Chamberlain's first title gives family a boost

THE Chamberlain family had something to cheer about this weekend. While Chris was picking up a losers' medal at the Muratti Vase replay, stepmother Jan was claiming her first women's golf championship, in fine style too.

The former Oxfordshire county player finally overcame brave resistance from Julie Creed on the 33rd hole at L'Ancresse, the cornerstone to her victory a fantastic pre-lunch performance.

Despite rain and blustery winds Chamberlain lunched six up, having covered the opening 18 in 75 to leave her Island Games team-mate staring at a heavy loss.

To her great credit, Creed never gave up the ghost until she finally realised on the 15th green that she could not better Chamberlain's likely par four and conceded the match 5 and 3.

Chamberlain never trailed.

The opening hole was halved in fours and Creed's concession at the second gave the former La Grande Mare member an advantage she quickly capitalised on.

By the turn Chamberlain was two up and walking off the 13th for the first time the lead had been doubled.

Creed's birdie at 14 reduced the deficit, but Chamberlain hit back with wins at the 16th, 17th and 18th holes in par figures to establish a strong grip on the match.

So often in the history of the championship such situations lead to one-sided results, but not on this occasion as Creed dug in determinedly and produced some excellent up-and-downs to give her brief hope of an unlikely victory considering her desperate lunchtime position.

Chamberlain helped Creed settle her nerves by shanking her third into the gorse on the first (19th).

But by the fifth Chamberlain had restored her six-hole margin as the result of her excellent drive and approach to pin-high on the fourth. Creed chipped through with her third and conceded.

Chamberlain was consistently 20 to 25 metres longer off the tee and another big drive and second left her in good shape at the fifth.

But Creed, faced with a difficult third over the furthest left of the bunkers guarding the front of the green, lofted a wedge to 5ft and sank the putt to win the hole.

At the sixth it was Chamberlain's turn to concede a hole and at the short seventh Creed completed a fine escape from the bunker with a 6ft putt for a half in threes.

Creed continued to produce brave back-to-the-wall golf in halving the next three holes and when she won the 11th with a five the margin was down to three.

Chamberlain's response was to produce a wood to 10ft at the 12th and a likely win with Creed short and left of the green.

But having chipped onto the putting surface Creed holed her 20ft putt and watched her opponent miss her birdie attempt.

At the 13th road hole Chamberlain again held the advantage after a booming drive and iron to the left of the green, pin high.

But Creed all but holed her 40ft uphill putt for a four and escaped again.

Chamberlain's extra length was the telling factor at the long 14th downwind, but Creed was again close with a long putt which would have given her a half.

But it was now dormy and three excellent shots into 15 leaving her a 4ft putt for a par four, left Creed too much to do.

Chamberlain now meets Jersey champion Jenny Deeley in the CI final at Grouville tomorrow.

Deeley won the Jersey championship with a 3 and 2 win over Gloria Paradiso in the final.