GOLF: Gloucestershire miss out at Women's County Finals (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Last-day loss to Surrey ends their championship hopes

11:49am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Sport By Danny Hall, Sports Editor

GLOUCESTERSHIRE missed out on the chance to be in the reckoning at the Women's County Finals at East Devon Golf Club this week when losing 6-3 on the final day to Surrey.

Essex were eventually crowned England’s champion county for the first time in 33 years The Gloucestershire team, which included Minchinhampton GC teenager Victoria Wakeley-Jones and Alison Kelly of Cirencester Golf Club, had beaten defending champions Lincolnshire on the opening day and followed that up with an 8-1 thrashing of Buckinghamshire on day two when 15-year-old Wakeley-Jones and Kelly both won their won her singles matches.

But their championship chances were dented when losing an epic tie with Lancashire 6-3.

The advantage kept swinging backwards and forwards between the two teams. Early on it was Lancashire who had the initiative, then Gloucestershire took charge, only for Lancashire to take the point with a fighting finish.

Their last three players all won on the 18th green.

Gloucestershire then had to beat Surrey on the final day to give themselves a chance of the overall title.

Gloucestershire started the Surrey match well, with two wins in the foursomes, but their challenge fizzled out in the singles. Surrey dominated the afternoon, winning five of the six games to take the match 6-3.

The result left Gloucestershire with 2.5 points from the week’s matches when a victory would have seen them tied for the top spot.

Final placings 1 Essex (East region) 3.5 points, 26.5 games 2 Lancashire (North) 3.5 points, 26 games 3 Lincolnshire (Midlands North) 3 points 4 Surrey (South) 2.5 points, 25 games 5 Gloucestershire (South West) 2.5 points, 23½ games 6 Buckinghamshire (Midlands South) 0 points