Tracey Williamson celebrates her 9th Norfolk Ladies Championship title following a nail biting final

The final of the Norfolk Ladies’ County Championship, held at Royal Norwich on Sunday 16th May, was a contest of youth verses experience.

Tracey Williamson, Sheringham, was pushed all the way by 16 year old Eve Neild, playing on her home course, where there were never more than 2 holes between them.

At the halfway stage the match was all square. Eve won the 10th to go 1 up and the par 3 11th was halved. Tracey produced a birdie on the par 5 12th to level the match. On the 13th Eve again went one up and it remained this way going into the 18th with Eve dormie 1 up having halved 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Tracey produced the goods just when she needed to winning the 18th and forcing the match into extra holes.

In this nail biting play-off the experience of Williamson shone through as they halved the par 4 19th. A tremendous tee shot into the par 3 20th left Tracey with a short putt for birdie sealing her 9th victory in the prestigious event.

"It's a very proud moment for me as after 40 years of playing in the Championship I had started to wonder if I would ever have the opportunity to win this again due to the ever increasing young talent pool coming through and me simply getting older”

Tracey first won the Norfolk County Championship in 1989 at Sheringham, when she was then known as Tracey Keeley.

Played over 3 days with a field of 36. Following the 1st days 36 hole stroke play Eve Neild won the Lady Betty Trafford Cup (36-hole scratch) with a gross score of 149 with Tracey Williamson runner-up with 154. Eve also won the Hannaford Cup (36-hole handicap) with nett 137 with Poppy Beales from Hunstanton runner-up with 152. The Phillips Oppenheim Team Trophy was won by Hope Neild, Eve Neild and Jo Herd of Royal Norwich with nett 302.

Heather Keeble, President of the Norfolk Ladies’ County Golf Association, brought the championship to a close by thanking Royal Norwich for their excellent hosting of the event.