Run of pars does the trick

ELAINE WARD fired a magnificent 43 points around the L'Ancresse links to win the Royal Guernsey Ladies' Credit Suisse Open Day, but she had to endure some nervous moments before knowing the title was hers. Having completed her round, she sat in the club office for the remainder of the event anxiously helping the competition committee check the incoming cards.

'I went out in the second group of the day and enjoyed perfect conditions, but I honestly believed 43 points would be beaten,' said the winner.

But she was wrong.

Despite the best efforts of the 150-strong field Ward held on to take the open title, but not without a scare.

'There were only a few groups left when someone told me a 43 was coming in. I thought they were winding me up.'

Late in the day fellow Royal member Mandy Webber did indeed shoot 43, tallying an identical front and back-nine score as Ward.

But after counting back on the closing holes, Ward took the title courtesy of a strong finish.

She parred five straight holes from the 13th for a handful of net birdies and 15 points.

A bogey at the last would not affect the outcome.

'This is not my first golf trophy but it is the one that has given me the most enjoyment. The conditions were perfect and it was great to win with so many others around.'

The steadily-improving Webber was out in comparatively windier conditions and parred the three holes leading up to the last.

A par three would have given her the title, but the former Guernsey hockey star could make only bogey.

Sponsor Credit Suisse laid on a top table boasting 27 prizes including the scratch award that went Channel Islands champion Veronica Bougourd.