Hampshire county title... for Darling

LIZ DARLING was the toast of the Royal Guernsey Ladies' Section yesterday after landing the Hampshire county matchplay title for handicaps 17 to 20. In a tight final at the Brockenhurst Manor course she edged out Elizabeth Hess by two holes.

She becomes the second Guernsey woman to win the Challenge Bowl in recent times, Jeanette Riley having done so twice.

Darling was two up at the turn, but Hess levelled before the Guernsey player edged ahead again in the closing stages and took the title on the last green.

Former club captain Lynne Eker fired a seven-under par 65 in the Royal Guernsey Ladies' Section's LGU May Medal.

In making the most of the sunny conditions Eker's gross birdie at the par four fifth hole set up a fantastic four over par front nine leaving her with 16 shots of her 20 handicap allowance intact for the more open back nine.

Although she was to drop a few more shots over the closing holes than she would have liked, another birdie at the 15th would prove vital in Eker's win.

Only a shot behind was Veronica Boug-ourd who carded a net 66 and with it a level par gross round of 72.

That effort not only gave the former island champion a boost ahead of next week's championships, but returns her to gold handicap status.