Sammi Keen battled through brutal conditions to win her 9th Ladies Isle of Wight Golf Trophy at Freshwater Bay.
The Ladies Island Championships were held at Freshwater Bay Golf Club on 1st/2nd June, with 27 players competing across 3 divisions – Silver 1, Silver 2 and Bronze.
Monday’s 36-hole qualifying round saw Keen, representing Freshwater Bay, finish top of the Silver 1 standings with rounds of 78 and 85. She was followed by Osborne’s Emma Powell, who scored 84 and 85, while Shanklin’s Lucy Burke recorded rounds of 89 and 80.
Kathryn Acklam, of Freshwater Bay, qualified 4th with 84 and 86, ahead of Shanklin’s Bev Whorwood, who carded 94 and 80, and Freshwater Bay’s Joanne Wright, who returned 88 and 88.
Keen was drawn against Acklam in the matchplay semi-finals and produced an emphatic 7&6 victory to book her place in the final. In the other semi-final, Powell overcame Burke 5&4 to set up a meeting with the 8-time champion.
Tuesday afternoon’s final was played in extremely challenging conditions, with strong winds, thunderstorms and hail all adding to the drama. Despite the weather, both players produced excellent golf, but Keen proved too strong.
Playing to just 1 over par in very tough conditions, Keen defeated Powell 6&5 to secure the prestigious Ladies Isle of Wight Golf Trophy for the 9th time.
There was also success for Freshwater Bay in Silver 2, where Paula Burke won the division after beating Rose Green, of Ryde Golf Club, in the final.
The Bronze division was also won by a Freshwater Bay player, with Penny Diez beating clubmate Di Clarke in the final.
The remaining competitors who did not qualify for the matchplay stages contested the Sybil Browne Vase on Tuesday, which was won by Brenda Keyte, of Shanklin and Sandown Golf Club, with 30 points.
