THE girls provided a grandstand finish to the 2021 Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath Golf Club.
Open for the first time to girls as well as boys, the 40th anniversary edition of the competition saw Olivia Lee display nerves of steel to birdie the last hole for a one shot win over fellow England international Lottie Woad at the Knowle course.
Lee led by five shots entering the final round until a wobble with a run of four bogies in seven holes from the 7th. With Woad returning a final round of 3 under par 68, Lee suddenly found herself one behind.
But she drew level with a birdie on the par 5, 15th, holed a 12 foot putt on the 17th to save par and then holed another of similar length on the 18th for a closing birdie and a 1 shot win.
So high was the standard of play the girls were duly rewarded with the top three places, being taken by Lee, Woad and Davina Xanh, leaving Zach Little and Sam Easterbrook 4 and 5 shots off the winner.
First held in 1981, the event is a 72 hole stroke play tournament played over two days.
An open competition, the Peter McEvoy Trophy is a major competition in the junior golfing season which earns points on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Past winners include top names like Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Peter Baker and Steve Webster.
Tournament director Ian Davidson said: “After the cancellation of last year’s competition we were delighted to once again hold this event and were particularly pleased to welcome the girls for the first time.
“Golf is in a unique position in being able to hold mixed gender competitions and it is a privilege to be able to support such an initiative.”
