Dickens gets the party started at Kedleston

Suzanne Dickens celebrated her birthday a day early with a dominant first WPGA One Day Series win of the year.

Dickens won the fourth event of the series by a convincing five-shot margin at Derby’s Kedleston Park course.

The Thorpe Wood Golf Course professional carded a three-under-par round of 70 to beat Anna Smith (London Golf Club) into second place.

It was the start of a busy week for Peterborough-based Dickens who was flying out to the latest European Ladies Tour event in Italy just 24 hours later, a date which also coincided with her birthday.

“Winning at Kedleston Park was a nice early present,” said Dickens, who now has a clear lead in the WPGA Order of Merit.

But she insisted things did not always go as planned on her way to victory.

“I was gobsmacked to win by that margin as I made 34 putts during the round,” she explained.

“I had an eagle at the 17^th hole when I put a seven iron shot to within three feet of the hole, but before that it wasn’t really going for me.

“I wouldn’t say I’m too self-critical, but I need to make friends with my putter again, and I’m sure I will soon.”

The result brought to an end a run of three successive second places this season.

And Dickens admitted that she was finding the consistency she needed to achieve her target of winning the One Day series again.

“I’ve won the Order of Merit five times and only missed out last year because I was injured for the final event,” she said.

“So this series was always a priority for me this year.

“I’ve played all the events so far and plan to take part in as many of the remaining ones as possible.

“It was a good way to go into the Italian Open as my form is there.”

Dickens now leads Claire Duffy (Test Valley Golf Club) by more than 10 points after the latest round of the One Day Series.