Talented teenager Emily seals home triumph in Ladies Chronicle Cup

Teenager Emily Halstead certainly saved her best for the big occasion as she won the prestigious Ladies Chronicle Cup at her home course, Crompton and Royton.

The 17-year-old carded a fine gross one-over 73, which gave her a 5-under nett score of 67.

That was enough to give Emily a one-shot victory in the 99th running of the competition which is effectively the Oldham district championship for women with competitors from all the local clubs – Brookdale, Oldham, Saddleworth and Werneth as well as this year’s hosts C&R.

Emily knew she had a good round going, but was being pushed all the way by her playing partner Saddleworth’s Fiona Hesten.

They both made birdie 2s at the short par-3 fourth – Emily’s was a tap-in from inches.

Emily would go out in one-over 37 with her only dropped shots at the 5th and 9th.

And Emily continued her fine play on the back nine with another seven pars and two bogeys.

Emily didn’t realise it, but she was actually a shot behind her playing partner stood on the 17th tee but made two pars to Fiona’s two 5s.

“I got up and down from the bunker at the side of the green on the last," said Emily. 

"I later realised if I had not done that it would have been a play-off.

An emotional Emily thanked her parents for all their support after receiving the trophy from David Whaley, secretary of the Oldham and District Golf Society and the former Managing Editor of the Oldham Chronicle.

Emily is certainly in the form of her life.

The Lancashire Girls squad player won the inter-club title only a week earlier and then claimed a major at C&R with a fine gross 76 to win the Centenary Trophy.

That excellent play has seen Emily reduce her handicap index from 6.0 to 4.2.

She will now continue to improve her game at C&R and also at The Golf Shack simulator club on Bury Road, Rochdale, where Emily is working full-time alongside professional Ryan Grumbridge, in a bid to get her PGA qualifications.

Fiona’s 84-16-68 earned her the runner-up prize.

Brookdale’s Bev Harrop was third on a card play-off from last year’s winner Charlie Wade (Oldham), while Liz Johnson took the best gross prize with 82.

And unsurprisingly, home club C&R completed the double by taking the Plate trophy team award for the best four scores.

Emily, the evergreen Audrey Whittaker, Brenda Keaney and Joanne Redford combing for a 286 total and a seven-shot margin over second-placed Oldham.

And the home club completed the clean sweep when J Booth and N Nicholson won the afternon 9-hole greensomes.

The Centenary celebrations for the Ladies Chronicle Cup will take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Werneth.

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