LUCY Walton put her injury problems behind her to win the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Ladies’ County Golf Association Championships.

The talented 17-year-old has not played for six months following two knee operations.

But she came out on top at Kidderminster Golf Club last Sunday, beating young pretender Constance Brooks from Gaudet Luce, 4&3 in the final.

It was the third time Walton had won the prestigious competition and capped off a brilliant weekend having won the ladies’ monthly medal at the Malvern Wells club a few days earlier.

Carding an impressive nett 70, off a handicap of two, The Worcestershire Golf Club ace went out in 36 only to return in the same impressive number, recording six birdies and seven pars on her card.

Walton left the remainder of the field in her wake, taking Division One by six strokes and reducing her playing handicap, again, to one.

Despite good playing conditions, the speed of the greens and some testing pin positions challenged the pack and Division Two’s winner, Penny Stevenson, returning with nett 73, was the only other player to beat a CSS of 74.

Jill Piner shaved second place in Division One from Diane Meakin, with both on 76, whilst the minor placings in Division Two went to the ever-steady Jane Poynder, on 74 and Laura Speers on 76.

David Linnie won Division One of The Worcestershire men’s mid-week stableford.

The nine-handicapper came out on top with 38 points ahead of Peter Lupino (scratch) and Thomas Deehan (4), with both on 37.

Simon Speers returned the best score of the day to take Division Two with 39 points ahead of Bill Massey and Roy Cale, both on 38.

Meanwhile, the ladies’ nine-hole stableford was won by Davina Taylor with 16 points ahead of Kate Cross on 14 and Ann Goode on 12. Betty Hakes and Kay Bromley took the 18-hole greensome with 34 points, one ahead of Liz Pool and Ann Garner.

In inter-club matches, home advantage played a significant part in all encounters with the men’s B team winning convincingly against Evesham. Pride of place for a stunning 7&6 victory went to The Worcestershire’s Colin Jones and Peter Jolley. They were ably supported by the rest of the squad who won five of the six games.

B team captain Peter Basten and club chairman Miceal Hanna showed the way, winning 3&2; Chris Hardy and Mike Day won one up, Will Jones and Tim Sinden won 4&3 and Mike Bolton & Keith Hitchcock won 4&2.

The Evesham pairing of Mark New & Will Sellar recorded the only away win by 3&2 over Mike Bothma and Steve Homes.

The club’s seniors’ recorded a 5:3 home win against Worcester Golf and Country Club and a loss, by the same margin at The Herefordshire.

Winners against Worcester Golf and Country Club: John Williams and Barry Caswell one up, Graham Hill and Stan Jones 5&3, Peter Kirton and Sam McLeod 4&2, Tony Cox and Les Facer 4&3, and Phil Bayliss and Alan Homfray 2&1.

Losers: Nigel Teale and Keith Hitchcock, Tony Pawson and Terry Cox, and James Noon and Robin Marling.

Winners at The Herefordshire: Les Facer and Stan Jones 3&2, Sam Macleod and Terry Cox 5&3, and James Noon and Tony Cox 5&4.

Losers: Nigel Teale and John Green, Dave Jones and Graham Hill, Phil Bayliss and James Ferguson, and Dave Anderson and Ron Barker.

The ladies’ scratch league side struggled in their first match of the season at Ingestre Park.

From a squad of five, the newly-promoted home club fielded four single-figure handicappers to secure a sound 4 ½:0 ½ victory.

Representing The Worcestershire were Cath Francis, Di Meakin, Jackie Marks, Chris Urry and, fifth out, Alison Tuck, who saved the day with a very respectable half.

In friendly matches, The Worcestershire’s ladies managed a 2:2 draw against a strong visiting side from Droitwich.

The successful pairings were Brenda Jones and Pauline Savage, and Joss Penrhyn and Christine Goody.