Golf by Alan Booth ALISON FRANKLIN triumphed over two former champions when she won the Hertfordshire Ladies Amateur Championship at Old Fold Manor and in doing so joined the elite group who have claimed the title for the third time. Alison, from Harpend

Golf by Alan Booth

ALISON FRANKLIN triumphed over two former champions when she won the Hertfordshire Ladies Amateur Championship at Old Fold Manor and in doing so joined the elite group who have claimed the title for the third time.

Alison, from Harpenden, one of the county's outstanding players in recent years, first won the title at Berkhamsted in 2004 and again at Porters Park three years later. She clinched her hat-trick when she beat a previous three-times winner Tina Jeary (Bishop's Stortford) by 6 and 5 in the final.

Lucy Williams (Mid Herts), youngest winner of the title at 16 in 2006, lost to Tina in the semi-final by 5&4. Alison beat Ellie Brede (Porters Park) 2&1 to reach the final.

"It's really satisfying to achieve that third victory," said Alison. "I lost out last year in the semi-final at Knebworth when Lucy and I were level after 18 holes and she won at the 19th when I had never been in arrears, so there was extra incentive to win through this time. But I had a scare when I took 80 in the second qualifying round and thought I might not get through, but I did and I put that behind me in the final.

"Even then, I hit into the trees on the first hole, but halved the hole, and after that I settled down and felt in control all the way."

With Tina failing to produce her best form after convincing 5&4 victories in the quarter and semi- finals, Alison had virtually sealed victory after nine holes, winning holes with pars.

She went ahead at the second, then won, 5, 6, 7, and 8 to be five up, and although losing the 9th, won 10 and 11 and halved the next two to win by 6&5.

Earlier she had beaten Laura Hunt (Old Fold Manor) 4&2 and Harriet Key (South Herts), one up, while Tina had beaten Lucy Glyn (Porters Park), one up, and Emily Chan (South Herts) 5&4, and Lucy Williams beat Nicola Bennett (Porters Park) 8&7 and Charlie Field (Bishop's Stortford), two holes.

The closest match came in the quarter finals when Ellie Brede needed a birdie at the 19th hole to beat Steph McEvoy (Old Fold Manor).

In the first round Charlie Field beat Tara Dayer-Smith (Chesfield Downs) 5&4, Emily Chan beat Lucinda Mileham (Aldwickbury Park) 3&2, Harriet Key beat Hollie Gardner (Old Fold Manor) 5&4, Steph McEvoy beat Jackie Foster (Bishop's Stortford) 3&1, and Ellie Brede beat Julie Dyke (Welwyn Garden City) 6&5.

Lucy Williams led the qualifiers on 151 after rounds of 76 75, three strokes ahead of Ellie Brede 77 77, with Alison Franklin on 155 after 75 80 and Tina Jeary a stroke further back, 77 79. Lucy won the Scratch Aggregate Cup and Lucinda Mileham the Anne Pyke Trophy for the best net aggregate score.