Kent golfers win PING qualifier at Marriott Tudor Park

The pair, from Langley Park Golf Club, scored an impressive 48 points at Marriott Tudor Park Golf and Country Club in Kent and were four clear of the field.

They led seven pairs who qualified for the grand final of the competition at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, Golf and Country Club on October 7. The tournament is run by the English Women s Golf Association.

The qualifiers, who all scored 41 points or better, all win a pair of ECCO shoes and a PING Collection sweater to wear at the final. Chitra and Pam also each won a PING golf bag.

Chitra and Pam are next-door neighbours who live close to their golf club. In fact, Pam only took up golf two years ago when she moved into her current home.

I took it up because we lived opposite the golf club and Chitra encouraged me to join, said Pam, who has tumbled to 25 handicap.

Chitra is an established golfer who plays off 19 handicap and together the pair had three birdies in their round, each of which earned them four points. They scored on every hole and just once did they receive only one point.

We have had a very nice day and if we play like this in the grand final we should do very well, said Pam. We do play well together and we are very excited about it all.

Their closest rivals were Janet Scott and Ann Howard from Copthorne Golf Club in Sussex who scored 44 points.

Janet, who plays off nine, and Ann, a six-handicapper, had four birdies in their round and a blob on the 17th.

Another Kent pair qualified in fifth place. Sue Norman, 13 handicap, and Wendy Kendall, 19 handicap, from Ashford Golf Club had 42 points.

Last year, they lost their club s PING qualifier on countback. This year they ve made no mistakes and clinched their place in the grand final with a strong finish to their round, scoring three points on each of the last three holes.

It s been good fun and we will absolutely love playing in the grand final, said Sue.

However, there was disappointment for one pair. Cynthia Hollingsworth and Megan Ball from Colne Valley, Essex, won the 2007 grand final but their defence ended at Tudor Park where they scored 35 points and failed to qualify.

Qualifiers

48pts Chitra Prashar & Pamela Smith (Langley Park)

44 Janet Scott & Ann Howard (Copthorne)

43 Audrey Moran & Paulette Jasquith (Shortlands); Margaret Barkwith & Brenda Goldie (Northwood)

42 Sue Norman & Wendy Kendall (Ashford)

41 Wendy Scales & Gillian Turner (Stock Brook Manor); Pauline Nixon & Sue Bartram (Stapleford Abbots)  

Full details: www.pingchampionship.com.