West Lancashire toasting a double success in finals

Dec 2 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

THE ladies and the men at West Lancashire are celebrating a double success.

First the ladies won the final of the ninth Millennium Links Cup on a day of blustery winds at Formby Ladies.

The top qualifiers for the 2008 finals were Royal Birkdale with 17 points, followed by West Lancashire with 16 and Royal Liverpool and Hesketh with 14 each.

In the semi-finals, last year’s winners Royal Liverpool beat Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire beat Hesketh.

In a tense and closely-fought final West Lancashire, in the final for the first time, were trailing to Royal Liverpool after losing three matches and winning two which left them needing to win the remaining two matches still out on the course.

Their number four player Kathie Stubbs was three down with three to play before she won the remaining three holes to level on the 18th and then won on the 19th hole.

In the last match West Lancashire’s Sue Byrne was two up with three to play and holed her putt on the 16th to give her team the Cup.

More than 100 ladies attended the prize-giving and dinner at Formby Golf Club.

A few days later the West Lancashire men won the 39th annual Selwyn Lloyd Men’s Foursomes Team competition on their home ground. The tournament was started by Royal Liverpool and their captain Selwyn Lloyd donated the trophy.

Sixteen clubs competed with three pairings in a scratch knockout. In the final West Lancashire beat Royal Birkdale 2&1, with the final match finishing on the 18th green, to win the trophy for the first time since 2001. The tournament was a personal highlight for West Lancashire secretary Steward King, playing in the competition for the 33rd time.

Ladies Millennium Shield results

Qualifying Round: Royal Birkdale 17 pts; West Lancashire 16; Hesketh 14;, Royal Liverpool 14; Southport & Ainsdale 14 ; Hillside 13, Formby Ladies 13; Wallasey 11.

Semi-finals: Royal Liverpool 10 pts Royal Birkdale 4; West Lancashire 10 Hesketh 4.

Final: West Lancashire 8 points Royal Liverpool 6 points. (West Lancs names first) Cori Lee bt Jeanne Bell 2&1; Irene Kermode lost to Ann Dulson 5&4; Di Dickinson lost to Sue Greenhalgh 3&2; Phyl Bentham lost to Gill McMahon 7&6; Kathie Stubbs bt April Stern at 19th; Joan Finnegan bt Gina Withinshaw 8&6; Sue Byrne bt Antonia Hall 3& 2