leetham, Demi Maxey, Competitions Secretary - Jackie Maher