Championships News

Suffolk Ladies Senior Championships – Bury St Edmunds 2026

On a very warm but thankfully not too hot 31st July 2026 at Bury St Edmunds 36 ladies competed in the Suffolk Ladies Senior Strokeplay championship.  Everyone was in good spirits and looking forward to playing.  The course was in perfect condition despite the very dry weather – the greens were true, bunkers cruel –  but good.  The club were very welcoming to us all and couldn’t do any more than they could which took a lot of pressure of me and the rest of the team.

Carole Bostock from Rookery Park with a gross 78 won the Senior Gross Strokeplay Trophy with Tessa Summers coming a very close 2nd with gross 79.

Carole Bostock from Rookery Park receiving the Suffolk Ladies Senior Scratch
Strokeplay Trophy from Carol Deslandes – 2026

Tessa Summers from Aldeburgh receiving her voucher from Carol Deslandes
For being the runner up in the Suffolk Ladies Senior Strokeplay Championship 2026

 

Mariette Robbertse from Bury was first in the Net Strokeplay with net 71 with Di Hegarty very closely behind with Net 72

Mariette Robbertse from Bury St Edmunds receiving her voucher from Carol Deslandes
For Suffolk Ladies Senior Nett Strokeplay Championship 2026

Congratulations to all the winners and runners up of the Strokeplay championships.

On Saturday the best 8 gross and best 8 net ladies came back to play in the Senior Matchplay trophies.  These quarter finals were very all very tight.

Carole Bostock & Rachael Goldsmith (both from Rookery Park) Scratch matchplay was very close with Carole winning on the 18th.  Lynne Barrett from Hintlesham and Tina Jeary from Flempton Scratch matchplay went to the 19th hole – very close with Tina just pipping Lynne. Next to play was Mariette Robbertse from Bury St Edmunds took on Jo Miller from Hintlesham in which Jo came through 3&2.  The last group in the Matchplay was Viv Leech from Halesworth taking on Tessa Summers from Aldeburgh with Viv winning also 3&2

Then came the quarter final matches for the Senior Handicap Matchplay Trophy.  Kirstene Baillie from Bury St Edmunds took on Jude Hanner with Jude winning 6&4.  Heather Chandler from Bury St Edmunds took on Vicki Hunt from Ipswich with Heather won 2&1. The next match was Chris Reid taking on Elizabeth Bezance both from Bury St Edmunds with Chris winning 4&3. The final Handicap Quarter final match was Lisa Niemy from Bury St Edmunds and Pat Kennedy from Haverhill with the pair going down the 19th with Lisa taking the match.

So after I hope a good rest the winning ladies came back early Sunday morning teeing off circa 9am to play in the Semi finals.  The Scratch matchplays were Carole Bostock and Tina Jeary – another very close match with Carole winning 1 up.  The other scratch matchplay was Jo Miller and Viv Leech – this match also came down to the last hole with Jo Miller winning.

Next came the two Handicap Matchplay Semi Finals. Jude played Heather with Jude winning 2&1 and then Chris and Lisa (both from Bury St Edmunds) match was played with Chris winning 2&1.

A quick bite to eat or even a nap by some ladies before the Finals were played in the afternoon at 2.15…  Wow both these matches were tightly fought – nip and tuck all the way.  I think everyone watching these matches were amazed by the stamina it must have been to have played 4 rounds in 3 days.  By the 18th the match was all square … so off we go to the 1st again.  The fight in these two was palpable all the way and in the end with a fabulous 2nd shot on the green about 10ft from the pin Jo Miller was our winner.

There was equally a great match going on behind these ladies in the Final of the Handicap Matchplay with Jude giving Chris 4 shots.  In the end despite a great effort to get a come back local knowledge and determination by Chris pulled through winning 3&2

Congratulations to both Jo Miller on winning the Suffolk Ladies Senior Scratch Matchplay Trophy and Chris Reid on winning the Suffolk Ladies Senior Handicap Trophy.

Jo Miller from Hintlesham presented by Carol Deslandes with the
Suffolk Ladies Senior Scratch Matchplay Trophy 2026

Chris Reid from Bury St Edmunds being presented by Carol Deslandes with
The Suffolk Ladies Senior Handicap Matchplay Trophy 2026

Carole Bostock from Rookery Park receiving her runner up voucher from Carol Deslandes
For the Suffolk Ladies Senior Scratch Matchplay 2026

Jude Hanner from Felixstowe Ferry receiving her runner up voucher from Carol Deslandes
For the Suffolk Ladies Senior Handicap Matchplay 2026

 

Hopefully next year will be just as exciting – please watch out for details of this and for all county competitions – these are always fun and a great way to meet many other ladies.

 

Barbara Dennis

County Championship Organiser

 

2026 Championship Report and Results

Following on from last Sundays Gross and Nett 36 Championship yesterday also at Bungay was the quarter-final of the gross matchplay.   We thought the weather was going to play a part in the proceedings but thankfully the golfing gods looked kindly on us.  Some superb golf was witnessed around the course and commented on by local golfers (men).  Alice Barlow (Bury) beat Emily Evans (Newton Green) 5&4.  Shannon Noble (Ipswich) beat Mandy Williamson (Haverhill) 2&1, Mia Barningham (Brett Vale) beat Tina Jeary (Flempton) 3&2 and Josie Knights (Ipswich) beat Zoe Schofield (Rookery Park) 6&4.

Today Sunday the 17th both the Semi and Finals were played – another display of how golf should be played.  Awesome to watch.  In the morning the Gross Matchplay Semi Alice Barlow met Shannon Noble with Alice going through to the final 5&3. And Mia Barningham met Josie Knights with Mia going through to the final 3&2.

In the Nett Matchplay Semi Jo Miller (Hintlesham) met Trudy Read (Ipswich Purdis) with Jo going through to the final 3&2.  And Carole Bostock (Rookery Park) met Karen Larbey (Ipswich) with Carole going through to the final 1 up.

The two finals were played in lovely weather and were closely contended with Alice Barlow retaining the Matchplay Championship Winner Gross Trophy.  Congratulations to Alice on some fabulous golf and also well done to Mia Barningham on giving Alice a great match and for winning to Lady Eddis Silver Box.

Congratulations to Jo Miller on winning her match against Carole Bostock and for winning the Presidents Plate in what was a closely fought match.

Here are the full Trophy winners over the two weekends – congratulations to all the winners.

Matchplay Championship Winner (Gross) – The Churchman Challenge Cup – Alice Barlow (Bury)

Matchplay Runner Up (Gross) – Lady Eddis Silver Box – Mia Barningham (Brett Vale)

36 Hole Strokeplay Championship (Gross) – Woodbridge Challenge Cup – Alice Barlow (Bury)

36 Hole Runner Up (Gross) – Maggie Ivor-Jones Plate – Josie Knights (Ipswich)

Matchplay Champion (Nett) – President Plate – Jo Miller (Hintlesham)

Matchplay Runner Up (Nett) – Carole Bostock (Rookery Park)

Strokeplay Champion (Nett) – Berendt Handicap Jug – Mia Barningham (Brett Vale)

Strokeplay Runner Up (Nett) – Josie Knights (Ipswich)

These competitions don’t just run themselves so many thanks to all the refs: Sue, Jeff & Jenny.  Bridget and LC Hilary Mason from Bungay.  All the staff at Bungay in the kitchen and bar staff especially Sue. Bungay pro-shop and green staff, especially Chris and Lil’s.  All the caddies and supporters. Thanks also to Carol our lady president, Mary & Barbara and not forgetting Sheila our County Secretary for being the glue that holds us all together.  And thanks also to Emily for presenting the trophies.

Barbara Dennis (Event organiser)