Sue in B-line to victory

'B' proved to be for brilliant for Shropshire's Sue Pidgeon at the Senior Women's English Amateur Championship.

For the 64-year-old from Wrekin battled through seven rounds in five days to clinch the 'B' division championship in a 108-strong field at Stoneham in Hampshire.

Pidgeon defeated Buckinghamshire's Sue McKeon in the final, sealing a 2up victory on the final green.

But the Shropshire player was forced to work every step of the way for her success, seeing her handsome 4up lead whittled away on the back nine.

"I have been to the semi-final of the 'A' division in the past so winning the 'B' division is probably on a par with that," said the seven handicapper.

"I'm absolutely delighted with it. I was given my final opponent about 12 years so it was nice to win that one."

Pidgeon qualified as the No 2 seed in the 'B' division after scores of 82 and 84 in the two strokeplay qualifying rounds.

She then made serene progress through the matchplay stages, defeating Jocelyn Faris (Bedford & County) 2&1, Jane Shergold (Blackmoor) 5&4 and Jose Kellenberger (Camberley Heath) 5&3.

Pidgeon has been in excellent form in the early part of the season, finishing 17th in the Spanish Senior Amateur, and 47th in the French Seniors, which is also open to professionals.

The Midlands Veterans and English Seniors Championships are next on Pigeon's agenda, while she will also head to the Irish Seniors and the British Seniors in successive weeks in October.