Burford shocks the champion

GILL BURFORD hopes that it will be a case of third time lucky when she takes on Veronica Bougourd in today's 36-hole final for the De la Rue Trophy and island matchplay title. 'About every 10 years I come good,' said a delighted fourth seed after she had beaten Jan Chamberlain, top seed and defending champion, 2 and 1 in yesterday's semi-finals at L'Ancresse.

Burford was straight off the tee all morning and made few mistakes, while Chamberlain was simply not at her best when she needed to be.

'My forte was keeping it on the fairways,' said Burford, who admitted she was starting to become a little edgy when the champion won the 16th to get back to one down with two to play, only to make a dog's breakfast of the uphill 17th.

Chamberlain hit a magnificent drive up the par four hole - her best of the round - but from 30 metres further up the fairway than her rival duffed her second, thinned her third through the green and duffed her chip before conceding to an opponent who was safely on in two.

A champion deserved a better fate than that and such a miserable conclusion came only eight holes after she had spectacularly eagled the ninth.

'I'm so glad just to have got this far,' said Burford, whose first final back in the mid-1980s was against Bougourd, who will be attempting to land her 17th title today.

Bougourd proved too strong for the third seed, Julie Creed, winning 5 and 4 after a terrific match which saw the former birdie the opening hole and then ram home a long putt for par at the second.

Both women birdied the ninth, but by then Creed was three adrift and struggling to stay with the woman who will be firm favourite to win again today.

The bronze division final will be between Rose Scott, the top seed from La Grande Mare, and Pippa Hudson.