HAMPSHIRE'S Chris Quinn won the English women’s senior championship for the fourth time when she beat Surrey’s Roz Adams 2/1 in a gripping final at Tidworth Garrison Golf Club yesterday.

The victory extends her superb senior record. Quinn has now won six English titles, including her two stroke play victories, and one British championship.

“To win so many is beyond your wildest dreams – and it’s all fresh, it still means everything to me,” she said.

Quinn played the championship with a new set of irons which had just one outing before the event began. “I think they probably suit me,” she added.

They certainly proved to be weapons of great accuracy during the final which Quinn described as “A brilliant game – Adams just doesn’t let go.”

The first half was quite spectacular with three holes halved with birdies: the second, seventh and eighth. Between them, the two players had eight birdies over the nine holes and Quinn reached the turn at three-under par and one-up.

Highlights included the downhill par four seventh, where Adams almost drove the green to set up her birdie. Quinn matched her score with a delicate pitch over a bunker and a confident putt.

On the next, Adams played her approach to within three feet of the pin to set up yet another birdie; Quinn was 30 feet away – and rolled the ball straight in the cup.

On the 12th, Quinn extended her lead to two up with an excellent pitch, which finished stone dead for a par.

The intensity of the battle was captured on the par three 13th, where both players hit the pin with their tee shots and went on to halve the hole.

They shared the next two before Adams won the 16th and reduced the deficit to one hole.

On this occasion it was her turn to show a magical touch around the green, running a low chip up to the pin.

The 17th was the decider. Adams was just short of the green and this time her chip pulled up a little too quickly and she just missed the putt, while Qunn two-putted for a par and the title.

Afterwards Adams said: “I’m happy. I gave it my best but I came up against Chris Quinn at her best.”

Flight Two was won by another former English senior champion when Buckinghamshire’s Christine Watson beat Barbara Laird of Cheshire by 4/2.

This success marked Watson's return to competitive golf after an absence of three years due to family commitments.

”It’s nice to be back and nice to think I’ve got the energy to do it,” she remarked at the end of the five-round marathon.

She had hoped to make the championship matchplay but just missed out after one of the qualifying rounds was abandoned because of torrential rain.

“I was disappointed, but once that’s happened the only thing to do is try to win,” she said.

In the final she played steady golf, driving well and putting herself in good positions.

Laird won the first hole but Watson came straight back with wins on the second and third and stayed ahead for the rest of the match.

“I was outgunned today,” said Laird.

The Tidworth Garrison course won the praise of players for its condition and the way it recovered from the deluge on the second qualifying day.

"We wouldn't have been able to play this on many courses," said Quinn.

ChampionshipSemi-finals: Roz Adams (Addington Court Ladies) beat Linda Hunt (Newbury & Crookham) 4/3; Chris Quinn (Hockley) beat Carol Cass (Broadstone) 5/3.

Final: Quinn beat Adams 2/1

Flight Two semi-finals: Chris Watson (Beaconsfield) beat Karen Lobb (Northamptonshire County) 1 up; Barbara Laird (Sandiway) beat Caroline Berry (Bromborough) 2 up.

Final: Watson beat Laird 4/2.

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