Golf ELY City narrowly missed out on the Jean Wilkinson Trophy after going down to St Ives in a close final.

The Jean Wilkinson Trophy is a team competition consisting of seven singles matches played off scratch within three different handicap bands.

In the first semi-final St Ives faced Saffron Walden, with Ives eventually winning on the 19th hole to clinch the match 4-3.

In the second semi-final Ely City played against Abbotsley and, although Abbotsley raced into an early lead, Ely gradually fought their way back by winning the fifth and six games to level the score. The final game went to the wire and Ely City secured a one up victory to claim the match 4-3.

The final got under way in heavy squally showers and St Ives took an early lead when Kathy Cooper, playing solid golf, clinched a 5 & 4 victory over Liz Smith. Ely City moved into the lead when Anne Mitchell defeated Sue Anderson 6 & 4 and Jane Webster secured a 1 up victory against Geraldine Fleming.

St Ives fought their way back into the lead when captain Avis Drew clinched her match against Carol Harrison 5 & 4 and Steff Allen secured a similar score against Ros Grey.

With the rain giving way to sunshine, Ely City’s Jan Stuart-Monteath won her game against Karen Abbott 4 & 3 to level the match score at 3-3. This left the fourth pair still locked in battle for what proved to be the decider. St Ives’s Trish Whittamore came to the 18th one up and managed to halve the final hole against Sue Didlick for a one up victory to give St Ives a winning margin of 4-3.