8 - 9 July 2025 Saunton Golf Club
After the successful format changes trialled in 2024, with the first two rounds played on the West Course and the remainder on the East, itwas unanimously agreed to retain this structure for 2025 andfuture years. If nothing else, it guarantees the women at least a fighting chance of reaching the BBQ in time foraburger.
With temperatures soaring well above what we’ve come to expect at Saunton in recent years, sun cream was in almost as high demand as water. One player was overheard claiming she got “an extra 40 yards of roll because the fairways were so hard”, although, judging by her expression, it was mostly sideways. By the time prizegiving rolled around, half the field looked like they’d been slow-roasted, and the other half were frantically seeking out the nearest air-con vent and a glass of anything liquid, containingice.
Despite having a full field of 16 confirmed players ahead of the event, a number of unavoidable, last-minute withdrawals (due to injury, compassionate circumstances, and operational commitments) meant that the final field was ultimately reduced to 13. This presented aminorlogisticalheadache forthe organisers, but the Championship still proceeded as planned. The top three seeds enjoyed an unexpected lie-in, thanks to their byesintoroundtwo,provingthatsometimes, working hard to bring that handicap down reallydoespayoffintheend!
Unfortunately, such occurrences are not uncommon in the women’s game, where the player pool remains relatively small. This continues to highlight the challenging and unpredictable balance between service duties and sporting commitments. Nevertheless, the revised draw had no impact on the quality of play, nor the spirit of the event, both of which remained as high as theUVindex.
Day one, round one, and the top half of the draw played out largely as expected, with some fairly emphatic results across the board. Cpl Lizzy Chapman RAMS lost 7&5 to Sgt Claire Ham AGC(SPS); LBdr Lizzy Griggs RA was defeated 8&6 by SSgt Kim Glynn AGC (SPS); and CfnEllieSkinnerREME,a debutant in this year’s competition, was beaten 6&4 by MajGinaSmithREME.
The bottom half also followed the form book in terms of results, but the scores were another matter entirely. With only two matches played (thanks to those earlier byes), Sgt Emma Dann RCAM beat WO1 Vicky van Zyl RAMS 4&2, and ATpr Laura “Welly” McLeanAACproducedanearlyupset, defeating Maj Kate Eastman RAMS, a former Champion and seasoned Inter Service player, 1Up. A warning shot across the bows of the competition?Quitepossibly.
With three players having received byes in round one of the Main competition, the Plate drawgotofftoagentle start.Onlyonematch was required to get the ball rolling. That match, however, had some sparkle: Chapman vs Griggs, dubbed “The Battle of theLizzies”.
With just five shots separating them in handicap, Chapman off 24 and Griggs off 19, this promised to be a tight affair. Chapman came out swinging, full of determination and good humour, but despite her best efforts and some flashes of brilliance, she eventually succumbed to the consistent play of Griggs, who took the match 5&3. A well-earned win and a match played with exactly the right mixof focus, sportsmanship, and just enough banter to distract from the fact everyone was slowlymelting.
With the Main and Plate competitions both progressing, the quarter-finals promised some exciting contests, and they did not disappoint.
Glynn, a four-time past Champion, was drawn against Ham. On paper, it looked favourable for Glynn, but Ham has quietly built a strong reputation over recent seasons, and she wasn’t about to roll over. A hardfought match saw Ham triumph 3&1, proving once again that past form is no guarantee of futuresuccess.
Meanwhile, Smith faced reigning Champion Cpl Niki Sutton AGC(SPS). Sutton likely approached the match with caution, knowing that Smith has a habit of dragging games to the 21st hole at least. But class won out,andSuttonedgedthematch3&2.
In the bottom half of the draw, Dann took on WO2 Mel van Zyl RAMS, securing a 4&2 win, perhaps an unwelcome surprise for the
incoming Captain! The final match saw former Champion SSgt Abi Kennedy RE face offagainstMcLean,whowasridinghighafter her earlier giant gritty, close contest that inevitably went beyond18holes.Kennedyeventuallyclosedit out on the 21st, but not before McLean gave heranalmightyscare.
It’s worth noting that at the time of entry, there was a 13 between Kennedy (2) and McLean (15), making the match even more remarkable. Taking a scratch game to the 21st is a feat in itself, especially when most of the field were already questioning their life choices by the 15th.
For those knocked out in round one of the Plate or round two of the Main Championship, the Saunton Bowl offers a chance to keep the golf going in the form of a round of Stableford. Nobody quite lights out the heat and baked fairways, the scores were more than respectable: Glynn carded 31pts, van Zyl M 32pts, and Smith took the win and trophy with a solid 33pts. Given the conditions, even finishing with the same ball you started with felt like a triumph.
The semi all the hallmarks of a classic: Ham vs Sutton, and Kennedy vs Dann. Most observers would have predicted a Sutton vs Kennedy final. Sutton duly delivered,beatingHam5&3 with composure, but the real surprise came in the other tie, where Dann, having already dispatched van Zyl M earlier in the competition, went one better and edged out Kennedy on the 19th hole. A definite statement performance, and surely now a certainty for Inter Serviceselection.
Finalsafternoonarrived,andwithit,twohotly anticipated matches. In the Plate, Eastman
WOMEN’S MATCHPLAY CHAMPION CplNikiSuttonAGC(SPS)
KEY RESULTS
Army Champion Cpl Niki Sutton AGC(SPS)
Runner-Up
Bowles Trophy Winner
Saunton Bowl Winner
Most Improved Ladies Player
Sgt Emma Dann RCAM
Maj Kate Eastman RAMS
Maj Gina Smith REME
Sgt Emma Dann RCAM