sophie keech

It took a countback to deny Lyme golfer Sophie Keech the chance to retain the England Schools National title, played this year at Kendleshire.

Twenty seven girls qualified from the North, The Midlands, South East and South West.

In warm sunshine Keech played a solid first round in the morning finishing -2 and one off the lead, getting birdies on the 9th and 18th, two difficult holes.

The 18th was a par 4 with the approach over water with the hole positioned at the front of the green. Sophie nailed her second shot onto the green a foot away from the pin where she got the putt for birdie in front of the gallery of spectators.

After a short lunch break Keech kept the momentum with a birdie on the first hole in round two once again playing consistently, ending up -1, making her -3 for the 36 holes and leader in the club house.

Awaiting the final matches to come in, Dulcie Sverdloff carded a strong second round card to also end up -3 overall, and pipped Keech to the title winning on count back. Keech was disappointed that there wasn’t a play off to decide the winner.

●She has been selected to play two England School Matches, Wales v England in August at Pennard Golf Club Swansea and England v Scotland in September at Hesketh Golf Club in Lancashire.