Alison steps up a gear with USA target on the horison

Alison Nicholas dominated the WPGA One Day Series event at Dunham Forest Golf Club as she prepares for a busy year ahead.

The former LPGA Tour player won by three shots ahead of Eleanor Robinson of Leeds Golf Centre.

Nicholas produced a decisive back nine at the Cheshire course - including an eagle at the 14th hole - to seal victory.

And Nicholas, representing Staffordshire’s Beau Desert Golf Club, admitted that she is now looking forward to playing in the US Womens’ Seniors Championship as well as defending her WPGA Professional Championship title.

But the Midlander says she has been fine tuning her game in recent weeks.

“I’ve been working with coaches Andy Gorman and Mike Beaumont, we’ve looked at my game together and sorted that out,” said Nicholas.

“I’m playing in the inaugural US Womens’ Seniors Championship in July and bring to get ready for that.

“I’d like to play well in the WPGA Championship as well. And I’m also working with a physic and conditioning coach to try and get myself fit.

“There’s load of stuff going but basically, I don’t want to go all the way over to America and play poorly, so I’ve put a plan in place over six months.”

Nicholas plans to play the next round of the One Day Series at Three Rivers Golf Club in Essex, but then her priorities change dramatically.

“I haven’t played there before, so I will be there, but at the end of June I head over to the States,” she added.

“I hope to see a steady improvement but you never know with golf - it’s a funny sport isn’t it!”

“I shall be trying my best and I hope it works out.”

Nicholas made the most of the improving British weather to ease to victory at Dunham Forest.

“It’s amazing how things, I’ve gone from wet boggy courses to inland links!,” she said.

“It was tricky in some sense, it was very brown, but I played steadily, putted well and unfortunately I bogeyed the final hole otherwise I’d have finished at five under par.”