Meerveld pips Le Vallee by one

WENDY MEERVELD enjoyed her trip north to the L'Ancresse to compete in the re-scheduled Credit Suisse Ladies; Open Day. The La Grande Mare member carded 43 Stableford points and won by one.

It proved a hotly-contested affair with 24 women shooting better than par. But with a 10 over par gross round of 82, Meerveld took full advantage of the summer conditions to edge out Pam Le Vallee.

Both Le Vallee (27) handicap and Meerveld (17) parred the last hole to finish their respective excellent round and the latter's birdie two at the 12th hole also won her the nearest-the-pin prize.

Meerveld's joy continued at the next where a three gave her back-to-back birdies and net eagles.

There was also room for net birdies at the 15th and 16th holes as she amassed 23 points on the back nine.

Le Vallee more than matched the efforts of Meerveld over the back nine where a hot streak of 16 points over the closing five holes gave her hope of winning the main prize.

Former Royal Guernsey lady captain Marian Tanguy (18) came third on 41 points, her failure to score at the par five 14th proving to be her downfall.

Veronica Bougourd (6) took advantage of the kind conditions.

Despite a seven at the second hole she won the scratch prize with a converted 75 gross, which also earned the Island Games medallist a welcome return to gold handicap status.

Other prizes went to Sonia Graham (33), who capitalised on her recent good form to collect the long handicap prize, while Lady Foley won the nine-hole competition with a net two-under par total of 20 points.

Shonagh Dyson and Chantelle de la Mare have been familiar faces in the winners' circle at La Grande Mare of late.

And in the Bruce Russell Trophy event it was no different.

On this occasion Dyson would prove to be the outright winner with a massive 44 Stableford point total.

June Le Poidevin finished three further back on 41 points and Fran Lee Smith, who finished third on 40, also collected a reward for being nearest the 11th pin.

Patricia Self and de la Mare rounded up the top five positions.