Golf is a game that can be played by people of all ages and backgrounds, with over 65 million people hitting the fairways. It doesn't matter who you are, the sport can be enjoyed and played by a wide variety of people.
On Sunday, that was once again the case, when 87-year-old Rosemary Reed and her 64-year-old playing partner, Steve Toyne, won the Central England Mixed Foursomes on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club.
At the Central England Mixed Foursomes. Rosemary Reed in the final & about to play her 7th round in 4 days. Nothing remarkable?……..except she is 87 years young having first played in the tournament in 1955 and winning it in 1961, 1985, 1986! @TheTimes @BBCSport @GolfMonthly pic.twitter.com/scFpHtRsGaOctober 2, 2022
Playing in her first event back in 1957, Rosemary has now won this tournament four times. Firstly in 1961, then 1985 and 1986. Incredibly, there's over 60 years between her first victory and her most recent!
Staged at Woodhall Spa, the Central England Mixed Foursomes is played over the Hotchkin Course and has a maximum entry of 64 pairs. From there, it is a straight knockout over three days, with two matches played every single day until the winning team is crowned.
What's perhaps most impressive is that not only did Rosemary play all six rounds, but also reportedly played on Thursday prior to the competition starting, as well as on Monday in a league match against Seacroft Golf Club! That's eight rounds in five days...
Steve and Rosemary and their opponents in the final Chris & Jo Dyson
After making their way through the first three rounds, the pair delivered a 7&5 rout in the Quarter Finals, as the final day got underway on Sunday. Defeating the duo of Steve Davies & Moira Page, Rosemary and Steve faced Chris & Jo Dyson in the final.
Against the West Sussex pair, they delivered yet another win, as Rosemary, who still plays off a handicap index of 18.9 and her scratch partner, Steve, picked up the title.
