GOLF: NICOLA Bennett was the runaway winner of the Redbourn Golf Club Girls’ Open scoring a sensational 72 – a new ladies’ course record.

Nicola, a two-handicapper from nearby Porter’s Park Golf Club, shot a gross score of one-under par, 17 shots better than nearest rivals Elena Tizzard and Megan Daniels who each scored 89 with count back placing them second and third respectively.

Redbourn – part of BGL Golf, the UK’s leading golf course owner and operator – hosted more than 25 young women from across Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties for its annual Girls’ Open competition played over the Ver Course, 18-picturesque-holes with spectacular views across the countryside.

It was home girl Holly Hunter who was triumphant in the nett prize, after missing out on the top three in the gross by just a shot. Her score of nett 69 was matched by Georgina Bowers from Watford’s Bushey Hall Golf Club, but a better back nine secured Holly’s victory.

Finishing third in the nett competition was Freya Daniels, another Redbourn member, beating her handicap by two shots to finish just two shots off the leaders’ pace with nett 71.

Ian McDowell, Redbourn Golf Club General Manager, said: “It’s always wonderful to see golf being played well and the girls, particularly winner, Nicola, certainly did that.

“My congratulations to both our winners and I look forward to welcoming the region’s young golfers to our club again soon.

“The standard of junior golf is exceptionally high at Redbourn and with golf becoming an Olympic sport in 2016, we could be talking about British gold-medallists of the future.”

A competition for girls U10 was run on one of the finest short courses in the area, the nine-hole par-three Kinsbourne Course, which has holes ranging from 111- to 223-yards long, in conjunction with the Girls’ Open and won by eight-year-old, Rafiah Banday, whose score of 55, was four clear of second placed, Maddie Pearce. Alyson Roberts came third with a score of 65.

n For further information visit www.redbourngolfclub.com or call 01582 793493.